The recent 2024 US presidential election left many American women feeling disheartened and concerned about the future of their reproductive rights. The return of Donald Trump to power has heightened fears of a potential rollback in women’s rights, particularly concerning access to abortion. In response, some American women are embracing a radical new approach: the 4B movement, a South Korean feminist movement that calls for rejecting relationships with men altogether.
The 4B movement is gaining traction as American women see their rights increasingly threatened under the new administration, which they believe aims to restrict their bodily autonomy. Women across the country are refusing to wait for uncertain promises or hope for political change that may never come. Instead, they are finding inspiration in the South Korean movement that protests patriarchy by refusing to engage with men romantically or sexually, sending a clear message about women’s autonomy and their right to choose.
What Is the 4B Movement?
Originating in South Korea, the 4B movement began as a response to the widespread issues of patriarchy, gender-based violence, and femicide. Faced with these realities, many South Korean women decided to refuse participation in heterosexual relationships as a form of protest. The name “4B” refers to four guiding principles, each starting with “bi,” which means “no” in Korean:
- Biyeonae: No dating men
- Bisekseu: No sex with men
- Bihon: No marriage
- Bichulsan: No child-rearing
The movement began gaining momentum in the mid-2010s, particularly after a series of violent incidents targeting women, including the tragic 2016 murder of a young woman in a public restroom in Seoul. The movement’s proponents argue that by refusing to date, marry, or have children, they are striking back at a patriarchal system that fails to protect them. Their message is clear: unless the violence stops, so too will the population grow, as fewer women choose to have children.
Since its inception, the 4B movement has grown, primarily through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where many women have shared their stories and their decision to reject traditional gender roles and relationships with men. The movement has been controversial, but it has struck a chord among many women who feel marginalized and unsupported by society.
Why Are American Women Turning to 4B?
The aftermath of the 2024 election has left many American women in fear for their rights, particularly as Trump’s administration has a well-known stance against abortion rights. As reproductive rights in the United States come under increasing threat, some women see the 4B movement as a form of resistance that could lead to real change.
Social media has played a crucial role in spreading awareness of the 4B movement in the United States. The movement has begun resonating with many who feel that women’s bodies are being continually controlled and politicized, with little regard for their rights or well-being. For some, embracing the 4B movement is a way to reclaim power and control over their own bodies.
One user, @lalisasaura, recently posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter): “Ladies, we need to start considering the 4B movement like the women in South Korea and give America a severely sharp birth rate decline: no marriage, no childbirth, no dating men, no sex with men. We can’t let these men have the last laugh… we need to bite back.” The post has since gone viral, with over 469,000 likes, 75,000 retweets, and 19.9 million views.
Many women responded in agreement, with one saying, “If South Korean women can successfully do this, it is not impossible!!!!!!” Others have called it a “bold move,” but a necessary one for women to reclaim control over their bodies and lives. The idea that refusing to engage in romantic relationships with men can be an act of protest is gaining traction, with some believing it to be a powerful statement against a society that continues to devalue women’s autonomy.
However, there are also those who worry about the potential consequences of such a movement in the United States. Critics argue that the 4B movement could have far-reaching social impacts, with some voicing concerns that it might exacerbate the already polarized atmosphere in the country. One user commented, “Trump’s election has proven that misogyny and misogynoir are deeply woven into the fabric of our society. We need to think about the ramifications.”
Despite the concerns, the movement’s supporters are adamant that now is the time for women to make a statement and fight back against a system they believe is failing them. Another user, @solitasims, tweeted, “Ladies, I’m being so fr (for real) when I say this, it’s time to close off your wombs to males. This election proves now more than ever that they hate us and hate us proudly. Do not reward them.” These voices, echoing the sentiments of the 4B movement, are demanding radical change and making it clear that they will no longer tolerate being marginalized.
A Radical Call for Change
The 4B movement’s ideology of non-participation—choosing not to marry, date, or have children—is a radical one, but its spread to the United States indicates the deep frustration that many women feel in the current political climate. Faced with a lack of control over their own bodies, some American women are finding strength in the refusal to engage in relationships that they feel ultimately benefit men at their expense.
Whether the 4B movement will take hold in the United States to the same extent as it has in South Korea remains to be seen. However, it is clear that women are increasingly unwilling to remain silent or passive in the face of challenges to their rights. By adopting the principles of the 4B movement, they are signaling that they will not stand by as their freedoms are stripped away. They are choosing, instead, to take action—even if it means doing so by refusing the roles that society expects them to play.
The 2024 US election has galvanized women across the nation to seek out new forms of protest, and the 4B movement has emerged as a powerful option. Whether this movement will grow or fade, its emergence signifies a growing frustration among women and a determination to fight for their rights on their own terms.