Justice as Gender Self-Determination

Sor Juana connected intellectual freedom directly to justice—arguing that denying women the right to learn and think was a fundamental injustice. Extended to cisgender identity, this framework asks: What systemic supports and recognitions do people need to freely determine their gender? Justice, in this view, means creating conditions where gender can be examined, questioned, and lived authentically without coercion. For many cisgender people, this might mean freedom from rigid gender roles, support for non-conforming presentations, or the ability to reject limiting expectations. It also means acknowledging that access to this freedom is unequal: some people face dangerous consequences for gender non-conformity while others face pressure to perform conformity. A justice framework asks what structural changes—in family systems, workplaces, religious institutions, legal systems—would enable genuine gender self-determination for everyone. This isn't abstract philosophy but practical commitment: advocating for policies that protect gender freedom, calling out institutions that police gender performance, and recognizing that gender justice requires ongoing collective effort, not just individual choice.