As a sign of protest against Donald Trump's victory, some American women are calling themselves part of the 4b movement on social networks. This phenomenon, which comes from South Korea, encourages women to refuse all types of relationships with men.
“No dating and no sex.” This is the new credo of American women on social networks. Indeed, after Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris, some women in the United States are beginning to fear a political climate hostile to women's rights.
Many users, unhappy with the outcome of the vote, therefore called on American women to join the “4b” movement as a sign of protest. It all started with a message shared on X, formerly Twitter.
“Girls, we need to start looking at the 4b movement like women in South Korea and inflicting a drastic drop in the birth rate on America,” said a user this Wednesday, November 6.
“A model of resistance”
This feminist movement was born in South Korea five years ago after a series of incidents of violence against women. Others see it as a continuation of the “Escape the Corset” movement which fights against the beauty standards imposed on women in Korea.
Whatever its origin, the principle of this movement is simple: encourage women to reject traditional roles and relationships with men to avoid discrimination and sexist violence.
To do this, women must no longer go on dates, no longer have sexual relations with men, refuse to marry and refuse to have children. The abbreviation “4b” comes from four words that all start with “bi”, which means “no” in Korean.
Quickly, the message about X went viral. The publication, which approached 18 million views in 24 hours, generated thousands of supportive reactions. “What is the 4b movement? It's a world without men. The 4b movement is a protest against patriarchy,” wrote a user on X.
“I thought the 4b movement was too radical, but after seeing this election, I’m not so sure.” “I'm not just angry, I'm ready to act. The 4b movement is extreme, but maybe it's what we need to wake people up,” point out two other Internet users.
For many women, this movement represents a way to regain control of their lives in the face of a political system that, according to them, marginalizes women's rights. As a reminder, during his first term, Donald Trump allowed the cancellation of Roe v. Wade who has guaranteed the right to abortion since 1973 to American women throughout the country. Some therefore fear a further decline in their rights with the return of the billionaire to the White House.
“For American women, Trump's victory symbolizes a return to conservative values which often comes at the expense of women's autonomy. The 4B movement offers a model of resistance, even if it is radical”, analyzes the Doctor Alice Wong, sociologist at Stanford interviewed by ibtimes.
Contrasted reactions
A movement that has concrete repercussions. In a video viewed more than 1.6 million times, a user explained on Tiktok that she “broke up with her Republican boyfriend” after the election results to “join the 4b movement”.
In Korea, some women who participate in “4b” have gone so far as to reject the physical dictates imposed by society, refusing to wear makeup or wear long hair. American women did the same after Donald Trump's victory. On Tiktok, users do not hesitate to film themselves cutting their hair to follow the “4b” movement.
Despite the enthusiasm, the 4b movement has encountered strong opposition on social networks, both in South Korea and the United States. In Korea, some men have criticized the movement, calling its members “selfish women” who refuse to conform to society's expectations. Similar criticism has also emerged in the United States, with some accusing American women of overreacting.
Some Republican supporters, on the contrary, welcomed this movement, explaining that it saved them from meeting liberal women. “Seeing crazy people removing their genetic heritage is a bonus to Trump’s victory that I didn’t see coming, but that I fully welcome,” smiles one Internet user.
“They themselves are proposing to withdraw from the genetic heritage? First Trump wins and now this! This is the best week of my life,” wrote another.
