What Is The 4B Movement & Are Women In The U.S. Opting In?

A South Korean social movement colloquially known as the 4B movement is catching the attention of young women in the U.S. after recent news of a Trump 2024 presidency. Young women are utilizing social media platforms such as TikTok to discuss ways they will either join the movement or find their own ways to protest.

So what is the 4B movement?

According to CNN, 4B is a shorthand for the four Korean words: bihon, bichulsan, biyeonae and bisekseu, which translate to no marriage, no childbirth, no dating and no sex with men.

The movement began in the mid-to-late 2010s due to growing gender inequality and violence against women. From gender pay gaps to brutal crimes against women, offline and online, activists started advocating for women to seriously consider their safety by swearing off men until conditions improved for South Korean women.

Here’s how the movement inspires young women in America.

Due to TikTok’s massive reach, young women in America are also discussing the 4B movement. The movement is increasingly appealing to women in America in light of the recent 2024 election results. Trump’s presidency casts a threatening gloom over many women, and the current political environment has also emboldened a lot of young men to perpetuate sexist attitudes toward young women. The rise in Trump’s rhetoric about women’s place among men has unfortunately fueled manosphere forums, combined with the ease of creating a podcast or blog, has been a disastrous recipe and was clearly reflected in the polls. 

According to bestcolleges.com, 56% of men aged 18-29 voted for Trump, and many women have reconsidered their approach to dating.

Prairie View A&M University student Mackenzie feels she will become more timid when pursuing a relationship. “What if he voted for Trump,” will be the looming thought in her mind, she said.

“It honestly makes me feel like I don’t want to date any man, ever,” she said. “It’s a little scary and disappointing.” 

“Your body, my choice.”

According to Jia Tolentino’s article in the New Yorker, on the night of Trump’s reelection, Nick Fuentes, a 26-year-old streamer, organizer, and far-right political pundit who promotes white supremacist, misogynistic, and anti-semitc views, tweeted “Your body, my choice. Forever.”

This encouraged men across the country as they repeated the sentiment while commenting on young women’s social media accounts, as well as other sentiments such as “we own your body” and “get back in the kitchen.”

At Texas State University, young men gallivanted around with signs claiming that “women are property” and “homo-sex is sin,” the morning after the election. An act of violence contributing to the appeal of the 4B movement. 

The violent reclamation of a rallying cry in support of women’s reproductive rights has inspired a wave of U.S. women considering their safety in a country that has become increasingly more hostile and regressive to swear off men if their rights and bodily autonomy won’t be respected. 

Tread with caution.

Since it is absolutely your body and your choice, you get to decide whether dating is the right path for you, or if you want to participate in South Korea’s feminist 4B movement. But, if you choose to date, here are some things that can help you sift out the good dating contenders from the bad:

Did they vote for Donald Trump? —  If the answer is yes, red flag.

Do they support bodily autonomy? — If the answer is yes, green flag.

Have they ever said, “I should start a podcast.” — If the answer is yes, RED flag.
Do they uplift women and support your intelligence, beauty, and femininity without any insults? — If the answer is yes, green flag.

• 4B movement
• election
• tiktok
• Womens Rights