After Trump’s win, some women are considering the 4B movement

Tue Nov 12 08:28:23 UTC 2024: ## “4B” Movement Gains Traction in US as Women React to Election Results

**Following the recent US election, a South Korean feminist movement known as “4B” is seeing a surge in interest among young American women.**

The movement, a response to stark gender inequality in South Korea, encourages women to abstain from marriage, childbirth, dating, and sexual relations with men (represented by the Korean words “bihon,” “bichulsan,” “biyeonae,” and “bisekseu”).

The 4B movement, while less prominent in recent years, has been rekindled in the US following the election of a candidate whose history of sexual abuse and appointment of conservative judges sparked anger and frustration among many women.

Women expressing support for the 4B movement cite disillusionment with the political landscape and a desire to prioritize their own well-being. They argue that they’ve been subjected to systemic discrimination and violence, and that the current system fails to protect them.

**”If you’re going to hate us, then we’re going to do what we want,”** stated Ashli Pollard, a 36-year-old woman from St. Louis.

While some women are embracing the movement’s tenets, others are adopting alternative forms of protest, such as boycotting male-owned businesses or refusing emotional labor for men.

Despite the growing online discussion surrounding 4B, experts believe it’s unlikely to become mainstream in the US. Critics argue that the movement relies too heavily on the gender binary and ignores the reality that many women also voted for the candidate in question.

However, proponents of the 4B movement see it as a catalyst for a broader conversation about women’s experiences and the need for systemic change.

**”I think a lot of American women are … trying to find ways to seek empowerment and find a way to survive,”** said Ju Hui Judy Han, an assistant professor in gender studies at UCLA.

Whether the 4B movement takes root in the US or not, the conversations it has sparked underscore the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the need for women to find agency and support in a system that often fails to protect them.