Recently, some American women have taken interest in the 4B Feminist Movement. Following Trump’s win in the 2024 election, American women are practicing the 4B ideology in protest of his abortion policies. Reactions from fellow Americans have been mixed to say the least. To understand these reactions we must first understand what exactly the 4B movement is.

The 4B Movement first came into fruition around 2017-2018 in South Korea. The movement was created to oppose South Korea’s conservative and pro-natalist values. Considering that they currently have the second lowest birth rate in the world, South Korean women are put under pressure to increase the birth rate. This pressure leaves them feeling as though they have no value apart from their bodies. To protest this, these women chose to limit their interactions with men through the four ‘B’s. Bihon, Biyeonae, Bisekseu & Bichulsan; Korean words meaning no marriage, no dating, no having intercourse with, and no having children.

Interest for the 4B Movement skyrocketed following Trump’s win of the 2024 US Presidential Election. Google searches for the movement surged by about 450%. American women began to suggest participating in a 4B movement of their own. Cutting contact with the men in their life to protest not only men and toxic masculinity in general, but also Donald Trump’s stance on the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Project 2025 (a right-wing Presidential transition Project) would aim to ban abortion nationwide after Trump is inaugurated as president.

Frustrated with this outcome, some women are choosing 4B to prevent an event in which they might be in need of an abortion. This makes more sense when you consider that around half of female sexual assault victims report being sexually assaulted by an intimate partner or acquaintance. Therefore, these women are choosing to participate in the 4B movement not only as a form of protest but also as a safety measure.

Whether or not 4B will make a difference is up for debate. The movement has received backlash from both men and women alike. Some worry that the movement might incite violence from those who disagree with the movement, and that the movement could lead to hostility from men regarding feminism. Additionally, its important to note that 44% of women aged 18-44 voted for Trump, so who's to say that this is what all women are feeling? It’s a complicated and nuanced topic but what isn’t complicated is women’s rights; regardless of 4B, women are human deserve respect.