No marriage, no sex, no childbirth: what is the “4B” movement?

The “4B” movement, which originated in South Korea, is becoming increasingly popular on social networks. Rejecting marriage, motherhood and heterosexual relationships, this radical feminist movement is making waves around the world.

The “4B”, or “Four B Movement”, is a feminist movement that emerged in South Korea around 2018-2019, in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Its name refers to four Korean words beginning with the letter “B” and meaning “no marriage”, “no childbirth”, “no dating” and “no sex”. The movement rejects Korean society's traditional expectations of marriage, motherhood and heterosexual relationships.

In South Korea, marriage is considered an almost obligatory social norm, and social pressure on women to marry and have children is very strong. The “4B” movement is a reaction to this pressure, and asserts women's right to choose their own lifestyle.

Followers of the “4B” movement express themselves mainly on social networks. Some encourage women to take self-defense classes, delete their profiles on dating apps or simply stop talking to men. Others share their experiences of breaking up in love because they joined the movement. These publications have generated millions of views and are helping to bring “4B” to a wide audience.

It is still difficult to measure the real impact of the “4B” movement on Korean society. Some media report a drop in the birth rate since the movement's emergence, but no causal link has been scientifically established. In the United States, where the movement is beginning to make a name for itself, it's still too early to assess its influence.