After high school she attended College of William & Mary but was expelled in part for writing anti-segregationist articles for the student newspaper.

After a period of time living in St. Louis working entry-level jobs, Michaels moved to New York City in October 1959.

[4] In 1961, she attempted to put the term Ms. into use when she saw what she thought was a typographical error on the address label of a copy of News & Letters sent to her roommate.

"[9] She knew the separation of the now common terms Miss and Mrs. had derived from Mistress, but one could not suggest that women use the original title with its now louche connotations.

[12] Michaels also worked as an oral historian where she interviewed members of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

[1][2][6] Through her father, Michaels' granduncle was U.S. Representative Meyer London, and her cousins include sisters Rosalyn Baxandall and Harriet Fraad.