Microfeminism
Everyday Acts of Defiance That Shift Power
There is a quiet revolution happening in Africa; and it isn’t always in the streets or on podiums. It’s in the boardroom when a woman insists on being heard. It’s on the matatu when she refuses to shrink and give up her window seat. It’s in parent teacher conferences when fathers are called in instead of mothers for any child related matters. It’s in contract clauses where her name appears first. It’s the revolution of microfeminism; those seemingly small, intentional acts of resistance against everyday patriarchy.
Microfeminism refers to small, intentional actions that actively challenge gender bias and promote the rights of women in daily life. These actions, while seemingly insignificant, can have a cumulative impact in creating a more equitable environment.
Microfeminism is the soft but sharp edge of liberation. It is not necessarily about loud declarations(though there’s a place for those too) but about the subtle, everyday choices women make to center themselves and each other in a world that tries, constantly, to make us invisible.
This piece was inspired by the vibrant stories and shared experiences of African women, captured in an online thread that made me laugh, reflect, and most of all, feel seen.
Here’s what I learned; and what I’m keeping close to my chest; as we build wealth and equity, one decision at a time.
Naming Ourselves First
There's something revolutionary about calling a married man “Mr. [Insert Wife’s Name]” or starting a contract with the woman’s name. It may seem petty to some(cheeky even), but in systems where default maleness is the norm, this is a deliberate reordering. If contracts, invites, and introductions constantly prioritize men, what does it do to the woman’s sense of ownership, legitimacy, or place?
It’s more than etiquette; it’s hierarchy.
So yes, let her name come first. Let it come loud, in full, and with the dignity that has always been hers.
PS: Legacy is maternal. But that is a story for another day. Yeah?
Language Is Power
Words build worlds. That’s why microfeminists are choosing "chairperson" or “chair” over "chairman", or “they” when referring to unnamed leaders. Language may seem neutral, but it is often encoded with power. If our default is always male, where do women live in language?
One woman shared how her daughter, having only encountered female pilots, was genuinely surprised to hear a man flying the plane. “Men can also be pilots?” she asked. And just like that, the world turns.
Refusing to Shrink
Spreading your legs on a bus seat like the men do. Placing your tampon/pad on the table, unhidden. Calling out catcallers in advance with direct eye contact. These aren't just acts of defiance. They are acts of ownership; of body, of space, of identity.
One woman described how men literally fell into bushes when she didn’t step aside for them on a narrow path. It’s a metaphor for what happens when women stop moving out of the way: the whole system stumbles.
This is what microfeminism looks like. It says, I will take up space. I will not apologize for existing. For living. For being. Get used to it.
Calling Men In (and Out)
When men say “hiyo ni umama”(loosely translated to—that is feminine emotionality); to insult each other, one can simply ask back; “Does your mother do that?”
And SUDDENLY, the insult loses its sting. When a man repeats a woman’s exact words in a meeting and is praised for it, a knowing pause and a calm “Yes, I just said that Peter” pierces the performance.
Mansplaining is helluva drug. Can I get an Amen Ladies!
Microfeminism is also about mirroring back the nonsense, gently but firmly, until it collapses under its own weight.
Micro Choices, Macro Impact
Let’s not underestimate these acts. Innocuous as they seem; they pack a punch
Because this is how equity is built:
One male parent asked to remember their child’s birthday at a time
One woman who doesn’t serve herself last at a family function at a time
One matatu seat occupied without apology at a time
One property title listing the woman first at a time
We are not waiting for policy. We can’t afford to.
We are not waiting for permission. We are choosing ourselves, daily.
Financial Literacy Meets Microfeminism
Feminism isn’t complete until women have financial freedom; not just equality in rights, but equality in resources
Now imagine applying this to how we talk about money.
What happens when women demand financial transparency in relationships? When they stop hiding how much they earn or ask to see the budget? When they insist that land registered in their name stays in their name? When mothers raise sons who understand periods and pensions?
That is microfeminism meeting financial literacy. And that is when it becomes a tool not just for empowerment, but for legacy.
Financial literacy is feminist literacy; it’s how we unlearn dependence and rewrite inheritance.
Equity isn’t just a value; it’s a valuation.
Because here's the truth: financial equity isn't just about numbers. It's about norms. It's about a woman knowing that she deserves a seat at the table; and insisting that it comes with voting rights and dividends.
Difficult Is a Compliment
I’ve been labelled difficult by male colleagues since I don’t shrink myself to suit their expectations.
And you know what? That’s the point.
Be difficult. Be deliberate. Be disruptive.
Own it. Because when we normalize these micro acts, they become culture. When we do them collectively, they become movement. And when we pass them down to our daughters—and our sons—they become inheritance.
Sincerely, Free to Be
So here’s to the microfeminists. The ones who don’t flinch, don’t flounder, and don’t wait. The ones changing Africa, not with thunderclaps, but with consistent raindrops. Not all heroes wear caps. Sometimes they are in heels and sneakers; flats and boots; saying “I do this for all the women who stand on my shoulders”
Because sometimes the biggest revolutions come in the smallest shifts.
In microfeminist acts of courageous living.
Raindrops may be small, but enough of them will change the shape of mountains. So too do the everyday acts of women reshape the world.
And that’s how we build matrilineality; one name, one word, one (micro)choice at a time.
#Microfeminism #EverydayFeminism #FeministResistance #AfricanWomenRise #GenderEquity #FeminismInAfrica #SoftPowerStrongImpact #FinancialFeminism #RadicalSelfAssertion #SubtleRevolution #OwnYourSpace #RewriteTheNarrative #FeministLegacy #LanguageIsPower #FinancialFreedomForWomen #MatrilinealFuture #WomenTakingSpace #FeministLeadership #NormalizeEquality #PowerInTheEveryday