Reclaiming Narrative Authority

Sor Juana lived in a world where others—the Church, patriarchal society, colonial authorities—attempted to define who she was and what she could become. She reclaimed her narrative authority through writing, insisting on self-definition. In children's rights, narrative authority means children get to author their own stories rather than being defined solely by adults' interpretations. Children in foster care, those labeled as 'troubled,' disabled children, or children from marginalized communities often have their narratives written by social workers, teachers, or medical professionals. Sor Juana's legacy demands that children participate in how their stories are told and represented. This includes the right to private journals, artwork, and creative expression without adult surveillance; the right to participate in case conferences and decisions about their care; and the right to challenge damaging labels or stereotypes. Reclaiming narrative authority means treating children as historians and interpreters of their own lives, respecting their meaning-making, and creating spaces where their voices—not adult interpretations—define their identity and potential.