Asserting that intellectual curiosity and the desire to learn are not masculine traits but fundamental human rights, including for those socialized as women.
Sor Juana's foundational argument was simple: curiosity is natural, learning is necessary, and these impulses should not be gendered. Her insatiable questions about theology, mathematics, and philosophy weren't unfeminine—they were undeniably human. For cisgender women, reclaiming curiosity means unlearning the socialization that positions questions as aggressive, intelligence as unfeminine, or ambition as unbecoming. For cisgender men, this concept invites examination of how they were taught that curiosity should be restricted to certain domains—professional success yes, emotional self-knowledge perhaps not. Sor Juana modeled intellectual curiosity without apology. She asked why women couldn't study theology; why shouldn't they? This concept applies to all cisgender identities by asserting: curiosity is not gendered; the desire to understand yourself, your world, and your possibilities is legitimate regardless of how you were socialized into cisgender categories. Reclaiming curiosity means refusing the gendered boundaries placed on what questions you're allowed to ask.
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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