The 4B Movement is a collective initiative started by South Korean feminists in 2019. It revolves around four key themes: choosing not to marry (비혼, bihon), not having children (비출산, bichulsan), not dating (비연애, biyeonae), and not engaging in sexual relationships with men (비섹스, bisekseu). This movement emerged as a response to the social pressures and entrenched gender inequalities prevalent in South Korea (Solé, 2023). In recent years, the movement has gained attention for its radical approach to challenging patriarchal and conservative expectations placed on women in South Korean society.
Origins: A Deeply Rooted Patriarchal Society
Patriarchy and a sexist work environment are deeply ingrained in South Korean society, often seen as more pervasive than in other countries. This culture affects every aspect of South Korean women’s lives, from gender norms and workplace discrimination to rigid beauty standards, unequal childcare and household responsibilities, and high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault. South Korea ranks at the bottom for gender pay gaps among OECD countries, with a 31% wage difference between men and women, despite being a high-income and developed country (Ji-hye, 2024). This situation is further exacerbated by anti-feminist movements and the election of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who claims that structural gender discrimination no longer exists and has vowed to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (Madruga, 2024). His claims starkly contrast with reality. A 2021 survey reported that 1 in 3 South Korean women had experienced gender-based violence, most often perpetrated by a current or former partner, with the majority of cases either unpunished or unresolved (Se-jin, 2022).
In 2024, the South Korean government introduced pro-natalist policies to address the country’s demographic crisis, as South Korea now has the world’s lowest fertility rate. The country’s population began to decline in 2020 when deaths outnumbered births, as the expected number of births per woman of reproductive age consistently fell. The current fertility rate is 0.78, far below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to sustain a population without migration (Ahn, 2023). The UN predicts that South Korea’s 51 million population will halve by the end of the century. To counter this demographic crisis, the government has invested over $200 billion in the past 16 years in programs supporting traditional patriarchal institutions—like family—through childcare subsidies, low-interest mortgages for newlywed couples, and extended maternity and paternity leave. However, these efforts have failed to yield the desired results, and South Korean women are increasingly distancing themselves from marriage or the obligation to become mothers.
The failure is rooted in the government’s inability to address the core issues underlying the demographic crisis. Male groups, major media outlets, and the government have created narratives that blame women for the low fertility rate and dismiss feminists’ claims of injustice, viewing them as mere attempts to bolster radical stances like the 4B Movement (Sussman, 2023). However, the real problem lies in societal expectations and male attitudes. Women are fed up with being told their primary role in life is to marry and become dedicated mothers, sacrificing their dreams and submitting to their husbands, while the government tells them they must reproduce to save the country.
Anarchist Strategy: The Role of Digital Technology
To analyze how the 4B Movement mobilizes collective action and challenges deeply entrenched social norms, an anarchist strategy is employed. This strategy emphasizes a new form of movement that is leaderless, unorganized, spontaneous, and without a manifesto. It focuses on direct action to delegitimize the system and create autonomous spaces (politics of autonomy) rather than demanding the government do what it wants (politics of hegemony). This form of movement is considered more inclusive because it lacks hierarchy, allowing everyone to voice their opinions, whether in agreement or disagreement, toward a common goal. Anarchy also emphasizes openness to a diversity of tactics, perspectives, and goals (Shantz, 2012).
The 4B Movement is not organized or centralized—there are no leaders, no official website, and no physical headquarters. The number of members in the 4B Movement is not documented but is estimated to be between 5,000 and 50,000 (Sussman, 2023). Anarchy, in the context of the 4B Movement, focuses on rejecting traditional institutions that are seen as reinforcing the strong patriarchal culture in South Korean society. These institutions include traditional marriage and family, an economic system that favours men, and men themselves. Members of the 4B Movement choose to engage with these entities as a form of resistance and assertion.
