South Korea’s 4B Movement: Rising Up in America on Donald Trump’s Presidency

The 4B movement from South Korea has recently gained international attention, especially among young American women. As a feminist movement, it challenges traditional roles in marriage, family, and relationships. Political shifts in the U.S., including the re-election of conservative leaders, have sparked renewed interest in the movement as young, liberal women seek new ways to resist patriarchal norms.

Concerns over women’s rights to abortion have increased since Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, with some questioning whether the Republican would make access to the operation more ambiguous. Trump has praised the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that nullified the right to an abortion across the country. But over time, he has also stated that he would not impose a federal ban on abortion, but would instead leave the decision to the states.

The 4B movement from South Korea has made its way to the US amid the growing anxiety, with some women expressing on social media that they are fed up with waiting to see what the future holds for their own bodily autonomy.

The term “4B” is an abbreviation of four Korean words: bihon (no marriage), bichulsan (no childbearing), biyeonae (no dating), and bisekseu (no sex with men). Together, they represent the pillars of a movement that encourages women to detach from societal expectations tied to relationships, marriage, and motherhood.

The 4B movement began around 2015 or 2016 and arose as an offshoot of #MeToo and similar feminist movements. Its roots trace back to a growing discontent with gender inequality in South Korea. According to Ju Hui Judy Han, an assistant professor of gender studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, the 4B movement was propelled by younger South Korean women in their twenties who were questioning the structural inequities faced by women in various facets of society.

The 4B movement gained momentum after a tragic 2016 incident in Seoul, where a woman was murdered by a man claiming to have acted out of resentment towards women. This crime sparked a broader conversation around women’s safety, discrimination, and the prevalence of violence against women.

South Korea faces a substantial gender pay gap. Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights that South Korean women earn approximately one-third less than their male counterparts, making it the largest wage disparity among OECD countries. This economic inequality further fuels the movement, as many women feel trapped in a system that values their contributions less than men’s.

In South Korea, women remain underrepresented in senior and managerial positions, with corporate and government roles largely dominated by men. This lack of representation in decision-making positions perpetuates the cycle of inequality, giving rise to frustration among women who seek more equitable opportunities.

Alongside wage disparities and limited job opportunities, digital sex crimes have emerged as another alarming issue in South Korea. Instances of revenge porn, illegal filming, and harassment have led to increased activism as more women rally against the dangers of unchecked technological misuse and gender-based violence.

Amid the political shifts in the US, especially in moments when conservative ideologies gain momentum, young American women have turned to the 4B movement as a way to explore alternative modes of feminist resistance. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are full of discussions among American women who are both intrigued by and sympathetic to the goals of 4B, often seeing it as a tool to challenge patriarchal systems and the pressures of traditional gender expectations.

• Bihon (No Marriage) – Women in the 4B movement reject marriage as an institution, which they view as often subordinating women’s identities, careers, and life goals to those of men.
• Bichulsan (No Childbearing) – By choosing not to have children, women in the 4B movement resist the societal narrative that motherhood is a woman’s ultimate purpose. The decision against childbearing is also tied to concerns about economic burdens and the environmental impact of population growth.
• Biyeonae (No Dating) -The 4B movement questions the need for romantic relationships, particularly those that require emotional and financial sacrifices from women. Many in the movement argue that dating can lead to unequal relationships, with women often bearing the larger share of emotional labor.
• Bisekseu (No Sex with Men) – This tenet challenges the notion of intimacy as a given in life. By abstaining from sexual relations with men, women assert control over their bodies, rejecting the pressure to conform to sexual expectations often imposed by society.

The 2016 incident at a subway station in Seoul, where a man murdered a woman out of misogynistic resentment, was a critical turning point. This event brought a sense of urgency to the 4B movement as more women saw the need for spaces where their voices could be heard. The attack sparked widespread outrage and catalyzed discussions about how society treats women, highlighting the need for stronger protections and policy changes.

Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have played a crucial role in spreading awareness of the 4B movement internationally. By connecting activists and sympathizers across countries, these platforms create a sense of solidarity and offer a space to discuss feminist principles, exchange ideas, and inspire action.

The 4B movement represents a transformative approach to feminist resistance, urging women to break free from societal norms around marriage, family, and relationships. Though primarily a South Korean movement, it has found resonance worldwide as young women look for new ways to reclaim autonomy in societies that often undervalue their contributions and restrict their choices. As long as gender inequality persists, movements like 4B will continue to provide a vital framework for questioning, resisting, and reshaping the roles women play in modern society.