The 4B Movement
Author: Moksha Muller
Bihon (비혼), no heterosexual marriage, bichulsan (비출산), no childbirth, biyeonae (비연애), no dating men, and bisekseu (비섹스), no heterosexual sexual relationships; these are the four B’s in the 4B movement. Originating from South Korea in 2017, the 4B Movement bans the sexual and romantic involvement of men in women’s lives. The movement, which began due to a rise in gender discrimination, gender-based workplace harassment, and digital crime, has now grown to be recognized internationally.
“A 2015 South Korean government study revealed that almost 80% of women had been sexually harassed at work. Digital crime, including stalking and sexual harassment, such as molka – the act of upskirting and secretly filming women in bathrooms – is rife.” wrote Service95. An alarming rise in sexual harassment was seen in South Korean statistics, and alongside the gendered pay gap, online forums had enough and South Korean women believed that their voices weren’t being heard, resulting in extreme measures being taken to ensure that the deeply rooted gender issues were put at the forefront of matters; leading to the origin of the 4B movement – through X (formerly known as Twitter).
Recently, since Donald Trump’s re-election as president of the United States, the 4B movement has gained traction with the female population across the ocean, with many claiming to adopt the movement’s values to prevent men from drastically changing their lives. Since the right to abortion is in the talks of maybe being banned, women across the US are discussing how the 4B movement will prevent them from having the ability to get stuck in a situation where abortion may be necessary. This topic grew as a protest against men’s wrongdoings and has become a popular subject internationally.
