The 4B Movement: How Trump’s Re-election Sparked a Feminist Resurgence

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In the wake of Donald Trump‘s 2024 re-election, a surprising trend has emerged: American women are turning to a South Korean feminist movement known as “4B.” This surge in interest reflects a growing frustration among women voters and raises questions about the future of gender relations in the United States.

The Origins of 4B

The 4B movement, which originated in South Korea around 2015, advocates for women to reject four aspects of traditional heterosexual relationships: marriage, childbirth, dating, and sexual relations with men. According to Ju Hui Judy Han, an assistant professor in gender studies at UCLA, “It’s not a very widespread movement, but the sentiments behind it I think a lot of people empathize with.”

The movement gained traction in South Korea as a response to stark gender inequality, including a significant wage gap and underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. It emerged following a 2016 incident where a woman was brutally killed near a Seoul subway station, sparking a national reckoning on the treatment of women.

American Women Embrace 4B Post-Trump Re-Election

Following Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, search trends revealed a surge of interest in the 4B movement across the United States. Ashli Pollard, a 36-year-old from St. Louis, expressed the sentiment driving this interest: “We have pandered and begged for men’s safety and done all the things that we were supposed to, and they still hate us. So, if you’re going to hate us, then we’re going to do what we want.”

“We have pandered and begged for men’s safety and done all the things that we were supposed to, and they still hate us. So, if you’re going to hate us, then we’re going to do what we want.”

The movement’s popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and X (better known as Twitter) has been particularly notable. One user wrote, “Right now is a good time to start a 4B movement. Let male loneliness actually become an epidemic since they hate women so much.”

The Political Context

The 2024 election brought gender-based rights to the forefront, with issues like abortion and reproductive rights playing a significant role. Exit polls showed that 55% of men voted for Trump, compared to 53% of women who supported Harris. This gender divide in voting patterns has fueled the frustration driving interest in 4B.

Alexa Vargas, a 26-year-old from Boston who embraced 4B principles before the election, stated, “I don’t know if men are going to change their ways. I don’t know how this is going to pan out. My goal in life and in this movement is to protect young women and girls.”

The Future of 4B in America

While it’s too early to tell if 4B will gain significant traction in the U.S., the conversation it has sparked is noteworthy. Some experts, like Professor Han, are skeptical about its long-term impact but see value in the discourse: “I hope what they find is not necessarily a particular movement like the 4B movement, but a recognition that struggles for reproductive justice and gender equality are certainly not just American concerns.”

As the dust settles on the 2024 election, the 4B movement serves as a stark reminder of the deep divisions in American society and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. Whether it becomes a lasting force or a fleeting trend, it has undoubtedly struck a chord with many women seeking empowerment and change after Donald Trump’s re-election.

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