Solidarity as Economic Practice

While Sor Juana worked within constrained circumstances, her intellectual work was always oriented toward human dignity and justice. Ethical consumption can embody this same orientation through solidarity: the practice of actively supporting those whose labor and ecosystems sustain us. Solidarity transforms consumption from individual virtue into relational responsibility. When we choose a product made by a cooperative ensuring fair wages, we're not performing ethics—we're participating in solidarity with specific people fighting for dignity. When we support sustainable practices, we're allied with communities protecting their futures. This concept moves beyond guilt-based consumption ("I shouldn't buy this") toward affirmative choice based on relationship and accountability. Sor Juana's intellectual life depended on networks of support; similarly, ethical consumption depends on recognizing interdependence and choosing to strengthen relationships of justice rather than exploitation. Solidarity requires knowing who we support, understanding their struggles, and maintaining commitment beyond a single transaction.