4B Movement Gains Momentum After Trump’s Election Win
Interest in the “4B” movement surged online following Donald Trump’s recent election win, with many American women resonating with its principles: rejecting dating, marriage, sex, and childbirth with men. On the day Trump’s victory was confirmed, Google searches for “4B” skyrocketed by 450%, with over 200,000 users searching for information on the movement. It quickly became one of Google’s top trending topics, primarily driven by US-based searches.
On social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), American women have actively shared 4B’s core tenets—”bihon” (no marriage with men), “biyeonae” (no dating), “bichulsan” (no childbirth), and “bisekseu” (no sex with men)—calling for the movement’s spread in the US. Numerous videos on TikTok detailing 4B have gone viral, garnering millions of views.
The surge in interest around 4B reflects concerns among US women regarding potential rollbacks on reproductive rights and female freedoms under Trump’s presidency. One user on X wrote, “Doing my part as an American woman by breaking up with my Republican boyfriend last night and officially joining the 4B movement this morning.”
Origins and Purpose of the 4B Movement
The 4B movement originated in South Korea in 2018 amidst the country’s #MeToo wave. It was a response to national outcry against a surge in “spycam” incidents, where victims were filmed without consent, often in vulnerable situations. In South Korea, the movement, reportedly practiced by several thousand women, confronts deep-rooted conservatism and patriarchy, while also addressing issues like violence against women and the gender wage gap. Notably, South Korea ranks 94th out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index.
A Climate of Concern for Women’s Rights in the US
This election cycle has been framed by some as a referendum on women’s rights, especially given that Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has prominently featured her support for abortion rights. Trump has taken credit for the US Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling spurred restrictive laws across Republican-controlled states and prompted this year’s referendums in 10 states on expanding abortion rights. Seven states approved expansions, while three—Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota—rejected them, marking the first anti-abortion victories since the Supreme Court decision.
Women’s rights advocates now express concern that the Trump administration could further limit access to reproductive services.