An increasing number of American women are joining the “4B movement,” a social protest that originated in South Korea, advocating for abstaining from dating, marriage, childbirth, and sexual relationships as a stand against patriarchal structures. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL & Washington, Nov. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – In the wake of Donald Trump’s election as the 47th President of the United States, a growing number of American women are embracing the “4B movement,” a social protest originally popularized in South Korea that advocates for abstaining from dating, marriage, childbirth, and sexual relationships as a response to patriarchal systems.
Social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, have seen a surge in posts tagged with “#4b,” “#4bmovement,” and “#4bmovementusa.” The majority of these posts come from American women expressing disappointment with the election results and declaring their intention to join the movement.
Related:
Boycott men? South Korea’s 4B movement gains traction in the U.S. after Trump’s win (NPR)
After the Election, a Call for Women to Swear Off Men (New York Times)
In one emotional TikTok video, a user tearfully explained, “I just learned about the 4B movement. Korean women have pledged not to have children until they achieve equal rights. Korea is now in crisis because their population is declining. We need to unite now because we’re facing dangerous times ahead.”
The movement has seen unprecedented interest in the immediate aftermath of the election results. Google searches for “4B movement” peaked at 200,000 queries on November 6 alone, with particularly high search volumes in progressive strongholds such as Washington D.C., Colorado, Vermont, and Minnesota – states that supported Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
“Trump’s victory is being interpreted by many women as a signal of reproductive rights regression,” NBC reported, citing an analysis by Mira Choi, a doctoral candidate in sociology at Yale University. “American women’s frustration is transforming into a new movement that rejects relationships with men, heterosexual relationships, and participation in the patriarchal system.”
The political shift has also influenced literary trends. According to AP, Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” has surged to become a bestseller on Amazon.com following Trump’s election victory. The novel, which also saw a spike in popularity after Trump’s 2016 win, depicts women’s oppression in a fictional America ruled by far-right fundamentalists.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
