Policy temporality and marked bodies: feminist praxis amongst the ruins

Abstract

This article introduces the challenges of temporality into policy studies utilizing US education policy and young mothers as a working example. Situating the need for attention to temporality amidst the ruins of inquiry and ruins of education outcomes for young mothers, the author builds on recent ‘spatial policy sociology’ and turns to queer theory/queer time as a way to infuse policy studies with embodied inquiry toward reimagined futurities. This move raises questions about doing policy studies and inquiry as a post-studies scholar. Pillow approaches these questions through her experiences thinking through data with a group of policy administrators, practitioners, and young mothers. Queer theory and queer time offer ways of looking at inquiry, data and policy subjects, not as a solution, but as re-imaginary methodology through a post-feminist queer praxis of working the ruins.