South Korea’s 4B Movement and its influence on America

After a long night of waiting, counting, possible recounting throughout the U.S., former president Donald J. Trump has been elected for his second term in office for the 2024-28 years. His re-election has sparked large amounts of  discourse, disappointment, and celebration across the country due to his many questionable affiliations. One of which being his involvement with Project 2025. To quickly summarize, Project 2025 is a conservative project that could be used during Trump’s administration to outlaw or completely remove ‘undesirable’ aspects of America in conservatives eyes–the biggest one being the complete ban of abortion with no exception. Many women of America quickly grew enraged when Trump’s victory ignited many people to chant and praise “Your body, My choice.” across platforms as a way to diminish and disregard women’s health. As a way to counteract, women and people born female at birth have taken inspiration of South Korean women’s own protest called the 4B movement:

• No sex with men (비섹스; bisekseu),
• No giving birth  (비출산; bichulsan)
• No dating men  (비연애; biyeonae)
• No marrying men  (비혼; bihon)

All four No’s start with B in the Korean language, thus giving it the name the 4B movement. The 4B movement began in South Korea in the mid 2010’s due to the violence against women, the sexism, and the inequality they faced in society. This movement had begun when the birth rates had begun to dwindle, and is still continuing to drop in South Korea to the point where it has become a national emergency.

America also faces an issue of violence against women, and with the lack of regard from people across the country, women have been faced with a terrifying reality that to many people, their rights do not matter. The 4B movement is an act of protest against the control of women’s autonomy, others reusing the phrase “Your body, My choice,” against other men by insinuating violence against men if they were to instigate. That isn’t the goal, but women online have fully committed to the idea that they would rather resort to violence than be assaulted in any way. The 4B movement’s traction post-election portrays the woes and fears that females across America are facing and although it is a frightening experience to be going through in the new ‘modern’ society–women have also been sharing resources for people who genuinely worry for their safety such as the domestic violence hotline. (800-799-7233.) 

There is no sure prediction of what the future holds, whether or not Trump plans to instate Project 2025 or if it’ll be approved makes people unsure, but it is best to face it head on rather than neglect the problem.