In the midst of a severe demographic crisis, a movement has suddenly emerged in the South, the OECD country with the highest number of suicides, the highest per capita alcohol consumption and the majority of young people confined to their rooms. Korea: 4B. A group of young women rose up in protest to change the status quo following Trump’s election, a movement that has now transcended borders.

Origin of the movement. The murder of a woman at a train station in Seoul in 2016 shocked the country and served as a catalyst for digital feminism in Korea. Virtual spaces have become platforms where women can express their frustrations, criticize patriarchal norms, and organize protests. During this time, other movements such as Tal-Corset (which encouraged the rejection of beauty standards) gained strength and inspired the seed of 4B and its challenge not only to beauty standards but also to institutions that perpetuate patriarchy. .

Against this reproductive backdrop, 4B was a logical step in South Korea in response to gender violence, wage inequality, and a culture that, according to its proponents, minimized women’s rights. This movement emerged in 2019, mainly due to anger over issues such as dating violence and so-called revenge porn. Plus: As we said before, birth rates in South Korea are among the lowest in the world, and many young women reject motherhood, thinking the personal costs are too high.

What’s behind the acronyms? As we said, the 4B or “4 Nos” movement has gained traction among young women who are challenging social expectations about marriage, motherhood, heterosexual relationships, and intimacy. The same person whose Korean name symbolizes “no” (비, bi), goes against four traditional pillars: bihon (not marriage) bichulsan (not to motherhood), bioeonae (not to romance) and bisekseu (not sex). By rejecting these aspects of life, feminists in the movement seek to redefine their lives outside of traditional gender roles.

We should also not forget that South Korea has one of the worst gender pay gap rates in the OECD, further exacerbating the lack of social mobility and contributing to general discontent. Viewed this way, rejecting traditional norms of life became a radical strategy to challenge the persistent patriarchy in South Korean society.

And then came Trump. By 2024, the victory of Donald Trump has sparked new interest in the movement in the form of viral videos on American social networks, especially on platforms such as they see it as a way to protect their rights in the context of restrictions on their health.

Reactions in the US and Google searches. Interest in the 4D movement is reflected in a noticeable increase in Google searches for the term and conversations in forums such as r/TwoXChromosomes, where users discuss the possibility of adopting a “celibate” stance until men make a real commitment to the movement. your rights. For example, on a viral post by X, one user commented: “It’s time for us to bite. “South Korean women showed us the way.”

Expansion in networks. There are many TikTok users who share videos about 4D. For example, María Barbieri, a creator under the pseudonym @girl_dumphim, garnered more than 3 million views by sharing a video in which she cuts the hair of her character Furiosa and expresses her rejection of patriarchal expectations. Another user, @rabbitsandtea, broke up with her “Republican boyfriend” and adopted 4B, adding almost 9 million views to the “cause.”

Another video, which has been viewed thousands of times, shows a woman saying joining 4B was the “best decision” of her life. Other users say the time to embrace 4D has come as a collective response to preserve their autonomy in a country that prioritizes control over their own bodies. TikTok users like Dalina, who experienced cases of male intimidation and has since decided to join 4B, are now sharing their experiences on the platform.

The stories of American women like her reflect a sense of despair turned into action. Barbieri notes that she has received support from women around the world who are interested in 4D in response to their own experiences of oppression.

Trend. All these videos and content uploaded in general reflect a growing trend among women trying to protect themselves from the lack of support for their rights and avoiding relationships with people who do not value their lives. This resurgence of 4B in the United States is not only a protest against restrictive policies regarding abortion, but also, as we have said, a demonstration against the traditional role of women in a society that privileges control and reproduction, according to 4B’s proponents.

Consider that in the United States, conservative and prominent figures such as J.D. Vance and Elon Musk have expressed interest in increasing birth rates while supporting policies that restrict women’s reproductive rights, further fueling the debate.

Effects and social response. As with every movement, it was also exposed to criticism despite support. It mostly comes from men who have negative comments and responses and try to discredit her. The emergence of the common expression “your body, my decision”, as expressed by far-right figures in the comments, intensified the movement’s defensive reaction.

Some users on TikTok, like Ashli ​​Pollard, said 4D allowed them to re-evaluate their lives and move away from such gender expectations. Pollard, who has adopted the movement in recent years, states that the change is eye-opening and liberating, allowing him to live on his own terms. However, he also acknowledges that the move was misinterpreted by some as a simple emotional response, when in fact it was a “deeply considered” decision for his well-being and autonomy.

Solution. It cannot be a coincidence that the 4B movement has crossed borders and reached American reality after Trump’s re-election as president. Background: The movement’s expansion in the United States reveals the urgent need for many women to seek a life outside the oppression and political constraints of patriarchy.

Trump’s election seems to have prompted all this and more, a greater awareness of other alternatives that women have to protect themselves and find new forms of resistance. For many, 4B has become not only a symbol of autonomy, but also a means of survival in a context that seems increasingly oppressive.

Image | Ilham Khalid Setiawan, Gage Skidmore

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