Following Donald Trump’s election victory, a South Korean feminist movement called the “4B Movement” is resonating with American women on TikTok. The movement’s principles, which include rejecting dating, marriage, sex and childbirth with men, have sparked conversations about gender dynamics in the U.S. amid concerns about women’s rights.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 42%
Center 28%
Right 31%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Inspired by years of activism in South Korea, the “4B Movement” — shorthand for the “Four Nos” — advocates for complete independence from men as a protest against societal expectations.
Since Trump’s 2024 victory, many women in the U.S. have adopted these ideals. Many cite a sense of solidarity and frustration with what they see as setbacks to women’s rights under his leadership.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
On TikTok, hashtags like #4BMovement and #4BNos have gathered millions of views. Many women are sharing their personal stories and decisions to “opt-out” of relationships with men.
Influential users whose videos on the topic have gone viral, say the movement provides a sense of control in an environment where they feel their rights are increasingly under threat.
The “4B Movement” emerged in South Korea as a reaction to social issues such as the country’s gender wage gap, high rates of workplace harassment and limited protections for women. In recent years, it has influenced everything from birth rates to marriage trends. Advocates say opting out of traditional roles is a form of resistance to gender inequality.
Critics of the movement argue that it could deepen social divisions. They’ve called it an “extreme response” that risks fueling a so-called “gender war.”
Yet for supporters, the decision to join 4B isn’t simply a TikTok trend, it’s a call for meaningful change and a rejection of societal pressures.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
While it’s unclear if the 4B Movement will have lasting effects in the U.S., it’s clear the ideas it represents are resonating with many women post-election. As more women turn to social media to share their views, the movement’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
Tags: 2024 Elections, Abortion, Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Election, House Republicans, Men, Mental health, Reproductive health, Reproductive rights, Republicans, U.S. Senate, Women’s Health
[Jack]
IN 4-11 B-C-E… ARISTOPHANES WROTE THE GREEK COMEDY LYSISTRATA… ABOUT A GROUP OF WOMEN USING AN UNCONVENTIONAL METHOD TO END THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR: WITHHOLDING SEX FROM ALL MEN IN THE LAND. FOR CENTURIES, IT HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON STAGE AND SHOWN ON FILM… STUDIED IN SCHOOLS AND GILDED AS ONE OF THE EARLIEST NARRATIVES ON FEMALE EMPOWERMENT.
NOW… A NEW MOVEMENT IS MAKING IT OVER TO THE STATES FROM SOUTH KOREA… INSPIRED BY THIS SAME STORY.
“You will never control your own bodies, you will never be the leader of a global empire. Not gonna happen sweetie. Your body, our choice”
“I feel like I’m in a different world today… this is so heartbreaking..
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF AMERICAN WOMEN ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS OF THE 2024 ELECTION… AND UNCERTAIN OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR THEIR FUTURE. IN PROTEST… THEY ARE JOINING A MOVEMENT.
IT’S CALLED THE “4B MOVEMENT”… IT BEGAN IN SOUTH KOREA AND ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO “OPT OUT” OF MEN ENTIRELY.
ITS FOUR PRINCIPLES ARE NO DATING, NO MARRIAGE, NO SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND NO CHILDBIRTH WITH MEN. AND THEY IDEA IS GAINING TRACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
SEVERAL TIKTOK USERS ARE COMMITTING TO THE PLEDGE, AND ENCOURAGING OTHER WOMEN TO DO THE SAME. SOME ARE ALSO SHAVING THEIR HEADS IN PROTEST. VIDEOS ON THE MOVEMENT HAVE BEEN VIEWED MILLIONS OF TIMES… BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THIS COULD SNOWBALL INTO AFFECTING THE AMERICAN BIRTH RATE.
THE 4B MOVEMENT HAS TAPPED INTO FRUSTRATIONS THAT ARE NOT UNIQUE TO SOUTH KOREA. WOMEN IN BOTH COUNTRIES REPORT FACING A GENDER WAGE GAP, WORKPLACE HARASSMENT, AND DISCRIMINATION.
IN FACT, SOUTH KOREA HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST GENDER WAGE GAPS AMONG DEVELOPED NATIONS, AND MANY 4B ADVOCATES VIEW OPTING OUT OF TRADITIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH MEN AS A WAY TO REJECT A SYSTEM THEY FEEL OPPRESSES THEM.
IN SOUTH KOREA… THE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN CREDITED WITH REDUCING BIRTH RATES AND CHALLENGING TRADITIONAL FAMILY STRUCTURES. CRITICS ARGUE THAT IT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A “GENDER WAR,” BUT SUPPORTERS SAY IT’S ABOUT FINDING SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE.
FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES AND STRAIGHT FACTS… DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M JACK AYLMER.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 42%
Center 28%
Right 31%
Bias Distribution
61 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
61
Leaning Left
15
Center
10
Leaning Right
11
Last Updated
16 hours ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
VOTE WITH THE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.™
We promise you context and clarity when it matters the most!
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
Harris campaign raised $1 billion, ends $20 million in debt: Reports
-
Getty Images
Why migrant families will no longer be getting prepaid debit cards in NYC
-
Getty Images
Some swear off sex as ‘4B Movement’ surges post-election
-
Getty Images
NYT tech workers release own versions of Wordle and Connections during strike