A section of women in the United States are “swearing at men”. Reason? Donald Trump’s victory as President.
With Donald Trump becoming US President, concerns over women’s abortion rights have increased, with doubts over whether Republicans would make access to the procedure more uncertain. In 2022, Trump celebrated the Supreme Court decision that struck down abortion rights nationwide. However, over time, he has also said that he would rather leave the decision on abortion rights to the states rather than impose federal restrictions.
Amid growing fears, South Korea’s ‘4B’ movement has entered the US, with some women on social media saying they are tired of waiting for a future for their bodily autonomy.
The ‘4B’ movement – a radical feminism movement against patriarchy – began in South Korea around 2017–18, but gained recognition on X (formerly known as Twitter) in 2019. It began in response to high rates of violence against women.
‘4B’ stands for four Korean words starting with “B” (which has no translation). The words are: “bihon” meaning no heterosexual marriage, “bichulsan” (no procreation), “biyon” (no dating), and “bisseu” (no heterosexual sex).
Members of the movement refuse to date, marry, have sex with men, or have children. By doing this, women are stressing that if violence or inequality against them does not stop, they will ensure that the birth rate will decline.
The movement also serves as an online community where women engage in open discussions about how to move forward and imagine a future without men. Women also use the platform to express their frustrations and concerns about living in a conservative society.
“It’s a new lifestyle that focuses on building safe communities both online and in person. What we want is not just to be labeled as a man’s wife or girlfriend, but to be free from those societal expectations. Freedom that often limits women is “the ability to be fully accepted as a human being,” Hein Shim, a South Korean activist, told The Guardian.
What are American women saying on social media?
The Internet in America seems divided over the ‘4B’ movement.
One user wrote, “Ladies, when I say this I’m saying it’s time for men to shut their wombs. This election proves now more than ever that they hate us and Don’t reward them with pride.” X.
Another said, “A reminder that the 4B movement, and the separatist movement in general, is not just about avoiding men – it’s also about supporting and investing in women. Women, women-owned businesses, women. “Seek relationships with media produced by.” Etcetera; Surround yourself with women and our culture.”
However, some people also claimed that this movement would never work in America.
