The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

In South Korea, the radical feminist movement "4B" wants to break all relations with men

2023-03-20T15:08:39.259Z


Faced with growing misogyny in the country, a new ultra-feminist movement called "4B" intends to refuse any form of connection with men. At the risk of exposing to threats, and precariousness.


Their names are Yeowon, Minji or Youngmi.

All are part of a new radical feminist movement born in South Korea and called the "4B".

Born from the abbreviation of four Korean words beginning with “bi” (

“no” in the language of the country, editor’s note

), it designates the refusal of heterosexual marriage (“Bihon”), the rejection of heterosexual relations (“Bisekseu”) , the refusal of the search for a loving partner (“Biyeonae”) and the refusal of reproductive duty (“Bichulsan”).

Read alsoAfter decades of silence, the revolution of South Korean women

As

The Cut

reports through a long report published at the beginning of March, this current, which develops mainly online, claims its opposition to the traditional patriarchal society - and thus very misogynistic - which governs the country.

In South Korea, women have always been subject to many injunctions, between the cult of beauty, youth and submission to father and husband.

“I couldn't leave my house without makeup.

I was ashamed of my face because of this pressure to always want to be beautiful and desirable, physically or sexually”, explains Youngmi, activist since 2018, to the American magazine.

In video, 100 years of... Korean beauty

The "4B" is a continuation of other Korean feminist movements that have emerged in recent years.

Among them, "Escape the corset", which mainly rises against the dictates of female beauty (makeup and long hair).

Many feminists thus cut their hair as a sign of revolt.

Also note that a study reveals that in 2019, 24% of Korean women in their twenties said they had reduced their spending on cosmetics.

Insults and threats

But the followers of the "4B" push further.

For these women, practicing “bihon”, ie the general cessation of all heterosexual relations (even friendly ones), remains their only way of emancipating themselves from the patriarchal society in which they live.

"They think Korean men are irredeemable," says

The Cut

.

It must be said that this feeling was amplified with the election of President Yoon Suk-Yeol in March 2022. During his campaign, the Head of State split anti-feminist propaganda, blaming activists for the low birth rate in the country, and even calling for the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

Read also

Baby crash

in South Korea: but where did the babies go?

For the members of the "4B", to assume their convictions in a country still very misogynistic proves to be very dangerous.

In opposition to the feminist movement, a current called “Ilbe”, particularly virulent, was founded.

Yeowon, who confided in

The Cut

, explains that he saw his photo posted on this anti-feminist site, and that he received numerous rape threats and insults online for weeks.

In 2016, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family highlighted the situation of Korean women, identifying a rate of 41.5% domestic violence, a figure significantly higher than the world average. by 30%.

Save and save

“4B” enthusiasts admit to having only one choice to be able to become completely emancipated: to work harder.

"They won't have a man or a husband to support their family," Jeong, a feminism researcher, told

The Cut

.

The magazine lists several events organized by members of the movement to help women manage their finances by saving.

Many are also those who still live with their parents or have to leave towns to survive.

"Saving money is essential for us," continues Youngmi.

In video, separated for 65 years, a couple of Koreans find themselves

Still according to

The Cut

, the members of the “4B” mainly act online in order to unite women, but do not have the vocation of “changing the men” in whom they no longer believe.

If they are today more than 4,000 members, no one knows however if this ultra-feminist current will succeed in persisting over time.

Source: lefigaro

All business articles on 2023-03-20

You may like

News/Politics 2024-02-27T20:53:12.921Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.