Lately, we’ve seen people commenting on “The 4-B Movement” all over social media-especially popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This movement shows how women won’t stand in the ways they are being mistreated for simply being female.

What exactly is the 4-B Movement? 

The movement originated back in South Korea, in 2017. The 4-B movement also known as the four no’s is a female-led form of protest. You may be asking what exactly does it protest against? It tells women to no longer comply with men’s rules and ideologies. Specifically the denial of marrying men, sexual relations with men, and childbirth to oppose the misogynistic culture brought upon women. The movement didn’t pick up till 2019 following the #MeToo movement which is for people speaking up against their own experience with sexual assault.

How did it start?

The movement started because of the rising death tolls of females in South Korea and it’s not the only country that has a similar stance. Mexico, as well has a similar reaction where they call it femicide. Femicide is the intentional reasoning of murdering a female.

What are the reasons behind it?

This movement was established after women in South Korea started to feel less appreciated when it came to cooking meals, giving birth, and doing labor that men could just as easily do. South Korean women wanted a change and they did. South Korea had already a low fertility rate but this movement made the government understand that females were strongly about this stance.

So why America?

Back in July of 2022, the Supreme Court had brought up the case of overturning Roe v. Wade which removed the right to abortions. Many women around the United States were enraged about this right being taken away and deemed it unconstitutional because it was putting laws on their bodies and only specifically targeting women. Where many started to protest against this decision because it would affect many young girls, victims of sexual assault, rape, and incest. 

This movement is still developing more within communities especially, after the presidential election.

Savannah Martel, a student at Sachse High School, said “I disagree with the Supreme Court. It is our human-given right to have access to simple health care.  Women’s rights are insanely important. Not only for me but for women worldwide, women should not be afraid to live. Women don’t want to have children because if something were to go wrong with their pregnancy, they would be denied basic health care and their lives would be at risk. Some people will say “You’re too young to vote so why does it matter?” because this is my future. And just because we don’t have the age to vote we are still deeply affected. This is a woman’s future. The first person that comes to mind when I think of having to grow up in this work is my little cousin. She will have to grow up in a world where she will be advocated against. Her rights will be denied.” 

With much debate on the 4-B Movement, many women have decided to no longer give dedication towards men, as a “sex strike”. This is why America and more countries have started to give recognition to the movement urging women to join. This movement has also been able to show some of the men’s intentions such as “Your body, my choice. Forever.” and “Women threatening strikes as if you have a say.” These are not words to be taken lightly or sarcastically. 

This quote, from Michela Thomas who is 21, said to the Washington Post. sums the situation up: “Young men accept sex, but they also want us to not be able to have access to abortion. They can’t have both.”