United States: what is the 4B feminist movement, which woke up after the election results

After Donald Trump’s victory, alerts have been raised in various communities and social groups. One of them is the progressive young women’s movementwhich in TikTok and instagram They are discussing the 4B feminist movement, originally from South Korea. In it, heterosexual women refuse to marry, have children, date or have sex with men.

These women say they are angry and fed up after a majority of their male counterparts voted for a candidate they believe responsible for sexual abuse. Another key point is the appointment of three conservative judges for the Supreme Court which led to the cancellation of national protection to right to abortion.

In response, they say they are giving up men and encouraging other people to join.

What is the 4B movement?

He movement 4B It emerged in South Korea in 2016 and its name is an abbreviation of the four Korean words bihon, bichulsan, biyeonae and bisekseu, which translate as no marriage, no childbirth, no dating and no sex with men.

It is mostly popular among women in their 20s and arises in response to the marked gender inequality in the country, with an emphasis on collective and community action. It is developed in a decentralized manner, both online and offline, making it difficult to assess its true size and scope.

The case that gave rise to 4B in South Korea

In 2016, a woman was brutally murdered near a subway station in Seoul and the perpetrator allegedly said he killed her because he felt ignored by women. The incident sparked a wave of outrage and national recognition about how women are treated in the country.which was later expanded to talk about the femicide, revenge porn and digital sex crimes.

Feminism and gender division have been resonant topics in South Korea. Women earn a third less than men, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developmentthe largest wage gap among nations in the OECD.

Women are underrepresented in senior and managerial roles. Although South Korea’s 4B movement has largely disappeared from the media headlines in recent years, the US elections have revived interest.

The debates in the US around 4B after the elections

Some women are rediscovering the movement and vow to join. Others who are already married or partnered say they plan to protest in other ways, such as boycotting male-owned businesses or refusing to do emotional labor for men.

In appointment to cnnAlexa Vargas (26), a citizen of Boston, says she stopped interacting with men a few years ago after having unhealthy relationships, where there was abuse and aggression. Until this year he realized that there was a movement and a language that aligned with his actions. Although she says that “men need a wake-up call,” her decision has more to do with her and other women.

“I don’t know if men are going to change their ways. “I don’t know how this will play out,” he says. “My goal in life and in this movement is to protect young women and girls.” Women who are in favor of 4B online say that the way some men respond ends up agreeing with women who choose not to hook up with them.