The Liminality of Loneliness: Negotiating Feminist Ethics and Intersectional Affectivity

This paper draws on auto-ethnographic and creative material to disentangle loneliness as including moments of tension but also the potential for personal liberation. The analysis intersectional reflexivity a joint project building feminist friendship activist academic collaboration. Our collaborative critical auto-ethnography sought reach co-production narratives while embracing diversities our positionalities. differing points departure arrival were harnessed understand experiential perspectives loneliness. We conceptualise through theories liminalities ‘biopolitics’ address ethical, affective performative aspects how is understood. can then advance propositions alternative analyses that contribute studies In we clarify often nebulous interconnections materialisms, affectivities ethical feminisms from ‘individual experience’ ‘social platform’ wider collective responsibility in tackling some its traumatic destructive effects. explore these issues emerging context unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has led far-reaching social, psychological, physical impacts upon loneliness, turn augmented by UK state policies.