By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Following the disastrous results of the recent presidential election, many women are taking to the internet to declare they are now participating in the "4B movement."
The 4B movement is here, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down! But what exactly is the 4B movement, and how did it start to gain so much steam?
Support The Advocate's journalism. Find out how you can contribute here.
If you've been online in the past 48 hours, you've probably seen a video or two where women in America declare they are joining and taking part in the "4B movement," especially following the disaster of a presidential election the country just went through where so many people are scared and unsure for the future of their reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.
Women have said, time and time again, that we are not the ones to mess with." Now it is clearer than ever that women will continue to fight back until ALL of our choices are OURS TO MAKE. So here is everything you need to know about the 4B movement...
The 4B movement is more than just an online trend — it’s a bold protest for women’s autonomy that’s gaining traction all over TikTok and X right now. Born from the need to push back against social pressures, gender-based violence, and restrictive abortion laws, 4B is basically a four-pronged set of guidelines that women are using as a blueprint for living life on their own terms until their voices are heard and until they are being taken seriously, and the impact is huge. Thousands of women are joining in, making 4B a real force to be reckoned with.
The 4B concept reportedly kicked off in South Korea in 2019, when women there began standing up to expectations around dating, marriage, and family life. Frustrated by South Korea’s gender pay gap and vile levels of gender-based violence, they found solidarity in the 4B movement. What started as a local call for change grew into powerful gestures challenging norms on a global scale. Now, five years later, it’s reached the U.S., where it’s connecting with women who are also ready to push back against the rules, especially after the recent 2024 presidential election.
The name “4B” comes from four rejections: no marriage, no babies, no dating, and no sex with men. In Korean, "B" is short for "No," so each B represents a step away from what women have been expected to do and it’s a way of reclaiming control over their bodies and futures. But it’s more than just a “no,” it’s a firm, loud “F YOU” to the men and governments trying to control women and their bodily rights.
The four B's of the 4B movement are as follows:
-No sex with men (bisekseu)
-No giving birth (bichulsan)
-No dating men (biyeonae)
-No marriage with men (bihon)
Since the presidential election, the movement has resurfaced stateside in online circles and been given a new spotlight. With abortion rights under attack and some of the strictest laws taking root in states like Florida and Texas, women are fed up. TikTok has become the perfect place for them to connect with others, show solidarity, share their stories, and find community with others fighting the same fight. Women are embracing the 4B movement as their own, posting videos and showing that they won’t back down.
It’s not just about going viral, it’s about making a statement, and the women of the 4B movement are doing just that.
