Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, there has been a surge in online interest around the ‘4B’ movement, which calls for boycotting men.

Originating in South Korea, the 4B movement is described as a feminist response to the patriarchy and has gained traction on social media, particularly after the election.

What is the 4B movement? The movement advocates for the “four no’s”: no to dating men, marriage, having children, and having sex, as reported by Bustle. In Korean, these terms begin with the prefix “bi,” meaning “no” in English. Supporters see it as a protest against a system that sustains gender inequality.

The movement emerged around 2019 in South Korea, amid a rise in antifeminist sentiment following the election of conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. Women began embracing the principles informally, finding empowerment in rejecting these societal expectations.

Nicole Dular, a professor of philosophy, explains that while the principles of the 4B movement might seem radical, they fit within a broader social context, driven by frustrations with gender inequality. She emphasizes that the movement can be seen as a “labor strike” against the disproportionate labor women perform in relationships with men, receiving fewer benefits in return.

Why has it gained attention after the election? The 4B movement had already gained attention in the U.S. in previous years, but it went viral following Trump’s victory. Gender issues, including reproductive rights and abortion, were major topics during the election, with Harris campaigning on these issues. After Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, leading to restrictions on abortion rights, the 4B movement saw renewed support.

Trump’s history of accusations of sexual misconduct by over two dozen women also contributed to the movement’s resurgence, with women feeling the need to respond to his second term.

“American women, it’s time to learn from the Koreans and adopt the 4B movement,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, “Ladies, we need to start considering the 4B movement… no marriage, no childbirth, no dating men, no sex with men. We can’t let these men have the last laugh.”