Many American women have shared online how distressed and scared they are since Donald Trump won the 2024 US election. Now, a growing number of these women are looking to the viral South Korean feminist initiative AKA the ‘4B movement’ for solace in this current political climate.
Here’s everything you need to know:
What is the 4B Movement?
The 4B movement is originally from South Korea and started in the mid-to-late 2010s as a radical feminist response to gender inequality and violence against women.
The ‘4B’ stands for four Korean words that all begin with ‘bi’ (meaning ‘no’):
- Bihon: No marriage
- Bichulsan: No childbirth
- Biyeonae: No dating
- Bisekseu: No sexual relationships (with men)
This movement arose from a backdrop of pervasive sexism, digital sexual violence, domestic abuse, and economic inequality that many women faced in South Korea. By rejecting these traditional expectations, 4B feminists aim to redefine their lives outside of patriarchal norms and assert their autonomy.
Why is the 4B movement gaining traction in the US now?
So, why is the 4B movement suddenly gaining traction in the US? Well, Trump’s re-election has sparked serious concerns about women’s rights, especially reproductive rights. Many women see his victory as a major threat, particularly given his history of truly bonkers and offensive remarks about women.
The man has literally faced accusations of sexual misconduct from over 20 women, including a case where he was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll back in the ’90s. His comments about punishing women for having abortions have also set a troubling precedent, that may suggest that such attitudes are acceptable. The online atmosphere has also become increasingly hostile, with a rise in violent and misogynistic tweets that are most likely unchecked thanks to Trump’s bestie Elon Musk. Influencer Nick Fuentes’ viral phrase “Your body, my choice” sums up how fucked things are.
So does this post on X (formerly Twitter): “The fact that a rapist and convicted felon reality TV host was elected over a competent and qualified candidate with an entire career’s worth of experience in politics and government not once but TWICE, tells you everything you need to know about how much the world hates women.” Where is the lie?
“Girls it’s time to boycott all men! You lost your rights, and they lost the right to hit raw! 4b movement starts now!” a TikTokker posted, calling on women to join.
Beyond the 4B movement
If you were an over achiever and wanted to go beyond the 4B movement, you could advance to to 5B, 6B, and even 7B. These extensions of the movement add extra layers of resistance against patriarchal norms.
5B adds a financial element to the movement, whereby women shouldn’t purchase or support products that have the pink tax (things with gender-based price disparities) or misogynistic companies. 6B adds another commandment encouraging women participating in the B movement to help other women trying to participate. 7B is a combo of all of the movements, plus an emotional element.
“It’s about not spending money on pink tax products, or the misogynistic companies, and also not responding to the trolls, not spending your emotional labour on the man, especially the toxic man,” explained TikTok user Lebabob. So, it’s not just about saying ‘no’ to relationships — it’s about withholding support from systems and individuals that perpetuate gender inequality.
Will the 4B movement make a difference?
Of course, not everyone’s on board with the movement. Some argue that it’s “misguided” and won’t change the way men think, but participants insist that’s not the point.
Feminist content creator Drew Afualo talked about the movement on the Soul Boom podcast and explained the impact the 4B can have bringing up South Korea’s low fertility rates. “Why? Because women are refusing to have kids until they’re treated equally and fairly,” she began.
“Turns out women are a lot more essential than you would think huh, than men believe them to be, because now the government is panicking, because ‘we’re going to die out, unless women decide to have kids again’. They are refusing until they are awarded the exact same rights and respect that men are awarded in their society.”
Conservative politicians are in such disarray that they have pledged to introduce “measures to reject the 4B Movement” as part of policy campaigns in the past. However, all the while women have remained steadfast in their movement, waiting to gain the respect they deserve.
As for the US, one user on X put it: “The 4B movement isn’t to influence men to change their views, it’s in protest and self-preservation of being used as reproductive vessels.”
In other words, it’s not about changing men’s minds — it’s about standing up, whilst protecting ourselves from them.
Will the 4B movement change the world? Who knows, but one thing is clear, the world is in for a big change with Trump in charge again.
Lead image: TikTok/AskDiem/Lebabob
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