The 4B Movement in South Korea Is More Prevalent Than You Think (Rant from a Random Korean Woman)
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 6:47 am
From a reddit post by This_Blackberry2469
Hi, I’ve recently come across numerous claims suggesting that the 4B movement isn’t popular in South Korea, and I felt compelled to address this misconception even with the hassle of creating a dedicated Reddit account just for the rant. For those unfamiliar, the 4B movement—short for the “Four No’s”: no dating, no sex, no marriage, and no childbearing—is a stance some Korean women are adopting in response to deep-rooted gender inequalities.
To outsiders, it might seem like the 4B movement lacks traction here. After all, when the so-called experts point to our declining birth rates, they often attribute it to the highly competitive culture or economic pressures, dismissing any influence from movements like 4B. But let’s set the record straight.
We’re talking about a country where a woman’s career can be jeopardized for something as innocuous as wearing a T-shirt that reads “Girls Do Not Need a Prince” or for liking a Women’s March post on Twitter—even if it was seven years ago. I’m not exaggerating; incidents like these have occurred as recently as last year; we’re talking about literal termination of a contract due to a heart made on a post regarding woman’s safety issue on Twitter dating back to seven or more years ago due to incel gamers throwing a fit. Such a climate makes it perilous for women to openly discuss feminist movements or critique societal norms. (And I don’t feel safe discussing 4B in English on Reddit either so I’m creating a whole new account just to write this rant.)
In order to protect ourselves, many of us treat discussions about 4B like a clandestine topic—like a secret underground society of anonymous agents with a mask and a blood oath, meeting on every other moon. When family or relatives ask about our personal choices, we often respond with a simple “그냥” (“just because”), rather than delving into the real reasons that could invite scrutiny or backlash.
Consider this: According to a Korean survey conducted in 2020, a quarter of single households indicated they have no plans to marry in the future. When asked why, 28.9% of the men who had answered so cited financial limitations as the main reason, while 31.6% of women replied “just because.” This isn’t apathy; it’s self-preservation.
We reserve our candid discussions about 4B and our perspectives on men for secure, heavily-vetted spaces; anonymous online threads or between the closest of girlfriends. However, the reluctance to speak openly doesn’t equate to a lack of belief or participation in the movement.
To further underscore my point, consider the findings from a 2023 research conducted by 한반도미래연구원 later published by a major South Korean news outlet (경향신문):
So, before dismissing the 4B movement as unpopular or insignificant in South Korea, consider the cultural and societal factors that compel many women to stay silent. The movement is very much alive; it’s just not always visible on the surface.
Hi, I’ve recently come across numerous claims suggesting that the 4B movement isn’t popular in South Korea, and I felt compelled to address this misconception even with the hassle of creating a dedicated Reddit account just for the rant. For those unfamiliar, the 4B movement—short for the “Four No’s”: no dating, no sex, no marriage, and no childbearing—is a stance some Korean women are adopting in response to deep-rooted gender inequalities.
To outsiders, it might seem like the 4B movement lacks traction here. After all, when the so-called experts point to our declining birth rates, they often attribute it to the highly competitive culture or economic pressures, dismissing any influence from movements like 4B. But let’s set the record straight.
We’re talking about a country where a woman’s career can be jeopardized for something as innocuous as wearing a T-shirt that reads “Girls Do Not Need a Prince” or for liking a Women’s March post on Twitter—even if it was seven years ago. I’m not exaggerating; incidents like these have occurred as recently as last year; we’re talking about literal termination of a contract due to a heart made on a post regarding woman’s safety issue on Twitter dating back to seven or more years ago due to incel gamers throwing a fit. Such a climate makes it perilous for women to openly discuss feminist movements or critique societal norms. (And I don’t feel safe discussing 4B in English on Reddit either so I’m creating a whole new account just to write this rant.)
In order to protect ourselves, many of us treat discussions about 4B like a clandestine topic—like a secret underground society of anonymous agents with a mask and a blood oath, meeting on every other moon. When family or relatives ask about our personal choices, we often respond with a simple “그냥” (“just because”), rather than delving into the real reasons that could invite scrutiny or backlash.
Consider this: According to a Korean survey conducted in 2020, a quarter of single households indicated they have no plans to marry in the future. When asked why, 28.9% of the men who had answered so cited financial limitations as the main reason, while 31.6% of women replied “just because.” This isn’t apathy; it’s self-preservation.
We reserve our candid discussions about 4B and our perspectives on men for secure, heavily-vetted spaces; anonymous online threads or between the closest of girlfriends. However, the reluctance to speak openly doesn’t equate to a lack of belief or participation in the movement.
To further underscore my point, consider the findings from a 2023 research conducted by 한반도미래연구원 later published by a major South Korean news outlet (경향신문):
- Among unmarried young adults aged 20 to 39, 4 out of 10 stated they have no intention to marry.
- This sentiment is particularly pronounced among women and those in their 30s.
- In their 20s, 33.2% of men and 46.1% of women expressed no intention to marry.
- In their 30s, these numbers rise to 41.0% of men and a significant 56.6% of women who do not plan to marry.
- Notably, 16.3% of women in their 30s said they would “absolutely never get married,” nearly double the percentage of men in the same age group at 8.7%.
So, before dismissing the 4B movement as unpopular or insignificant in South Korea, consider the cultural and societal factors that compel many women to stay silent. The movement is very much alive; it’s just not always visible on the surface.