Intersectional Oppression and Compound Injustice

Sor Juana faced constraints not from a single source but from converging systems: patriarchy denied her formal education and public authority; religious hierarchy limited theological inquiry; colonial status restricted her access to networks and resources; economic dependence on institutional support constrained her autonomy. No single reform would have freed her; each oppressive system reinforced the others. This reveals a critical insight for libertarian justice: property and freedom are not abstract universals but lived realities shaped by intersecting power structures. A framework focused solely on individual rights while ignoring gender oppression, religious coercion, or economic vulnerability will fail those facing multiple constraints. Sor Juana's life demonstrates that genuine justice requires addressing compound injustice comprehensively. Applied today, this concept resists single-issue approaches, recognizes how systems work together to deny freedom, and demands multifaceted solutions that account for how identity, economics, and institutional power intersect.