What do I do when my child faces discrimination at school because of identity?

Sor Juana faced this her whole life—the weight of being seen as less-than because of gender, class, appearance, ideas. When it happens to your child, the first thing is to believe them completely. Discrimination isn't a misunderstanding or oversensitivity; it's real harm, and it matters. Start by documenting: dates, what happened, who witnessed it, what was said or done. Keep these records. Then decide your approach based on the severity and your relationship with the school. For ongoing or serious incidents (slurs, exclusion, physical harm), don't rely only on informal conversations—file a formal complaint with the school administration. Most districts have anti-discrimination policies. Reference them specifically. Be clear: "This violates policy X." If the school doesn't respond adequately, escalate to the district level or your state's education board. Consider connecting with advocacy groups focused on your child's specific identity—they know the landscape and can guide you. Throughout this, keep affirming your child: their identity is not the problem. The system's failure to protect them is. That distinction matters enormously for their sense of self. You're not overreacting by taking this seriously.