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On the morning of November 6, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was declared America's 47th president. He claimed victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, who was the presidential candidate of the Democrats. Trump, who had already served a presidential term from 2017 to 2021, in his reelection campaign has celebrated the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade, a judgment that ended a nationwide right to abortion.
Trump's victory therefore reaffirmed the belief that women will not be given the right on their body. This is why to American women, the idea of South Korea's 4B movement sounds interesting. This has spiked in the US just a few hours after Trump's win. In fact, looking at the poll democratic, it is clear that more women voted for Harris (54%) as to Trump (44%).
american women, looks like it’s time to get influenced by korea’s 4b movement
— 🏐 ♡ paris !! ⁷ ꪜ (@jooniekisser) November 6, 2024
american women it's time to learn from the koreans and adopt the 4b movement as a matter of fact women from all over the world should adopt the 4b movementi'm so serious pic.twitter.com/WxfqxouAn1
— coleni. (@jungsooyawning) November 6, 2024
Women took to twitter and wrote: American women, looks like it is time to get influenced by Korea's 4B movement. Another woman wrote: American women, it’s time to learn from the Koreans and adopt the 4B movement. While another tweet read: The women in South Korea are doing it. It’s time we join them. Men will NOT be rewarded, nor have access to our bodies.
What Is The 4B Movement?
The origins of this movement can be traced from South Korea. It started in 2019, and it sounds for four words that begins with the Korean word "bi", translating to "no" in English.
- Bihon: no heterosexual marriage
- Bichulsan: no childbirth
- Biyeonae: no dating
- Bisekseu: no heterosexual sexual relationship
The supports of 4B movement refuse to date, marry, have sex or children with men and boycott all and any patriarchal or societal expectation from them due to their gender that can perpetuate gender inequity.
Supporters view marriage as a threat to women, as they are expected to work double shifts, handling household chores without husband's support and also maintain a professional life. South Korean women also earn 31% less than men, it is also the highest gender pay gap in democratic countries. As per a 2018 report, in the last nine years, 824 women were killed and 602 were put at the risk of death due to violence by their partners. Another 2021 study found that 1 in every 3 Korean women have experienced domestic violence, with intimate partners being responsible for 46% of the cases.
Also Read: These Three Women Architects Are Making Their Mark In A Male-Dominated Industry
4B Movement In The US
The US also experiences gender pay gap, with an average American women earning 82 cents for every dollar a man earns. Another issue is that men in US are also struggling with the shifting gender roles and are returning towards traditional values that prioritises men's interest at the expense of women's autonomy. The no abortion law is just one of the many such examples.
Torunika Roy, a PhD Scholar at Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, who is working on the topic of gender issues and low fertility rates in South Korea, says, "Women in the US are also backing '4B' to fight against the rollback of their freedom, especially after Trump's ascendency to Presidentship. Even before the elections, women knew about the movement. The elections, however, disappointed many Harris' supporters, who were rooting for 'access to abortion'. The 4B movement now has become a way for women to challenge Trump's anti abortion views and to demand for their reproductive rights."
4B Movement Beyond Korea
Roy also explains that 4B movement is a part of transnational feminism, that helps its global spread. "It highlights how feminist movements must address not just gender inequality, but also how it intersects with race, class, and national identity," she says.
She points out that there are movements like 6B4T in China that has formed 4B as its basic principles and further added not buying misogynistic products, rejecting rigid beauty standards, and certain cultural practices like Okatu, "which is known for its hypersexual depiction of women".
In Japan too, Roy notes, many women are choosing not to marry or have children that is contributing to a decline in the birth rates.
Has This Movement Reached India?
"India is seeing an increasing number of single women, more than ever before in recorded history. However, despite this demographic shift, deeply ingrained cultural and familial expectations still exist. These societal pressures often force women to conform to traditional roles, which could challenge the widespread adoption of the 4B Movement in India," she explained.
Though she pointed out that the success of the 4B movement depends on women's empowerment, which is more evident in societies with greater access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. For India, she notes, that women are still facing a significant dependency on men due to the societal norm, and limited access to resources.
"These factors hinder the full participation of women in movements like 4B, suggesting that such initiatives must be adapted to address both reproductive rights and broader gender empowerment in the Indian context," she says.