Naming as Radical Act

Sor Juana chose the name "Juana Inés"—a deliberate selection of identity rather than acceptance of familial naming. The act of naming, whether literally choosing a new name or actively identifying with particular labels, carries transformative power. This concept examines language as the frontier of identity adoption. When you name yourself—spiritually, professionally, culturally—you claim sovereignty over your own definition. This goes beyond simple terminology: it involves choosing the language through which you describe yourself, rejecting imposed categories, and creating new terms when existing language proves inadequate. Sor Juana's strategic use of titles, self-descriptions, and rhetorical positioning in her writings demonstrates naming as philosophical act. For those with adopted identity, this practice involves: auditing imposed labels, identifying which self-descriptions feel authentic, deliberately claiming preferred terminology, and understanding that how you name yourself affects how others perceive you and how you perceive yourself. Language becomes not mere description but creative act—the medium through which adoption becomes real.