The Right to Refuse Harmful Traditions

Sor Juana refused the path society prescribed for women—marriage or invisibility—and instead chose intellectual life in a convent, a choice that scandalized her society. Her refusal of harmful tradition models children's right to reject practices that compromise their futures. This concept recognizes that not all traditions serve children's interests, even when framed as cultural or familial preservation. Children deserve protection from practices like child marriage, forced labor justified by custom, genital modification, excessive corporal punishment, or arranged futures that deny them agency. This does not mean wholesale rejection of cultural heritage but rather protecting children's right to consent and participate in traditions rather than being passive subjects of them. Implementation requires nuance: distinguishing between traditions that enrich identity and those that cause harm, listening to children about their own experiences, and creating safe pathways for children to refuse participation without losing family or community. Sor Juana's example shows that refusal can be thoughtful, reasoned, and grounded in human dignity rather than rebellion. Children need institutional support—trusted adults, accessible information, protection from retaliation—to exercise this right without losing themselves.