The concept of queer temporality refers to an alternative way of understanding time that challenges traditional linear and sequential models of time. It emphasizes the importance of non-binary and cyclical temporalities, such as those found in nature and the body. According to feminist philosopher Elizabeth Grosz, this approach can provide new insights into how individuals experience time and challenge the prevailing notion that time is simply a tool for measuring progress.
Grosz argues that this conception of time can reorient morality toward collective care instead of individual progress because it highlights the interconnectedness of all beings. Rather than seeing oneself as an isolated entity working towards personal goals, one becomes part of a larger ecology where each being's needs must be met to ensure survival. This perspective opens up possibilities for radical forms of empathy, such as recognizing the rights of other species or taking responsibility for future generations.
The notion of queer temporality can help break down binaries between past and present, self and other, and inside and outside. It allows us to see how all times are connected and how our actions have consequences beyond ourselves. As feminist geographer Kathryn Yusoff explains, "We might think of time as a palimpsest, with layers upon layers of different temporalities superimposed."
In terms of sexuality and intimacy, queer temporality can challenge heteronormative ideas about monogamy and exclusivity. It encourages us to see relationships as dynamic, fluid, and constantly evolving rather than static and bound by rigid rules. It also emphasizes pleasure, playfulness, and experimentation over traditional notions of romance and commitment.
The concept of queer temporality provides an alternative to capitalism's drive towards perpetual growth and accumulation. In contrast to the linear progression of production, consumption, and waste, it envisages cycles that allow for regeneration and renewal.
In the field of eco-feminism, this approach is often seen as central to creating sustainable communities based on collective care and mutual support.
Can queer temporality reorient morality toward collective care instead of individual progress?
Temporality, which refers to an individual's sense of time, can be shaped by social norms, cultural values, personal experiences, and belief systems. Queer temporality, which has been defined as nonlinear and nonconforming to dominant Western temporalities, may challenge traditional notions of progress and success that prioritize personal achievement over collective care.