When was the last time you stepped outside of your comfort zone to stand up for yourself, for another, or for a group of people who live differently to you?
When did you last stop and think about the “rules” you follow and the traditions you hold as truths?
Have you ever wondered why we spend so much time trying to impress imperfect people who left this world generations ago instead of coloring outside the lines of life-laws to work hard to impress those who come after you?
Do you want to follow – or do you want to be the best ancestor that you can be?
These are BIG QUESTIONS for a humble blog post – but, I think about them a lot. I think about how, as a queer woman, I spent so much of my life masking. Shape-shifting to fit into other people’s ideals. Shrinking to fit into small spaces designated for me.
And, then I smile remembering the times I said “Oh helllll nawwww…” and did the right thing, even when it wasn’t the popular thing. Popular has never been the goal for me though – KIND has been.
That means that, as I get older, I see kindness as resistance in a world that seems fixated on individualism, consumerism, us vs them, and algorithms made to hook us and then pull us apart.
Crafting A Culture of Change
Culture has deep roots. Growing from them, limitations masquerade as normality. When I think of changing culture at a macro level, I think of Feminism. Mostly because, as a woman, I’ve been noticing more and more just how many opportunities are only available to those at the top of an outdated, patriarchal heap of inequity.
Here’s what I know for certain: fundamental changes to equality take chutzpah, grit, and time.
When we think about changing rules that only serve a privileged few, we think about fighting. Fighting for equality and basic human rights. Fighting against something much bigger than ourselves.
Fighting gets tiring.
Revolutions feed fear on both sides.
So, here’s a narrative shift that I love… revolutions aren’t always loud, bolshy, or overt. Sometimes they’re whispered between the lines of an email. Sometimes they hide behind a subtle shift in mindset.
Sometimes they show up in the way you claim an airplane armrest. And, often, they unfold in moments as subtle as having to courage to speak up and say, “Excuse me, she wasn’t finished.”
Welcome to my favorite Revolution: Micro-feminism.
Micro-feminism a pocket-sized, bite-sized, espresso-shot version of equality. Small acts. Big ripples. All pushing against LIMITS, not gender.
What is Micro-Feminism Anyway?
Micro-feminism is the art of the small rebellion. It’s the everyday tweaks, nudges, and side-eyes that challenge the defaults baked into our culture. It’s all of us – every human on earth – practicing the art of noticing and then acting on moments or rules that don’t engender equality.
Micro-feminism is not a women’s fight against men.
It’s a fight against limitations.
Micro-feminism is sassy, serious, full of side-eyes, and it’s speaking up”
- It’s swapping “hey guys” with “hey legends.”
- It’s putting her name first in the email instead of always defaulting to “husband and wife.”
- It’s refusing to let a woman’s idea get hijacked in a meeting without saying, “Yes, as Sarah was saying earlier…”
- It’s asking: “Men’s or women’s game?” when someone just says “the basketball team is playing.”
Micro-feminism doesn’t wait for International Women’s Day or a giant protest. It happens on a Monday morning when you decide that this email signature is going to smash the patriarchy. Small. Moments. Add. Up.
Feminism is unfinished business.
Micro-feminism is where revolution meets routine.
Why It Works
Revolutions like this aren’t as subversive as they seems. They work because the small stuff sticks.
Every time we flip the script, we remind people that equality is not a “special occasion” thing—it’s an everyday, everyone, everywhere thing.
I truly believe that the revolution doesn’t always need a megaphone. Sometimes it just needs you to speak your truth – or, believe the truth of others so that you can show up as an ally.
Micro-feminism works because it’s accessible, too. You don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room. You just need to notice when the room is tilted and adjust it by one degree.
If big feminism builds the stage, micro-feminism makes sure the mic is passed around. And, everyone deserves a moment with the mic.
Real-Life Micro-Feminism (That’s What She Said…)
Some ways to insert small acts of bravery into a day can make us laugh or end up in a knowing, awkward silence.
A few of my favorite moments from women out in the wild:
- A divorce lawyer on Reddit: “I always write ‘Wife and Husband’ instead of ‘Husband and Wife.’ I’m going to keep doing it until I retire.” (That’s what she said—on the paperwork, and it matters.)
- A woman in maintenance: “When men don’t understand me, I joke that I’m ‘translating it into dick.’” (That’s what she said—and everyone finally listened.)
- A frequent flyer: “I take the armrest back from the manspreader and hold my ground.” (That’s what she said—and she didn’t budge.)
- And my personal favorite: “I act like I can’t hear men when they interrupt me. I just keep talking.” (That’s what she said—and that’s what everyone finally heard.)
The armrest is not a metaphor.
It’s time for us to take up space and take it back.
How Micro-Feminism Ties to FIRST MOVERS
When we think about breaking down an almost indellible belief that women are worth less than men, not as strong, not as brave, not able to lead in impactful and important ways – a little bit of perspective is needed.
Here’s mine: the patriarchy was not built in a day—but it can be chipped away daily. Yasmin London and I dove deep into the subject on our First Movers Podcast.
When we look at Micro-feminism through the lens of making moves and apply the FIRST MOVERS Method to it, things click into gear.
- Fuel Growth: Language matters. Start with the words you use.
- Ignite Courage: Speaking up doesn’t need to be grand—it can be a quiet, steady, “She wasn’t finished.”
- Reframe Relationships: Defaults don’t define us. Asking “men’s or women’s?” reframes value.
- Shake the Status Quo: Put her name first. Always.
- Tell Your Story: Share your micro wins—they give others permission to start.
How to Try It This Week
We’re busy, so trying to shift the entire world feels big.
We might not have time to change everything on the daily, but we do have time to rewrite the agenda.
Want to start small?
Try one of these:
- Replace “guys” with “humans,” “friends,” or “brilliant legends.”
- Attribute women’s ideas by name in your next meeting.
- Swap the order in your emails: “Wife & Husband.”
- Ask “men’s or women’s?” next time sports come up.
- Sit comfortably, hold your space, take the armrest.
- Quote women from history instead of men.
- Tell stories about your most inspirational women doctors, engineers, actors, CEO’s, etc.
When we center women’s stories, we become the new architects of modern history.
The Proof In The Push-Back
Micro-feminism is proof that big cultural change is built on tiny rebellions. Stacked up, they topple the defaults we’ve carried for far too long.
So next time you say “Hi legends” instead of “Hi guys,” or you refuse to be interrupted, or you proudly put her name first—remember: you’re moving first. You’re shifting culture. You’re proving that the tiniest spark can still light a fire.
Patriarchy hates being ignored—so keep talking when it interrupts.
And if someone rolls their eyes?
Well… that’s what she said.
