South Korea’s 4B Movement Gains Traction in the U.S., Sparking Debate on Gender Equality

The South Korean feminist 4B movement, which advocates “no marriage, no childbirth, no dating and no sex with men,” gained a new wave of supporters in the U.S., fueled by post-election discourse on gender equality. 

The 4B movement originated in South Korea around 2015 in response to deeply rooted societal and policy-driven issues, including the gender pay gap, systemic gender inequality, and societal expectations around marriage and family, according to a 2015 policy paper titled South Korea’s Demographic Changes and Their Political Impact by Katharine H.S. Moon of the Brookings Institution. 

Studies highlighted challenges in South Korean society, including pessimism about gender equality and progress, as well as the impact of traditional family values on declining childbirth rates. 

These factors, along with broader demographic shifts and cultural pressures, laid the groundwork for movements like 4B, which challenged societal norms and advocated for alternatives to traditional roles for women, according to H.S. Moon.

Searches for the 4B movement surged after the 2024 election, amplified by social media platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

The viral spread of the 4B movement across platforms intensified these conversations, drawing parallels between the struggles with gender dynamics in both nations.

In South Korea, the rise of the 4B movement coincided with declining birth and marriage rates, further challenging societal norms.

Social Media’s Role

In the U.S., the movement evolved into a form of political protest. Women reportedly shaved their heads, wore baggy clothing, avoided styling their hair and skipped wearing makeup.

Social media accounts promoting the movement frequently share infographics, testimonials and calls to action. Hashtags related to the movement attracted significant attention as women posted stories about “boysobriety,” describing temporary abstinence from male attention to focus on personal growth. 

Although these adaptations diverge from the original goals of the 4B movement in South Korea, they demonstrate how global feminist ideologies were reinterpreted in local contexts.

Conversation on Gender and Trust

Eric Lohman, a Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said relationships relied on agreements about how partners share and navigate vulnerability, particularly in a sexual context. 

He emphesized that healthy relationships relied on open communication between equals, ensuring both partners’ needs and desires were understood and addressed. 

“Relationships presuppose vulnerability, and as adults, we should be able to trust the people we become vulnerable with by negotiating as equals over the terms,” said Lohman. “It would seem to me a natural response then, in very simple economic terms, to refuse to become vulnerable with people you do not trust because they make it known, openly and proudly, that they don’t think of you as an equal.”

Criticism

Some online commenters have criticized the 4B movement, dismissing it as a fleeting “trending topic.”

“Social media amplifies these issues but often lacks the depth needed for reflection or meaningful discussion,” said Lohman. “Still, if the 4B movement inspires critical conversations about trust and equality, it could foster progress.” 

Online commenters of the movement’s rise in the U.S. voiced their opinions on social media, with some dismissing it as out of touch with modern values.

Posts suggested that abstaining from sex aligned more with traditional conservatism than progressive liberalism,  highlighting polorized reactions. 

While this perspective lacked formal study or evidence, it points out the cultural clash sparked by the movement as it gained traction in a new context.

“I tend not to think of these as distinct moments but rather as ongoing struggles over women’s liberation in American society,” said Lohman. “The election has refocused our attention back on gender inequality as it relates to voters and presidential politics, which is just one place where these debates take place.”

Whether the movement will lead to lasting societal change or fade as a viral trend remains uncertain. Its virality and social media influence have sparked widespread attention. Sparking debates on gender roles and the pursuit of equality across cultures.