Strategic Femininity and Gender Code-Switching

Sor Juana masterfully employed the language and forms expected of her—devotion, humility, feminine charm—as protective strategies that allowed her radical intellectual work to survive in a hostile environment. This introduces the concept of strategic femininity: the deliberate navigation of gendered expectations not as capitulation but as tactical positioning. Across the gender spectrum, individuals often engage in code-switching—adjusting presentation, language, and behavior depending on context—to maintain safety while expressing authentic identity. This concept validates that code-switching is not inherent inauthenticity but sophisticated identity management. Sor Juana's letters, poetry, and theological works show that one can inhabit multiple registers simultaneously without losing integrity. For gender-diverse individuals, this framework legitimizes the experience of presenting differently in different spaces while maintaining coherent selfhood, distinguishing between harmful repression and intelligent adaptation that allows fuller expression elsewhere.