Woman shares her experience of 'micro feminism' and wants others to adopt it as well

It feels wonderful to witness good changes through feminism, but seeing the small impacts of it in your everyday life can feel even better. It might help someone feel valued, improve their day, or make them feel seen and heard at an important moment. The woman Caoimhe Gibney (Kiva)—who goes by @themindfulphysio on TikTok—shared her moment with "micro feminism" and asked how she could do it more often for other people.

"I just had my first experience of micro feminism towards me," Gibney began. "I want to know how we can do this more." She wanted to make this a real thing that happens with more people. "Because I don't think it has happened to me before, but the minute it happened, I looked to that woman and I was like, you just spoke to my soul," she added. "We are in a familiar situation; this happens all the time. We were at a meeting a few weeks ago, I suggested an idea and we were back on one today bringing ideas to the table."  This one man shared the person's idea as his own. "I am sitting there, thinking, oh look, this happens all the time. I am not even going to give it time."

But then another woman unmuted herself and said, "I love it, but I also loved it when Kiva said it three weeks ago." Gibney continued, "Honestly, I was like, thank you for seeing me because we feel so invisible most of the time. I would have never stood up for myself that way." She expressed, "I wish I could. I am getting there, but for another woman to have my back like that, I want to be able to do that over and over again for as many women as I can." The woman questioned, "So please, how are we doing this? Not just putting them first in email. I want to know, like, in real life, how are we portraying acts of micro feminism because that felt so good."

"One of the more senior female staff members that was present at the first meeting spoke up to say she recognized it from my previous pitch and then moved on with the agenda," she told Newsweek in an interview. "I've never had anyone speak up for me in that capacity. To be seen and heard by another felt so validating...This was an act of human decency." She even wanted to thank the woman for helping her. "She said not to thank her, that women need to look out for each other and make sure we're all respected and seen in any situation. She's a senior staff member and has felt overlooked many times in her career, so she makes a point of looking out for other women trying to navigate the working world."

People took to the comments to express their opinions. @lironshebs suggested, "When I meet a woman that sells her art at a very low price, I double it and buy it. Someone did it for me and I do it for others. Know your worth!" @momiscringie wrote, "I NEVER made any woman on my team take notes. EVER. I also asked the men to clean up after lunch meetings." @jojoba_marie remarked, "Sports. When anyone talks about a sports game, I ask if it was the women’s team or men’s team playing. I will always remind people that there are women’s teams and events going on."

You can follow Caoimhe Gibney aka Kiva (@themindfulphysio) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.