This resistance is reflected in the movement’s four central themes. By rejecting marriage and romantic relationships with men, the 4B Movement challenges the social norm that a woman’s happiness and success must be measured by marriage. They show that women can live happily and successfully without relying on relationships with men (Sussman, 2023). Moreover, they refuse to have children, defying social pressures that push women into motherhood. This stance is also a critique of government policies that focus on boosting birth rates without addressing the underlying gender inequalities. Lastly, by rejecting sexual relationships with men, the movement seeks to sever the control that men often have over women’s bodies and to reject the pervasive sexual objectification in society.
The movement utilizes various tactics to mobilize this narrative, with a significant focus on digital activism. Online forums and social media have been the starting point for the rapid growth of the 4B Movement. Online platforms are seen as safe spaces for women to express their opinions without fear of judgment or criticism. They often refer to themselves as “anonymous” because it has become customary to keep personal information confidential online (Bulbul, 2024). In these online forums, women are free to share experiences, voice their thoughts, engage in discussions, and plan collective actions. This creates a sense of solidarity among women as they express their frustrations and concerns about living in a traditional environment. TikTok also plays a crucial role in popularizing the movement in the West, as one TikTok user described the 4B Movement as women “giving up” on men and opting for “extinction” as a form of protest (Wong, 2024).
Apart from digital activism, protests are also held in front of government offices every March 8th, International Women’s Day, in Seoul, South Korea. On March 4th, they presented the “Obstacles to Gender Equality” award, announced at an International Women’s Day rally in Seoul (Jung, 2023). Among the “award winners” are companies that practice discrimination against women and politicians who make sexist statements. One of the award recipients was Kim Hyun-Sook, the Minister of Gender Equality, who was criticized for not fulfilling her role—as the primary advocate for women’s rights in South Korea—by appearing indifferent and irresponsible regarding sexism. This shows that the form of protest is highly sarcastic; instead of demanding the government do its job, they award it for doing a poor job.
Outcomes of the Movement: Impact and Criticism
Through various strategies and tactics, the 4B Movement has significantly impacted raising awareness and changing social norms. The movement has sparked discussions on gender inequality, sexuality, and the dynamics of “power” between women and men in global society. These discussions emphasize agency and self-determination, aligning with many individuals who feel marginalized or oppressed by international gender norms. Furthermore, the emergence of the 4B Movement shows the world that despite South Korea’s deeply rooted patriarchal culture, women can universally fight for their rights using diverse approaches to achieve them (SheSociety, 2024). The 4B Movement also serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts toward gender equality, viewed by some as a radical departure from conventional feminism or as something necessary to challenge entrenched societal norms. The movement also shows that women have grown weary of having their aspirations regarding patriarchy consistently ignored. While the movement may not have completely transformed the deeply rooted patriarchal culture, it has at least succeeded in opening the eyes of society, especially the younger generation, to the fact that they live in a world that does not consider women’s perspectives.
Despite its significant impact, the movement has faced criticism. One of the main criticisms is that the movement’s principles are considered too radical and exclusive, potentially alienating those who do not fit the strict criteria or parameters. The 4B Movement’s advocacy for completely avoiding relationships with men risks oversimplifying complex social dynamics and ignoring the diverse experiences of individuals (SheSociety, 2024). Additionally, skeptics question the feasibility and sustainability of applying the 4B Movement’s principles in the long term. They argue that while abandoning traditional relationships and family structures may offer freedom, it does not address the systemic issues underlying gender inequality.
Conclusion
The 4B Movement in South Korea represents a bold and provocative approach to feminist activism, challenging traditional ideas about gender, relationships, and family, as well as the accompanying social pressures. By rejecting marriage, childbirth, dating, and sexual relationships with men, the movement directly challenges a rigid patriarchal culture and advocates for recognizing women’s identities and experiences. The movement also confronts pro-natalist policies that view women’s bodies and reproductive capacities as tools for “making the future” of the nation. Through an unorganized anarchist strategy and digital activism, the movement has successfully conveyed its message of empowerment and autonomy, fostering inclusive collective action and global discussions on gender equality. However, the struggle of South Korean women is undoubtedly challenging, living in a country steeped in patriarchal culture. Thus, the 4B Movement shows the deep complexity inherent in feminist struggles, which continue to this day.
