Following a collection of complicated and disturbing assaults on girls in New York Metropolis in earlier weeks — wherein mysterious males would stroll as much as younger girls and punch them within the face — some American girls took to TikTok sharing how girls in different elements of the world are confronting gendered violence and inequality.
And what has been taking maintain in South Korea since about 2019 — following the debut of Cho Nam-Joo’s novel “Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982” — has been reinvigorated on social media for girls all over the world: The 4B motion.
The 4B motion represents 4 strategic “nos” set forth by Korean feminists: No relationship (biyeonae), no heterosexual intercourse (bisekseu), no heterosexual marriage (bihon), and no child-rearing and childbirth (bichulsan).
“Many who vow to observe 4B defend the no relationship and no intercourse rule as their response to the intimate violence and nonconsensual porn crimes that hit the headlines day by day,” journalist Hawon Jung writes in her ebook “Flowers of Fireplace: The Inside Story of South Korea’s Feminist Motion.”
Intimate violence and nonconsensual porn crimes? Certainly; South Korean girls have lengthy been oppressed by patriarchal methods the identical approach many ladies within the U.S. have. However because the #MeToo motion gained traction in America, so too did the #WithYou motion in Korea, as girls started to battle again towards harassment and lack of autonomy.
“Sexual harassment and sex-based crimes are rife, particularly with hidden cameras that secretly movie girls in nearly each imagineable house, from public transportation to bogs in places of work and faculties,” Jung wrote. “And even within the privateness of their very own houses.”
This lack of privateness and bodily autonomy is just one arm of what Korean girls battle towards.
The nation has recorded the largest gender pay hole within the Group of Financial Cooperation and Growth’s annual survey since 1996.
Ladies are confronted with extraordinarily harsh magnificence requirements — and the nation is seen because the world’s capital for beauty surgical procedure.
Abortion has been unlawful in most circumstances for many years.
Almost 80% of girls have been sexually harassed at work, per a 2015 research from the South Korean authorities.
Workforce discrimination and outdated familial expectations require moms to deal with all childcare and family duties.
The present president, Yoon Suk-Yeol is making an attempt to shut down the nation’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Household.
Patriarchy is the legislation of the land.
So, 4B has turn out to be the resistance.
How do individuals take part within the 4B motion?
Publicly figuring out as a feminist continues to be closely taboo in Korean tradition, so the 4B motion is fabricated from members who determine themselves on-line as “nameless girls,” sometimes holding private or figuring out info non-public.
However between digital conversations and IRL rallies, the motion advocates for girls to reject societal expectations as a protest towards patriarchy.
And past that, it’s about particular person girls making particular person decisions to not take part in society because it stands now.
“We see this opting out sort of working all through East Asia. It’s this concept that marriage is now not required to have a great life. You’ll be able to have a job. You may make cash by yourself. And actually, it’s not solely now not required, it would truly stifle your life due to gender relations throughout the family,” Demographer Jennifer Sciubba mentioned lately on an episode of “The Ezra Klein Present.”
“In these low fertility societies, it appears to be the case that girls should not prepared to breed the present social buildings. They aren’t working for them to an enormous diploma, to the purpose that they’re prepared to choose out of this concept of marriage and having youngsters, and search a distinct path for themselves.”
Whereas 4B itself is just too new to be completely accountable for the nation’s present demographics, South Korea is already in dire straits in relation to a declining start price.
South Korea at present holds the lowest fertility price on this planet, with projections estimating that it’ll drop to 0.68 this 12 months — in comparison with the international common of round 2.4. Consultants even say that the nation’s inhabitants of 51 million might halve by 2100.
Not solely do these numbers threaten the final inhabitants, however additionally they pose main penalties for the nation’s economic system and army energy.
Whereas the federal government has tried to make change with some initiatives — spending the equal of $270 billion in childcare and childbirth subsidies — many South Korean girls nonetheless see having youngsters as an excessive amount of of a danger within the success-driven however equality-starved nation.
“Practising bihon means you’re eliminating the dangers that come from heterosexual marriage or relationship,” Yeowon, a 26-year-old Korean workplace employee, informed The Reduce in a current article.
Extra candidly, a TikToker named Alesia posted earlier this 12 months explaining the motion. “It’s hilarious as a result of all the boys, and the federal government, are like ‘oh my god what will we do?’” She mentioned.
“South Korean girls have been very clear from day one… like ‘hey, both you get your act collectively, or we are actually eliminating all of this. We’re shutting it down.’”
What’s the impression of the 4B motion?
As a result of nameless and assorted nature of 4B, it’s unclear how many individuals determine as members of the motion, with estimates wherever from 5,000 to 50,000 followers, in keeping with The Reduce.
Regardless, the motion has been polarizing. Jung writes in her ebook that anti-feminists name 4B contributors — or younger girls basically — “mentally diseased,” following “delinquent ideology.”
Whereas declining start charges are actually regarding — and may be much more distressing upon understanding the character of this social justice marketing campaign — 4B has finally put the onus on males to reply for the methods they’ve created and upheld.
“The patriarchal norms in South Korea, given its financial standing and the tutorial degree of its girls, are so relentless that the resistance towards it tends to be simply as intense,” Lee Na-Younger, a sociology professor at Seoul’s Chung-Ang College, mentioned in Jung’s ebook.
“Actions like 4B are a message of warning that girls would boycott romantic relationships except society and males change.”
Alternatively, girls and people who are pro-4B are calling for the motion to increase past the borders of South Korea. Because the ideas of 4B take maintain on-line, girls from all over the world are curious what this form of organized motion may do on a world scale.
Even influential political voices, like former Florida Congressional candidate Pam Keith, may see the motion touring west.
“I’m going to say this as soon as: 4B motion,” she tweeted earlier this month. “Hold coming for our rights, GOP.”
As governments — together with the U.S. — proceed to eradicate alternative from girls, 4B is the results of girls leveraging the alternatives they do nonetheless have.
“For me, ‘no marriage’ isn’t just a life-style,” Kang Han-Byul, a 35-year-old Korean girl who follows 4B, informed Jung in an interview for “Flowers of Fireplace.”
“It’s a approach of attempting to deliver down patriarchy.”
For Kang’s mom, Ho, who had spent most of her life adhering to misogynistic gender roles and self-sacrifice, the motion is considered one of hope.
“My daughter and her technology is totally different and needs to be totally different. Our daughters deserve higher,” she mentioned within the ebook.
“I hope my daughters will stay a contented, fulfilling life, discovering inspirations from associates and rising previous along with them in a world that respects a extra numerous lifestyle.”
Header picture courtesy of Hawon Jung/X
