Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz was a Mexican poet, dramatist, scholar, and a nun. Known for being one of the first to write about women rights and feminism. Born in San Miguel Nepantla, Mexico in 1651, she is considered by many to be one of the earliest advocates for women's rights. Her work as a nun was unheard of at the time. Writing numerous poems and texts throughout her time, examples include You Foolish Men, where she calls out men as the main cause of the double standards faced by women during those times. Furthermore, in her work Respuesta a Sor Filotea, she argues for what she is allowed to do as a nun, defending her position that women are equally able to learn the same as men, and calls out the church for its ideals about women in society.
As a child Cruz was exceptionally gifted, being a child prodigy. As she was able to read and write in Latin, at the age of 3 and at the age of 8 she began to write poetry. In her teens she started to teach latin to the kids in her community, also highly knowledgeable in Greek ideals. She began living with her aunt and uncle at the age of 16, then moving to the viceroy's court, to assist his wife Vicereine Leonor Carreto. Her genius gained her popularity in the court, even leading the viceroy to organize a panel to test her knowledge. With many asking for her hand in marriage and disliking the lifestyle living in court. In 1699, Cruz started her sisterhood and became a nun to avoid it all allowing her to further her studies. She lived in the Convent of San Jerónimo, till her passing. Over these years she produced a plethora of poems and text, beginning to gain criticism. She would then go on to write the Respuesta a Sor Filotea, considered to be the one of the first feminine manifesto.She passed away in 1695 during an epidemic, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in literature and women's rights.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is remembered today as a key figure in Latin American literary and intellectual culture. She is most often celebrated as a defender of women's rights and is considered one of the first feminists on the American continent. Her passionate defense of education for women and refusal to silence by religious and social authorities remain an inspiration for scholars, writers, and activists today. In Mexico, she is a national icon her picture once adorned the 200-peso bill, and many schools and cultural centers are dedicated to her name. Sor Juana's legacy lives on through her work, which to this day is still being read all over the world for its depth, beauty, and courage.