Queer Time – Mishti Dhawan

Queer time encompasses temporal experiences beyond chrononormativity which is largely based on heteronormative social norms and temporalities. Since society is driven by a set of heteronormative ideals, the experience of life is associated with a series of milestones that do not apply to everyone, especially non-heterosexual people. Queer time thus rejects the idea that individuals experience life in a linear manner. Instead, it embraces alternatives that reflect the diverse experiences and identities within Queer communities. This is influenced by how Queer people have a largely different experience with relationships, family, and parenthood that informs their experience of timelines imposed by society that are catered towards heteronormative individuals. For instance, many Queer people may have a different experience with marriage, adopting or having kids, or transitioning which is something that heterosexual people may not experience. As a result, Queer time challenges notions of reproductive time discipline which tends to be driven by a child-based societal order that does not create space for individuals who don’t want kids or face barriers in having them. The rebellion against linearity pins Queer time against chronobiopolitics which promotes the idea of a disciplined body for the purpose of societal progression. Queer time challenges these notions to create more fluid timelines that are reflective of the experiences of people in the LGBTQIA+ community. It is important to note that Queer time is a term that continues to evolve as the term “Queer” continues to evolve within Queer studies. Scholars such as Elizabeth Freeman explore how there hasn’t been a consensus on what Queer time means because the terms are continually evolving.

Bibliography

Freeman, Elizabeth. Beside You in Time Sense Methods and Queer Sociabilities in the American Nineteenth Century. Duke University Press, 2019.