The Economics of Thought: Labor, Access, and Privilege

Sor Juana had access to books, education, and—through her position in the convent—relative freedom from domestic labor that most women lacked. Yet even this privileged position was precarious, limited, and eventually punished. Intersectionality in practice means understanding that intellectual life is never purely abstract: it depends on who can afford to read, to study, to think, to develop ideas. This has profound intersectional dimensions. Women do more unpaid care work and have less time for intellectual pursuits. Poor people must prioritize survival over learning. People working multiple jobs have less mental space for complex thought. This isn't about individual merit or laziness; it's about systemic distribution of resources and time. Sor Juana teaches that justice requires not just opening institutions but restructuring who gets to think, when, and under what conditions. Intersectional movements must create material conditions for intellectual engagement across all communities, recognizing that thought itself is a justice issue.