Developing expert knowledge of your own illness, symptoms, and needs as an act of epistemic power and self-determination, drawing from Sor Juana's insistence on her right to think and know for herself.
Sor Juana asserted her right to knowledge and observation despite authorities claiming to know better. People with chronic illness constantly encounter medical gatekeeping, dismissal, and the erasure of their own bodily expertise. This concept elevates patient knowledge as valid and valuable. You become the primary expert on your body—its patterns, triggers, capacities, and needs. This knowledge is not anecdotal or emotional; it is empirical and rigorous. Documenting symptoms, identifying patterns, and questioning diagnoses are acts of epistemic justice and resistance against medical paternalism. Sor Juana's model of intellectual independence applies here: trust your observations, trust your reasoning, and insist on the right to interpret your own experience. This does not mean rejecting medical care, but rather partnering from a position of equality, bringing your knowledge to the table alongside professional expertise.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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