The Justice of Educational Access

Sor Juana had to fight for her own education in a society that denied formal schooling to women, forcing her into extraordinary self-directed learning. She recognized that educational exclusion is a form of injustice that perpetuates inequality and denies human potential. The concept of educational access as justice means reframing education from a privilege granted to the worthy into a right guaranteed to all children. This encompasses not just enrollment but genuine access—removing barriers of poverty, disability, language, geography, and discrimination. Children's rights to education include quality teaching, culturally relevant curricula, and learning environments that support diverse learners. Sor Juana's example shows that denied education creates lifetime consequences, limiting not just career options but intellectual development, self-understanding, and capacity to contribute meaningfully to society.