The Right to Know What We Consume

Sor Juana's relentless pursuit of knowledge and her defense of women's right to learn directly parallels our need for transparency in consumption. She argued that ignorance is a form of injustice; similarly, ethical consumption demands we refuse to remain deliberately uninformed about what we buy. This concept extends her intellectual activism into marketplace decisions: demanding supply chain disclosure, labor condition transparency, and environmental impact statements. When we consume without knowing the true cost—human or ecological—we perpetuate the same systems of hidden exploitation Sor Juana fought against in colonial institutions. The right to know is both an intellectual and moral imperative, transforming passive consumers into informed citizens who can align purchases with values. Knowledge becomes the foundation of ethical choice.