The Rise of 4B: Women's Response to Political Uncertainty
In the wake of recent political developments, American women have been increasingly drawn to an unexpected source of inspiration: a movement that originated in South Korea called 4B. The movement's name stems from its core principles - the "4 Noes" (in Korean, each "no" begins with a 'b' sound): no to heterosexual marriage, dating, sex, and childbirth. What began in 2019 as a response to South Korea's growing misogynistic culture has found new resonance in the United States.
While 4B remains more of a lifestyle choice than an organized movement in the West, its popularity has surged dramatically. Social media platforms have seen an influx of young women advocating for these principles, framing them not as mere choices but as survival strategies. "If you want to live a long time, stop dating men," advocates one TikTok user. Others frame their message more starkly, highlighting the medical risks women face in a post-Roe landscape.
The movement's growing appeal coincides with mounting concerns about women's healthcare and reproductive rights. Maternal mortality rates, already unusually high for an industrialized nation, continue to rise. Policy proposals from conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation advocate for restricting access to contraception and abortion care while promoting what they term "traditional" approaches to sexuality and marriage.
## Historical Context and Parallels
The concept of women withholding intimacy as a political strategy isn't new. The ancient Greek play "Lysistrata" depicted women using a sex strike to end the Peloponnesian War. However, 4B bears a stronger resemblance to the lesbian separatist movement of second-wave feminism. In 1970, the Radicalesbians group declared their intention to create a woman-focused world as a response to patriarchal oppression.
Like those earlier movements, 4B represents more than just a rejection of male partnerships - it's positioned as a protective measure against perceived threats to women's autonomy and safety. Yet this approach raises complex questions about sexuality, desire, and political strategy.
## Limitations and Criticisms
Critics point out several limitations in 4B's approach. The movement's binary view of gender and sexuality leaves little room for nuance in discussions about love, relationships, and parenthood. Some compare it to MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way), seeing it as an inverse reflection of that movement's gender-based antagonism.
The movement has also been criticized for:
- Potentially reinforcing conservative narratives about sexual purity
- Overlooking the complexity of sexual desire and romantic relationships
- Lacking positive alternatives to celibacy and singledom
- Showing homo- and transphobic tendencies in some of its expressions
- Failing to address broader systemic issues of gender inequality
## A Symptom of Broader Concerns
While 4B in the United States exists primarily as a social media phenomenon rather than an organized movement, its growing popularity reflects genuine anxieties about women's rights and safety. The movement's adherents recognize that conservative policies often seek not to eliminate sexuality entirely, but to control it within specific, traditionally sanctioned contexts.
Whether or not 4B offers a viable solution to these concerns, its emergence highlights the very real fears many women harbor about their autonomy and safety in an increasingly uncertain political landscape. While the movement may not be the answer for everyone, it represents one of the ways women are attempting to maintain control over their lives and bodies in challenging times.
The debate around 4B ultimately reflects a larger conversation about gender relations, political power, and personal autonomy in contemporary society. While its prescriptions may be extreme, the concerns it addresses remain painfully relevant to many women's lived experiences.