The Convent as Voluntary Association

Sor Juana entered San Jerónimo not as servant but as conscious choice—a space where she negotiated freedom to study, write, and think on her own terms. The convent functioned as a voluntary association: a self-governing body with internal rules accepted by members. This framework challenges the notion that freedom requires isolation; instead, it shows how libertarian principles apply to communities that respect individual autonomy within consensual bonds. For modern libertarian justice, the convent model demonstrates that property rights and freedom can coexist within non-state institutions, provided participation remains voluntary and exit is possible.