Knowledge as Cultural Sovereignty

Colonial and hierarchical systems maintain control not only through force but through epistemic domination—determining which knowledge counts as legitimate, whose voices have authority, and which questions may be asked. Sor Juana's insistence on studying multiple disciplines—theology, philosophy, literature, science—was fundamentally a claim about cultural sovereignty. She asserted that Mexican Creole intellectuals possessed the capacity and right to engage with the full range of human knowledge. This concept connects to contemporary debates about decolonization, indigenous knowledge systems, and whose expertise shapes policy. Political identity across cultures cannot be authentic when mediated entirely through external frameworks or when certain communities are positioned as consumers rather than creators of knowledge. Recognizing knowledge as cultural sovereignty means supporting institutions, archives, and educational systems controlled by marginalized communities. Sor Juana demonstrates that reclaiming intellectual territory is inseparable from reclaiming political voice and cultural dignity.