The Story Korea's 4b 'anti-men' movement comes to America
Nov 18, 2024
In this discussion, Chiara Brown, Commissioning Editor at The Times Luxury, and Meera Choi, a sociology academic at Yale, explore the provocative 4B movement from South Korea, advocating for 'No sex, no babies, no marriage, no men.' They delve into its viral spread in America, fueled by reactions to misogyny and political shifts. Key topics include how the movement empowers women, the implications of declining fertility rates, and the necessity for gender collaboration in advancing equality. This dynamic conversation uncovers a shifting narrative in women’s rights.
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4B Defined As Heterosexual Refusal
- 4B means refusing four things: sex, dating, marriage, and children with men as a political and social stance in South Korea.
- Meera Choi explains it emerged as a collective heterosexual refusal to disengage from patriarchal relationships after rising misogyny and MeToo triggers.
Gangnam Station Murder Sparked Boycott Talk
- The Gangnam Station murder catalysed activism when a man killed a stranger woman and claimed hatred of women, sparking online boycotts of men.
- Meera Choi recounts the CCTV evidence and how young women felt that "it could have been me."
Structural Inequality Drives 4B Sentiment
- Structural inequalities fuel 4B: Korea's large gender pay gap, motherhood penalty, beauty pressures and plastic surgery culture make relationships costly for women.
- Meera Choi ties low fertility and labor-market injustice to women's rejection of dating, marriage and childbearing.