Naming Your Own Authority

Sor Juana did not wait for the Church to grant her authority to engage with theology, philosophy, and science—she named herself a knower and participant in these traditions. Her famous letter responding to the Bishop of Puebla asserts her right to interpret scripture and engage theological debate, positions traditionally reserved for ordained men. This concept is essential for anyone whose adopted identity comes with presumed illegitimacy or lack of standing. The question becomes: who gets to decide if you are an authority on your own experience, your own intellectual life, your own identity? Sor Juana's answer was radical for her time and remains relevant: you do. She didn't claim authority because she fit existing categories; she expanded the categories themselves by claiming what was hers to claim. For people navigating adopted identities, this principle suggests that legitimacy need not precede action. By speaking, writing, and thinking publicly, you assert your place in the world of ideas and belonging.