ThinkHer

The first semester during my undergraduate years, there was a  “History of Physics” course. The syllabus was basically a list of scientists stretched from Aristotle to Einstein, a sweeping arc of minds that had shaped the discipline. The biographies we read were neatly arranged on a timeline of progress, their personal lives mostly stripped of social context. It was a history of achievements, not of people. These were tales of individual brilliance, where obstacles existed mainly to be overcome. And in this, I first recognized the pattern of what scholars now call the “superscientist” narrative: an individual—usually male—who triumphs over adversity to push the boundaries of knowledge. When women did appear, their stories followed the same arc but with a twist. Their struggle wasn’t against poverty or bad luck, but against patriarchy itself. Think of how we tell the stories of Marie Curie, Janaki Ammal, or Rosalind Franklin—as models of resilience, who not only conducted pathbreaki...

I had heard of Bertha Lutz before—as a women’s rights activist, a leader in Brazil’s suffragist movement, and one of the four women who signed the UN Charter in 1945, the document that officially established the United Nations. That’s how she’s usually remembered: a fierce feminist, a diplomat, someone who stood her ground at the world’s most important political tables. But what surprised me was where else her name shows up—not in laws, monuments or even street names, but in frogs and lizards!! It turns out Bertha Lutz was not only a political force, but also a trained biologist and naturalist. Before her name became tied to international diplomacy, she was studying amphibians at the Sorbonne and working as a researcher at Brazil’s National Museum. Her background in biology wasn’t a footnote—it shaped the way she thought, worked, and fought. She approached activism with the same discipline and curiosity she applied to science. I’m often struck, in conversations with fellow researchers,...

Microfeminist actions often emerge as responses to daily frictions—small slights, subtle exclusions, and invisible burdens that compound over time. Take the workplace, for instance. A recent study shows that 40% of women reported experiencing microaggressions, harassment, or both at work in the past year [1]. Paired with the unequal load of domestic responsibilities, these experiences create a constant undercurrent of inequality. For many, microfeminist acts are a way to push back against these imbalances, to claim space, and to foster dignity in places that rarely offer it freely [2].  We tried to understand why our respondents chose these acts of microfeminism, hence we asked the question "   What motivates you to do these acts ?" Made in Canva We came to realise that for many, microfeminist acts arise from a deep frustration with how society continues to downplay women's authority, intelligence, and autonomy.   “It’s normalized for men to give their opinions ...

I first came across the term microfeminism while scrolling through Instagram reels. Microfeminism is all about the subtle, everyday choices we make that push back against ingrained gender biases and create more equitable spaces [1]. These acts may appear small—inviting women to speak first in meetings, or confidently taking space in public—but they carry the weight of intention and resistance. Change doesn’t always have to be loud or sweeping; often, it begins with these quiet but deliberate gestures. Made in Canva Though the word microfeminism has gained traction only recently (especially online), the concept—and even the term itself—has roots that go back much further. In a 1998 article from the book 'Wired-Up', academic Sue Turnbull explored how her students responded to everyday feminist practices [2]. Rather than aligning with broad, unified political frameworks, they were drawn to more grounded, personal actions that addressed gender dynamics in daily life. Turnbull noted...

In the end, whether by questioning inherited norms, affirming long-held values, or embracing their children’s evolving beliefs, raising daughters prompted many parents to revisit their understandings of gender. To deepen our understanding, we asked parents a more personal question: What is something valuable your daughter(s) has/have taught you that you hadn’t considered before? The answers to this question revealed something quite profound: parenting is both a mirror and a threshold, a place where old certainties are gently undone. Raising a child in today’s world becomes an intimate intergenerational dialogue, one that is especially catalyzed by daughters who are often more vocal and determined in challenging the world as it is. In this space, both voices shape the conversation, with parents discovering that, at times, they absorb as much as they hope to impart. What stood out most was the sheer breadth of what daughters are teaching their parents today. From values to language, ...

The first question served as a window into how parents perceive their relationships with their daughters. It prompted parents to reflect not only on their evolving bonds but also on how their daughters have challenged and enriched their worldviews. This discussion sets the stage for deeper explorations: How do daughters shape their parents’ views on gender roles, personal growth, and the world at large? This naturally led us to our next question "What is One Belief or Assumption You Had About Gender Roles That Changed While Raising Your Daughter(s)?" Parenting daughters prompted many to confront and unlearn traditional gender norms. Some respondents described how their views changed over time, while others shared moments that reshaped their understanding in an instant. Some shifts happened suddenly—triggered by a moment of insight. Most changes unfolded gradually, through repeated conversations, observations, or even disagreements. Whether through quiet reflection or spirited...

Parenting is often seen as a one-way street, where wisdom flows from parents to children. But daughters often challenge this flow, subtly remolding the very people who raise them. To understand this transformation, we surveyed parents (mostly mothers) to learn how their daughters have influenced their views on themselves as well as gender and social norms. Why focus on daughters? Because they represent a generation of women that often questions norms, pushes boundaries, and redefines the beliefs of those who raised them. Our aim wasn't to discuss parenting per se, but to explore how these young women are shaping the perspectives of their parents. As daughters ourselves, we understand the friction—and the insight—that can come from demanding change within the family. Families, as they exist today, are mostly non-democratic spaces. Gender biases tend to be more visible to daughters, who are more likely to confront these imbalances at home. While sons may also influence their parents,...