Champion for Women's education

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Sor Juana Inez Cruz: Champion for Women’s Educational Rights
In the 1600s, Sor Juana Inez Cruz, a nun in the Convent of the Order of St Jerome, wrote a critique of a sermon that was delivered some forty years earlier. Her paper was critical of a preachers’ message regarding Christ and His love for mankind. Cruz’s critique was subsequently published by the Bishop of Puebla without her consent or knowledge. Additionally, the bishop wrote his own letter to Sor Juana using the fabricated name of Filotea de la Cruz. In his letter, the bishop describes a conversation between two nuns, one insisting that the other spend her time and abilities attending to religious matters alone, while forsaking intellectual pursuits (Norton 247). As a response to the bishop’s actions, Sor Juana wrote, “The Poets Answer to the Most Illustrious Sor Filotea de la Cruz”, a humble, intelligent, and tactful response, where she responded, “I have attempted to entomb my intellect together with my name and to sacrifice it to the One who gave it to me; and that no other motive brought me to the life of religion…” (Ines De Le Cruz, Sor Juana 252). Her response to the Bishop of Puebla grew from her distaste of his stance against a woman’s right to a secular education. In Cruz’s time, and as a rule, women were not allowed to pursue an education outside of the religious confines of the nunnery. As a result, the overseers of the convent did all they could to put Cruz to silence (Paz 263).?? Also, Cruz’s “Philosophical Satire”, which describes the unacceptable behavior of the men when it comes to a woman’s right to be treated fairly, reads, “....if, with eagerness unequaled, you plead against women’s disdain, why require them to do well when you inspire them to f...

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...n of her wisdom and insight. Even though she succeeded in writing plays, prose, songs, and other noteworthy works, and because she took a stand against the institution of religion in the Catholic Church, she was eventually silenced and ostracized. No longer was she allowed to continue publication of her works. Moreover, her writings were no longer to be read in the convent with most being sold off or were removed. In conclusion, there are some works of Cruz’s that have surfaced and are in print today. These works alone are enough to keep her memory alive. Certainly, all women should be grateful for the sacrifice that Cruz made, her brave and humble contribution, and at the risk of losing her own life. After all, she single handedly forced open a door that had been closed for years; a door for a woman’s right to a well-rounded education (Paz 450-470).

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