How do I know when to speak up about injustice at work or in my community?

Sor Juana didn't wait for permission to use her mind—she wrote what mattered, knowing the cost. Speaking up is rarely comfortable, and that discomfort is often the signal you're onto something real. Start by asking yourself: Am I seeing something that contradicts my values? Will silence make me complicit? What's the actual risk, versus what I'm imagining? Sometimes the answer is to speak directly to one person. Sometimes it's to document quietly, build allies, or find a safer channel. The point isn't to be reckless—it's to be honest about what you know and what you can live with. Sor Juana chose her battles carefully, writing on theology, science, and women's education when those topics were dangerous. She didn't fight every fight, but she never pretended ignorance about the ones that mattered. Notice what keeps you awake at night. That's usually where your responsibility begins.