Refusal as Economic Freedom

Sor Juana's famous retreat from public life and literary production was an act of refusal: she rejected the demands of bishops, patrons, and institutions to control her intellectual labor. Refusal is a radical practice of libertarian justice because it asserts ownership over one's own time, energy, and creative capacity. When someone is compelled to produce, perform, or create against their will—whether for church, state, or employer—their most fundamental property (their own person and labor) is being seized. Sor Juana's silence became a form of resistance that protected her autonomy. In libertarian frameworks, the right to refuse work, demands, and obligations is as crucial as the right to own land or goods. This concept reframes withdrawal and non-compliance as expressions of freedom rather than submission, recognizing that liberty includes the liberty to withhold oneself.