Queening

Queening

Queening is a very odd word since it indicates a process in motion or an incomplete process. It is the promotion of a female to a position of eminent rank or supremacy. To some degree, the word 'queening' represents the idea of 'becoming' or 'transforming'.

It is curious to explore one of the mysteries of queening and to see within its example so many intriguing concepts and ideas that were used to represent ideas and concepts that were illegal or unacceptable to some governing structures, such as the Catholic Church, among others. Chess, the board game, was introduced into Persia (modern-day Iran) from India around 531 A.D. Its actual origins remain obscure. The board game of chess, as it was known at that time, bore strong similarities to modern-day chess with a few notable exceptions. The most interesting of these was the conversion of the King's (male advisor), called a Vizer, into a Queen. This occurred somewhere in the early 1100's in Italy. At the time, the Queen (piece) was considered one of the least powerful game pieces on the board. Over the course of the next few centuries, the Queen piece began an ascent of power, eventually becoming the most powerful piece on the board. This was only part of the Queen story, however, within the game of chess, the pawns or 'peasants' began to change as well. Before this time in history, the pawns were each identified as different from the others, often representing specific craftsmen or trades. Eventually, all of the pawns began to be represented as the 'underclass', becoming deindividualized or void of specific independent features. At around this time, the pawns and the Queen became uniquely allied in a most profoundly intriguing way. A pawn within chess is considered to be the piece of least value, worth, or power - except when that pawn can reach the end of their opponent's game board. The 'royal row' or beginning outer rows where the game begins from, after the initial onset of the game, become 'queening squares'. Any pawn that can successfully reach a queening square is transformed from a peasant into royalty - they go from the least powerful piece on the board to the most powerful piece on the board.

I have often wondered if the metaphoric story being played out upon the chessboard now suggests that the pawn is no longer identifiable as a 'male' piece but might in fact have not only been transformed from a male peasant craftsperson into a blank 'underclass' person but also been further transformed into a blank 'female' piece. After all, a male cannot transform into a female - except if you are a CD, TS, TG, or gay male who becomes or identifies yourself in some manner as being 'queened'.

Since chess is a game of war and strategy, this offers some surprising implications for modern thought. If my rather wild supposition were correct, then females outnumber males on the board on either side by one additional piece, which would make the female component within the game the 'majority' player. This becomes rather interesting if you consider that this is almost identical to the ratios of women to men among human beings today.

As I noted, the term queening represents the process of transforming or becoming a female of eminent power or supremacy. In disparaging terms, the word queening is often used to describe a female behavior equivalent to 'lording' it over others. You will note there is no equivalent 'ladying' word.

Within the S/m community, the word queening has recently achieved expanded popularity when it has been coupled to the sadomasochistic action of imposing domination by the female (control of reproduction) upon a male. The current allusions present the man's face as a 'throne' to be sat upon, with the reference to the throne as representative of the attainment of the state of being queened or completion of the queening process.

Queening within this representation suggests that the 'breath of life' of the male (his life) is then controlled by the reproductive organs of the female - i.e., he is given life, allowed to continue living, and allowed to reproduce by direction of the Queen.

It is important to remember that Queening is an unachieved state or that the practice of queening does not result in a permanent status of queen but presents the transformative state of queening as to exist against the backdrop of an infinite theater. For example, once you become a Queen, you will no longer be participatory in or to a state of queening.

Queening may also be recognized to mean a presentation of a prevailing dominant female aspect within the personality, most notably within males.

Kinging is a similar term which may be used to describe a similar mirrored process wherein a female presents a prevailing dominant male aspect within their personality.

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