In the days after , the South Korean feminist 4B movement has gone viral online, fuelled by American women dismayed at the re-election of , a man who has been found guilty in a civil court of sexual abuse. The 4B philosophy urges women to boycott dating, sex, marriage and childbirth with men as an act of resistance against misogyny. Born out of South Korea’s version of #MeToo several years ago, 4B has found renewed traction and a new audience on social media as that Trump’s Republican administration will further restrict women’s reproductive rights, which have been severely impacted since Roe v.
Wade was overturned. Women holding signs at the National Women’s March in Chicago before the U.S.
election on Nov. 2, 2024. “This isn’t about rejecting love or relationships; it’s about reclaiming the power to live life on our terms.
It’s about focusing on self-fulfillment, freedom, and creating new paths for women in a world that often pressures us into certain roles,” on Instagram yesterday. “Are you ready to redefine what empowerment means? Join the 4B Movement and connect with women who want to live life by their own rules.” 4B has reportedly been on X alone since Tuesday’s election result, reaching 45 million users.
Here’s what you need to know about the viral rise of 4B. This movement is named after four B-words in Korean: Bihon, bichulsan, biyeonae, and bisekseu. They translate to the four things that women are boycotting: Heterosexual dating, sex, mar.