Women are turning to microfeminism, a new form of activism, to combat everyday sexism in the workplace. This movement involves small, impactful actions like avoiding unnecessary email apologies, supporting female colleagues' ideas, and prioritizing female assistants in communications.
Microfeminism gained momentum after TV producer Ashley Chaney shared her practices on TikTok. In her viral video, Chaney explained how she prioritizes female assistants' email addresses over CEOs' in communications, a subtle act to elevate their status. Attorney Katie Wood joined the movement, using she/her pronouns for leaders by default to challenge the assumption of male leadership. Her actions also garnered significant attention and participation.
The hashtag #microfeminism now accompanies millions of TikTok videos, each showcasing unique acts of defiance. For example, one user shared how she rephrased a question about her marital status to assert her identity, saying, "No, Drew’s my husband," instead of being referred to as "Drew’s wife."
These everyday actions, though seemingly minor, collectively drive significant cultural change. They empower women to assert their rights, support one another, and foster a more inclusive and equitable workplace environment. Through microfeminism, women find new ways to challenge and dismantle everyday sexism subtly yet persistently.