What is your daily act of microfeminism?

Being interrupted at meetings, overlooked for credit and having to justify their choices – these are some of the many battles that office going women grapple with on a daily basis. ‘I’d appreciate it if you could let me talk,’ ‘I won’t accept that as a joke,’ ‘I noticed you interrupted me’, ‘I know my job’ – and these are just some of the responses that come to their aid. And this is where microfeminism steps in – small, intentional actions that pushback any kind of ‘otherwise normalised’ discrimination.

Last year, TV producer and host Ashley Chaney sparked a conversation when she shared how she subtly alters workplace interactions to challenge gender biases. Her post, captioned ‘girls girl, corporate edition’ with the hashtag #microfeminism, described how she lists female assistants before male executives in emails. “When I send an email to the CEO and you have to copy their assistant for scheduling purposes, if the assistant is female, in the email ‘to’ line, I will always enter their email address before the CEOs.” With over 2.6 million views, her post resonated widely, inspiring women to share their everyday acts of microfeminism. While Ashley shared that she couldn’t take credit for the term, she helped make it go viral by discussing small, everyday actions that challenge gender inequality. Another key figure in promoting microfeminism is TikTok creator Katie Wood, who described it as making small but impactful changes that subtly push back against gender biases.
Women share how microfeminism, though subtle, is their way of challenging workplace discrimination. It takes years of unlearning to finally assert, “This is not okay,” whether through words or small yet impactful actions.
During the 2020 Vice Presidential Debate, Mike Pence interrupted Kamala Harris while she was making a point. To this, she responded with an assertive, “I am speaking” a statement that went viral as a moment of Harris standing her ground
Microfeminism began as a trend when TikTok creator Ashley Chaney sparked a conversation, sharing how she subtly alters workplace interactions to challenge gender biases. It resonated with women from diverse backgrounds, who shared stories of their everyday acts of microfeminism, turning it into a trend.

‘I don’t let my ideas get interrupted’
Devapriya Khanna, Founder & Managing Partner of an international consultancy and industry network, shares that microfeminism is often found in the small, invisible moments that occur every day at the workplace. Recalling one such instance, she shares, “I remember a board meeting where my ideas were constantly interrupted by a male colleague. Instead of letting it slide, I calmly said, ‘I’d appreciate it if I could finish my point.’ It was a simple act, but it set the tone for others in the room. The true impact of microfeminism lies in its accessibility and immediacy. These microfeminist acts don’t just fight sexism; they foster a culture of mutual respect and accountability. When women call out mansplaining, use gender-neutral language or stop apologising for their existence in professional spaces, they are not only protecting their boundaries but also paving the way for other women to do the same.”
‘I don’t explain my life choices’
Shreya Seth, assistant professor at a university in Pune, points out that she never lets casual sexism be passed off as a joke. “I always interrupt and correct it. The amount of casual sexism that prevails in academic circles is astonishing, and the way it is propagated in auditoriums full of students is equally shocking. I don’t explain my life choices. As women, we are often expected to do so when we go against the tide – ‘Why are you an atheist?’, ‘Why aren’t you married yet?’, ‘Why don’t you want to have kids?’, ‘Achha hua aapki love marriage hai, arrange toh difficult hoti.’ I don’t think these questions deserve a response, so I don’t give one.”
‘I ask women to take credit for their work’
Bosses share that they encourage women to take credit for their work. Pooja Sardana, client partner in the space of marketing and strategic consulting, says, “Men end up talking about their accomplishments but women don’t. So I ask them to take their due credit. I don’t let men use abusive language in work discussions, I call it out as that happens in sales. Also, if I am walking and a man is coming from the other side, I don’t step aside. We both can be navigating how to go past each other, but I don’t give them the way by default. I also feel it is very important for women to talk about their work and take credit for it. I want to tell them that there is nothing wrong with that.”
‘I ask women in the room to give ideas’
Real-life examples of microfeminism in the workplace include using gender neutral language, such as changing titles like “chairman” to “chairperson” and using phrases like “parental leave” instead of “maternity leave”, explains Jyotsna Dash Nanda, AVP, Corporate Communications at a multinational conglomerate corporation. “Addressing women first in emails or meetings – like listing their names before men’s – subtly challenges traditional gender hierarchies. Challenging interruptions during conversations ensures women’s voices are heard. Normalising women’s experiences involves openly discussing topics like menstruation to reduce stigma. Some individuals also reverse assumptions by using female pronouns as defaults when referring to leaders unless known otherwise. I ask women in the room to contribute ideas and adopt gender-neutral language. I use ‘they’ instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’ when referring to someone I don’t know, I use ‘everyone’ instead of ‘guys’,” she explains.