The 4B movement, a radical feminist movement originating in South Korea during the 2010s, is an outstanding form of protest. This movement, also known as Four Nos or Four Bis (meaning no in the Korean language), focuses on the abstinence of dating, marrigae, sex and pregnancy. This movement emerged as a response to Korea’s misogyny, sexism, growing sexual violence and limited reproductive rights. Recently, groups of feminists and progressives in the United States have drawn inspiration from this movement, viewing it as a reflection of the political climate surrounding the reelection of Donald Trump, who famously declared that he “killed Roe v. Wade.”

In June 2022, the Supreme Court devastatingly overturned Roe v. Wade. In the period between the ruling and this January, the American Medical Associationestimated that 64,565 rape-related pregnancies occurred in the 14 states that had full abortion bans or restrictions. The annihilating instance of sexual assault should not be the only instance in which an individual has the right to a safe abortion. Abortions should be accessible nationwide and a person’s circumstance should not be scrutinized and given a head nod by the state.

The normalization of extremist ideologies is equally disturbing. Supporters of the 4B movement have faced serious online harassment, including threats of sexual assault and a barrage of hate speech. Mocking posts such as “Your body, my choice” (popularized by live streamer Nick Fuentes) represent only the surface of the hostility directed at participants of the movement.

Online discussions have noted that the 4B movement may prompt transphobic ideologies by only including cisgender women into the protest. This narrative can be categorized as gender-critical feminism, which advocates for gender-critical feminism rejects the concept of gender identity and advocates for the eradication of “gender ideology” in opposition to transgender rights. A more commonly known term is TERF, an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist. It is vital to remember that the purpose of the 4B movement is to protest the patriarchal oppression that limits the rights of various groups. This discussion should be gender-inclusive and should not in any way erase the existence of transgender identities and their struggles within reproductive rights and sexual violence.

Critics of the 4B movement are quick to label it as driven by mass hysteria or fear-mongering. They suggest that it is an overreaction to societal shifts that, in their view, do not warrant such drastic responses. Some even express misguided relief, claiming that the 4B’s rejection of reproduction will lead to a more conservative society. This kind of argument reflects a profound misunderstanding of the movement’s goals and an unwillingness to acknowledge the realistic threats that women face.

Such dismissals are rooted in the female hysteria stigma—a long-standing narrative that undermines the valid fears and concerns of women who have, for centuries, been subjugated to patriarchal control over their bodies. The 4B movement is not about fear or hysteria; it is about asserting autonomy and demanding respect for all individuals with uteruses. To reduce it to mere hysteria is to audaciously deny the lived experiences of those who do not benefit from living in a man’s world.