The idea that one's sense of self is shaped through social interactions has been central to the study of identity since Plato.
Modern thinkers have argued that this understanding of the self is incomplete because it ignores how people develop unique identities through their bodies and physical experiences. In particular, queer theorists have proposed that the body can be seen as a site where meaning is produced and experienced, creating new possibilities for identity formation beyond normative understandings. This paper will explore how queer embodiment engages with the philosophical concept of the self as narrative unity, focusing on how the body creates unique subjectivities and challenges traditional models of identity.
I will discuss the origins of the idea that the self is formed through social interactions. According to many Western philosophers, including Descartes and Hume, the self emerges through intersubjective relationships, where individuals interact with others and receive feedback about their actions. This view suggests that the self is a collection of thoughts, memories, emotions, and sensations that shape an individual's perception of who they are.
Some feminist and queer theorists have argued that these accounts fail to account for the role of biological factors in constructing identity, particularly those related to sex, sexuality, and gender. They suggest that the body plays a crucial role in creating unique ways of being in the world, which may not fit neatly into pre-existing categories or binaries.
I will examine how queer embodiment challenges the idea that the body is merely a container for the mind. Queer theorists argue that the body should be understood as a site of meaning production, where personal narratives are constructed and communicated through physical experiences such as touch, movement, and appearance.
Judith Butler has suggested that gender identities are performed rather than innate, arguing that individuals can create different meanings based on the ways they present themselves physically. Similarly, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick has argued that queerness is a product of the way that bodies deviate from normative standards of sexuality and gender. These ideas suggest that the body can create new subjectivities beyond traditional models of identity, opening up possibilities for self-expression that challenge existing social norms.
I will explore how queer embodiment engages with the philosophical concept of the self as narrative unity. The self as narrative unity refers to the idea that one's sense of self emerges through a coherent story about oneself, incorporating past events, future goals, and current desires. Some theorists have argued that this model does not fully capture the complexity of human experience, suggesting instead that the self is constantly evolving and changing over time. In contrast, queer theorists have proposed that the body can be seen as a site where new stories and identities are formed, allowing individuals to reimagine who they are in relation to their surroundings. This suggests that the body is not simply a container for the mind but an active participant in creating unique and creative forms of being.
The paper argues that queer embodiment challenges traditional understandings of the self by showing how the body creates unique subjectivities that cannot be reduced to pre-existing categories or binaries. By examining the role of physical experiences in constructing identity, we can better understand the diverse range of identities that exist in our world and the ways that these identities interact with broader social structures.
How does queer embodiment engage with the philosophical concept of the self as narrative unity?
Queer embodiment refers to the diverse and non-binary ways in which individuals express their gender identity, sexual orientation, and physical appearance beyond traditional norms. The concept of the self as narrative unity suggests that each individual creates a unique story through their life experiences, including social interactions and personal relationships. Queer embodiment challenges these binary concepts by allowing for fluidity and complexity in one's self-presentation and identity formation.