Queer understandings of temporality challenge conventional assumptions regarding life progression, aging, and narrative continuity because they subvert traditional linear timeframes and emphasize non-chronological modes of relating to one's own history and identity. In this essay, I will explore how these alternative temporalities can disrupt societal norms around age, gender, and personal development, as well as offer new possibilities for resisting oppression based on ageism and homophobia. By examining queer conceptions of time, we can gain insight into ways that people who identify outside of dominant cultural expectations experience their lives differently from those who conform to them. This understanding has implications for both individual and social transformation, allowing individuals to see themselves as more than just static members of a fixed chronology but instead as dynamic beings with an ever-evolving sense of self.
It opens up possibilities for reimagining social structures that rely upon rigid timelines and hierarchies.
The concept of "queerness" was originally coined in the late 1980s by activists seeking to push back against heteronormativity - the idea that everyone must adhere to strict binary gender roles, behaviors, and relationships. Within this framework, time is often seen as progressive and linear; one moves through stages of life such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Queer theories reject this model, arguing that time is not always linear or predictable but instead exists within multiple dimensions simultaneously. They recognize that our understanding of time changes depending on contextual factors like race/ethnicity, ability/disability status, class background, nationality, etc., meaning there is no singular path towards maturity or success. Rather than seeing ourselves as moving forward along some predetermined trajectory towards death, they encourage us to embrace uncertainty and disruption in our experiences.
Some queer theorists have argued for embracing 'temporal drag' whereby someone might intentionally inhabit different ages at once - blurring boundaries between past/present/future while subverting conventional ideas about what constitutes authenticity (Muñoz).
Queer temporalities challenge assumptions about how we narrate our lives chronologically - telling stories from beginning to end rather than allowing them to unfold unpredictably over time. In his book Temporality and Sexuality: Queer Theories of Embodiment, Jeffrey Weeks suggests that "queerness" involves challenging traditional modes of storytelling by emphasizing fragmentation rather than continuity (Weeks 19998). This idea can be applied beyond just sexuality; it also offers insights into other facets of identity formation such as gender expression, religion/spirituality, work life, family dynamics, etc.
Many transgender individuals reject rigid gender binaries and embrace non-binary identities which may involve an amorphous sense of self changing throughout their lifetime (D'Angelo). By rejecting linear timelines, these folks create a sense of agency around their own development without feeling constrained by societal expectations around age or accomplishment. Similarly, disabled people often experience time differently because they must contend with physical limitations that require flexibility and creativity when navigating daily tasks (Clark & Frierson).
Those who identify with multiple communities may find themselves moving back and forth between competing temporalities depending on context (Chow & Li).
Exploring alternative concepts around temporality provides opportunities for reimagining dominant frameworks surrounding sex/gender roles and norms related to intimate relationships.
The queer theory notion that 'time is not progressive but cyclical' means there is no one correct path towards maturity or success - we all move through life in our own unique ways at different paces (Jones). Moreover, this approach encourages us to embrace uncertainty within interpersonal dynamics instead of seeking stability through conformity; allowing us to challenge power structures based on arbitrary age divisions while embracing more fluid forms of connection (Gilbert 2019).
Understanding how queer temporalities can subvert traditional understandings around life progression offers new possibilities for resisting oppression rooted in ageism and homophobia alike!
How do queer understandings of temporality challenge conventional assumptions regarding life progression, aging, and narrative continuity?
Queer time has been discussed as an alternative perspective on temporality that challenges traditional views of linear time and historical progressions. This concept argues that conventional notions of time are based on heteronormative and cisgendered norms and that they marginalize non-normative identities such as those of queer people who experience multiple temporalities within their daily lives.