Intellectual Labor as Legitimate Work

Sor Juana's prolific output—plays, poems, theological treatises, scientific observations—represents substantial intellectual labor, yet she struggled against the assumption that such work was frivolous, ornamental, or undeserving of serious recognition. Her writings generated value for audiences and institutions, yet she often received criticism rather than compensation or respect. This reflects a broader pattern: intellectual labor, especially by women, has historically been undervalued, appropriated, or claimed by institutions. For libertarian justice, this principle asserts that labor is labor regardless of form. The mind's work produces real value and creates legitimate property claims. When systems fail to recognize or compensate intellectual work fairly, they violate property rights and perpetuate injustice. Sor Juana's example demonstrates the need to value knowledge work equally with manual labor. Applied today, this supports fair compensation for creators, protection of intellectual property, and resistance to the exploitation of knowledge workers and unpaid intellectual contributions.