Interlocking Systems of Oppression

Sor Juana's oppression was never 'just' sexism; it was gendered colonialism in a patriarchal Church in a hierarchical empire. Her race as a creole, her class as a woman without property, her religious institution's power—all intersected to shape what she could do and say. The concept of interlocking systems helps practitioners map how oppressive forces work together. Addressing racism without addressing sexism leaves women of color behind. Fighting class exploitation without naming racial capitalism misses how capitalism depends on racial hierarchy. This framework demands that intersectional work operate at multiple levels simultaneously and that it be led by those experiencing multiple oppressions most acutely. It also reveals why single-issue movements often fail: they cannot address the full complexity of people's lives. Sor Juana's example shows that intellectual freedom, gender justice, and decolonization are inseparable struggles.