Writing as Resistance and Preservation

Sor Juana wrote—poetry, philosophy, defense letters—leaving records of her thought and existence. Writing became her way to resist being forgotten, erased, or defined entirely by others' narratives. This concept recognizes writing (and other forms of documentation) as epistemologically and politically important for cisgender people, particularly women whose intellectual contributions have been systematically minimized or attributed to men. For those examining cisgender identity, writing practices matter: keeping journals, publishing essays, sharing thoughts, creating records of your own perspective. Dominant narratives of cisgender identity often silence or distort women's actual experiences, aspirations, and intellectual contributions. By writing, we preserve ourselves against this erasure. Sor Juana's works survived partly because she wrote, creating evidence of her existence and thought that couldn't be completely rewritten by those who came after. This concept invites engagement with writing—formal or informal—as a form of self-preservation and resistance. Whether through publication, journaling, letters, or conversation documented and shared, the act of articulating our thoughts and experiences claims intellectual authority and resists the erasure inherent in cisgender socialization that teaches women to stay small and silent.