The 4B movement is an extreme feminist protest that has emerged in response to pervasive gender inequalities, first originating in South Korea and now inspiring global conversations about women’s rights, autonomy, and resistance to male-dominated societal structures. This movement, though controversial, is just the latest chapter in a long history of gender-based boycotts aimed at challenging patriarchal systems.

What is the 4B Movement?

The 4B movement is shorthand for four terms, all beginning with “bi,” which mean “no” in Korean:

• Bihon (No dating)
• Biseong (No sex)
• Bihon (No marriage)
• Biyang (No childbearing)

These actions collectively represent a refusal to engage with men romantically, sexually, or in familial roles like marriage and childbearing. The goal is to protest entrenched gender inequality and assert female autonomy by withdrawing from traditional roles within heterosexual relationships.

The Trump Protest: A Turning Point for the 4B Movement

The 4B movement gained significant traction outside of South Korea after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where many American women became increasingly disillusioned with the outcome, particularly due to Donald Trump’s victory. Many viewed the election as a referendum on women’s rights, especially after Trump’s appointment of three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, leading to the erosion of national abortion rights protections.

In response to these political shifts, the 4B movement went viral, with social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook amplifying videos of women expressing their anger, such as those shaving their heads as a form of protest. For many, the election of Trump symbolized the disregard for women’s equality, leading to the extension of the 4B protest beyond South Korea to the United States and other countries. This growing discontent with male-dominated political structures led to the widespread adoption of the 4B movement as a form of feminist resistance.

Historical Precedents of Gender Boycotts

While the 4B movement may seem radical, it has historical roots in various forms of gender-based resistance, particularly those used by women to assert power and resist patriarchal oppression.

Ancient Greece – Lysistrata’s Sex Strike

One of the earliest recorded forms of a gender-based boycott appears in Aristophanes’ play Lysistrata (411 BCE), where women withhold sex from their husbands to end the Peloponnesian War. This early example of a sex strike highlights how women’s power within intimate relationships could be used to achieve political change.

The Women’s Suffrage Movement

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, suffragettes in the UK and the US used relationship boycotts as a tactic to demand the right to vote. Women refraining from marriage or childbirth were seen as a way to protest against their limited roles in society. This historical act of withholding attention from men aimed to destabilize patriarchal structures.

Radical Feminism in the 1960s and 1970s

During the second wave of feminism, some radical feminists proposed withdrawing from heterosexual relationships as a political act. These ideas formed part of the broader feminist critique of marriage, sexual expectations, and motherhood. Feminists such as Shulamith Firestone in The Dialectic of Sex suggested that women’s liberation could be achieved by rejecting traditional relationships altogether.

Political Lesbianism in the 1990s

In the UK during the 1990s, the idea of political lesbianism emerged from feminist circles. Women who identified with this movement rejected relationships with men, arguing that doing so was a form of resistance against the male-dominated power structures. This idea has influenced contemporary movements like 4B, where personal abstinence from heterosexual relationships becomes a political statement against gender oppression.

The Psychological and Social Impact of the 4B Movement

While the 4B movement may seem like an empowering protest, its psychological and social impacts are complex. As a relationship counselor and clinical sexologist, I see firsthand the effects of prolonged emotional and sexual abstinence.

Short-Term Effects (1 Week to 1 Month)

• Empowerment: Initially, participants may feel a sense of control and empowerment as they assert their autonomy and reject societal expectations.
• Stress and Anxiety: Emotional and sexual needs, when left unmet, can lead to heightened stress and anxiety, especially if participants are using their abstinence as a form of protest.
• Social Isolation: The withdrawal from romantic relationships can create a sense of loneliness, especially if friends, family, or social circles do not share the same views.

Medium-Term Effects (1 to 3 Months)

• Decreased Sexual Desire: Long-term abstinence can lead to a reduction in sexual desire or difficulties re-engaging in intimate relationships.
• Mental Health Strain: Prolonged protest can contribute to emotional burnout, increased resentment, and feelings of alienation from society and other individuals who don’t share the same ideals.

Long-Term Effects (1 Year and Beyond)

• Sexual Dysfunction: After a year, the lack of intimacy or emotional connection may lead to long-term sexual dysfunction or a loss of interest in relationships.
• Psychological Exhaustion: If the abstinence is driven by anger or frustration with societal structures, this can lead to ongoing bitterness or unresolved emotional issues, further isolating the individual from potential future relationships.

Is the 4B Movement a Healthy Protest?

The 4B movement’s call for abstention from romantic, sexual, and familial relationships may appear empowering to some, offering a form of resistance to entrenched patriarchal structures. However, this issue is complex. While the movement offers temporary relief for women frustrated by systemic gender oppression, it can also have long-term psychological and social consequences. The withdrawal from relationships can lead to increased feelings of anger, stress, and emotional burnout if not balanced by meaningful, constructive action toward change.

In Asian cultures, where social cohesion, harmony, and non-confrontation are often emphasized, this kind of protest is especially radical. Traditionally, Asian societies encourage maintaining peace within the family and community, and questioning social norms or defying authority can be seen as disruptive or dishonorable. Given this context, the 4B movement represents a brave and challenging step, as it pushes women to publicly reject deeply rooted gender roles and norms.

As a counselor, I recognize that protest can be a powerful tool for social change, but engagement—rather than complete withdrawal—is often more sustainable. Open dialogue and connection with others, while challenging societal norms, are critical for personal well-being. The psychological effects of disengagement should not be underestimated, as prolonged isolation or emotional repression can be detrimental to mental health.

Finding a Balance?

The 4B movement addresses the frustration many women feel in a deeply unequal world, but it’s essential that this protest remains part of a broader strategy for change. The ultimate goal should be to empower individuals and foster collective change, not to sacrifice well-being in the process. Extreme actions like abstaining from relationships are valid forms of resistance, but they must be carefully balanced with a focus on mental health and long-term emotional resilience. Social change comes not just from rejecting oppressive structures but also from finding healthier, more inclusive ways to engage with society and address systemic inequalities.

References:

Strauss, A. (2024, November 13). What is the extreme South Korean feminist movement sweeping America? The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/what-is-the-extreme-s-korean-feminist-movement-sweeping-america

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer Publishing.

About Dr. Martha Tara Lee