Lived Justice Through Questioning Authority

Sor Juana's entire life was an act of questioning authority—challenging church doctrine, societal expectations, and institutional constraints. She did this not with disrespect but with intellectual rigor, using evidence and argumentation to make her case. She taught through example that questioning authority is not rebellion but a fundamental practice of justice. For children's rights, this concept is essential and often dangerous: children must learn that authority figures are fallible, that unjust rules can be challenged, and that their own moral reasoning is valid. Yet children live in systems that often punish questioning and reward obedience. Teaching children to question authority means creating safe spaces for critique, validating their concerns about unfairness, modeling how to challenge injustice respectfully but firmly, and protecting them from retaliation when they speak up. This is especially vital for children in oppressive situations—children in institutional care, children experiencing discrimination, children whose communities are targeted by unjust policies. Sor Juana's legacy demands that we raise children capable of questioning and transforming the systems they inherit.