The Right to Refuse and Resist

Sor Juana's intellectual work included subtle refusal and strategic resistance against constraints placed on her. She used wit, complexity, and indirect language to push boundaries while maintaining her position. Applied to animals, the right to refuse and resist recognizes that animals actively assert their will: wild horses that cannot be fully tamed, captive animals that escape or reject training, creatures that fight against capture or confinement. Rather than viewing this resistance as obstacle or disobedience, we can recognize it as legitimate assertion of autonomy. A dog that refuses a command, a horse that balks, a whale that avoids nets—these are not moral failures but expressions of will that deserve respect. Sor Juana's example shows that resistance under oppressive conditions is not merely permitted but morally significant. When we acknowledge animals' right to refuse and resist, we stop assuming their cooperation is owed and begin recognizing their agency. This shifts animal ethics from paternalism toward genuine respect for their choices and boundaries, even when inconvenient to human interests.