The authority to define one's own identity through reason and lived experience, rather than accepting external categories—central to both Sor Juana's legacy and bi/pan identity.
Sor Juana's fierce defense of her right to pursue knowledge and question authority mirrors the bisexual and pansexual experience of rejecting binary categorization imposed by others. Just as she asserted her intellectual autonomy against institutional pressure, bi and pan individuals claim the right to self-define rather than accept rigid sexual orientation labels. This concept honors the intellectual work required to articulate one's own truth about attraction, desire, and identity. Sor Juana's written defenses of her choices provide a model for articulating why personal experience and reason must supersede external judgment. For bisexual and pansexual people, this means validating the intelligence and integrity of one's own understanding of sexuality as legitimate knowledge, not confusion or indecision.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
Explore related journeys or tell Peri what you're working through.