Comment Writer Francesca McArdle-King discusses why Trump’s win has sparked the West’s interest in a South Korean Feminist movement

Written by francescamcardle
BA English
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Images by Chloe Simpson

 

November 5th 2024. For many US citizens, a day of political victory and rejoice. For others, a day polluted with demoralisation and fear. 

At the beginning of the month, the US elected its 47th President as Donald J. Trump, superseding Democrat Kamala Harris by 86 electoral votes. Trump’s win for many represented an unsettling turning point in women’s rights across the United States.

In 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – a 1973 court ruling which protected a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy under the US constitution. This resulted in abortion being banned in numerous states across the US. Abortion is further prohibited ‘after conception’ in a multitude of states, including Texas, Alabama and Tennessee. Whilst this ruling technically commenced under Biden’s Democrat government, it was Trump during his first term as President who appointed the three conservative supreme court judges who cleared the way to overturn abortion rights in the Roe v. Wade case, indicating an undeniable correspondence between Trump and anti-abortion discourse.

Trump’s win for many represented an unsettling turning point in women’s rights across the United States

This is not to mention Trump’s history of misogynistic comments regarding women, his most infamous being his obscene claim detailing the norms of being a famous man: “They let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy.” How profound, Mr President. 

In contrast, Harris placed female reproductive rights at the forefront of her electoral campaign. Thus, the landslide Democrat loss represented an indisputable retreat in women’s rights in the US.

The result of the US election catalysed a growth in the popularity in the 4B Movement. Originating in South Korea, it is rooted in radical feminist ideology which involves women cutting off any relationship with men. The name ‘4B’ stems from the four Korean words and their meaning: Bihon: refusing heterosexual marriage; Bichulsan: refusing childbirth; Biyeonae: abstaining from heterosexual dating; Bisekseu: refusing to engage in heterosexual relationships.

According to Raphael Rashid writing in The Guardian, proceeding the election result, “the movement has sparked intense global interest, with millions of views on TikTok and viral X posts heralding it as a women’s rights revolution.” It appears the 4B Movement is a direct retaliation against the growing misogynist narrative voiced by men across social media of ‘Your body, my choice’. Women across the world are beginning to confront this injustice: If we can’t control our reproductive rights, you cannot access or benefit from our reproductive ability. Women supporting the movement are pledging that “men will not be rewarded by or have access to our bodies.”

Women are reclaiming autonomy over their body amongst a political and social climate that appears to be trying so vehemently to rob them of it. Indeed, without women, the population cannot continue, and the majority of men both lose their ability to be sexually satisfied,  and fail to maintain the power they hold over women, as their degradation is so often sexually rooted.

But… is complete avoidance of all men really the only answer? 

But… is complete avoidance of all men really the only answer? 

Swearing off contact with all men not only denounces the fundamental principle of feminism which is equality between the two sexes, but simultaneously removes men from being able to take active accountability. This absolutist approach, in my opinion, implies that deep rooted misogynist beliefs are beyond redemption. The 4B Movement therefore is not a strive for change and progression that is intrinsic to most feminist rhetoric. Surely we should be educating men, rather than continually isolating women? 

Helen Coffey criticises the movement a step further, arguing that although the decision to commit to this movement is technically women’s choice, it was a choice they felt compelled to make because of a lack of acceptable alternatives. Yet again, women have no option but to make sacrifices due to men’s bad behaviour. 

The 4B Movement is undoubtedly a fascinating and powerful retaliation to Republican Party’s reclamation of control over the US Senate and the consequential decline in abortion access for women across the country. However, one does question whether this is the best way to embark on fighting this battle. 

Surely feminism should be about equality not exclusion, and whilst at risk of sounding whimsical, I must ask: Is hatred and extremity effective for social progression? And to the women reading this article who feel enraged at political policy rooted in misogyny: Will you be participating in the 4B Movement? 


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