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Soft Power: Redefining Feminism Through Everyday Acts
As a high schooler, I’ve often been told I live in a bubble. Maybe that’s true, but in my bubble, the women I know are all feminists in their own way. They support women, they love women, and they do it while being soft, gentle, and kind. Through a series of conversations with the women who’ve shaped my worldview, my tutor, my boss, my mom, and my friends, I began to understand that feminism doesn’t always have to roar. Sometimes, it whispers.
“It’s about making sure every young woman knows her ideas are worth sharing.”
When I asked my tutor what feminism meant to her, she paused before answering.
“It’s about making sure every young woman knows her ideas are worth sharing,” she said finally. “You don’t have to wait for permission to speak.”
Her words stuck with me. I thought about the moments I’ve hesitated before raising my hand in class or held back from sharing an idea out of fear it wasn’t good enough. Her perspective reminded me that believing in yourself often starts when someone else believes in you first.
“If we don’t look out for each other, who will?”
My boss at a local nonprofit had her own take on feminism. When I interviewed her one afternoon, she smiled and said,
“It’s not always about the big marches or the politics. It’s about care. When you broke those jars at the farmers market stand, I didn’t worry about the mess. I worried about you. Because if we don’t look out for each other, who will?”
Her answer caught me off guard. I expected a speech about empowerment or equality. Instead, she talked about empathy. That moment showed me that compassion itself can be a radical act—that feminism can exist in the smallest gestures of care.
Quiet strength and everyday feminists
I’ve realized that feminism isn’t one-size-fits-all. The women I admire don’t fit the “girl boss” stereotype or feel the need to prove toughness. My mom, who sacrifices for her child’s education; my teacher, who encourages a shy girl to speak up; my friends, who remind me my voice matters, these are all feminists too.
Sometimes people confuse volume with impact. Yes, we need the activists who march, legislate, and shout for change. But we also need those who lead quietly, who teach by example, who create space for others to rise.
“Softness is not weakness.”
As someone who describes herself as sensitive and fragile, I’ve struggled with the idea that power must always look loud or bold. But these women showed me that softness can be powerful too.
Feminism, at its core, is not about how loud you are, it’s about what you stand for. It’s about inclusion, compassion, and the courage to care.
And maybe that’s what my so-called “bubble” has taught me best: that gentle doesn’t mean powerless, and quiet voices can still change the world.
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