Resistance through no sex: The 4B movement in South Korea | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• 4B Movement: A radical feminist movement in South Korea based on four "nos": no sex, no dating, no marriage, and no childbirth.
• Misogyny: Dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.
• Patriarchy: A social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
• Gender Pay Gap: The difference between male and female earnings expressed as a percentage of male earnings.
• Hoju System: A family registry system in South Korea, abolished in 2008, that designated men as the legal head of the family.
• Yeoseong gukgeuk: A form of Korean theater performed solely by women, playing both male and female roles.
• Neoliberal Competition: A system where individuals are largely responsible for their own success and well-being, with limited social safety nets.

The Plight of Women in South Korea

• South Korean women face daily discrimination and abuse, often considered second-class citizens.
• Examples of this include domestic violence, workplace discrimination, a significant gender pay gap, and pressure to balance work and family.
• Rates of sexual harassment, cyberbullying, and violent assault are shockingly high, surpassing global averages.
• Non-consensual webcam videos are circulated online and monetized.
• Women are underrepresented in parliament, highlighting the lack of political power.

The Emergence of the 4B Movement

• The 4B movement emerged in 2018 as a response to societal misogyny.
• It originated from an anonymous Twitter post outlining the four principles: no sex, no dating, no marriage, and no childbirth.
• The movement aims to dismantle traditional gender roles and expectations prevalent in Korean society.
• The movement is described as a "feministic lifestyle" and an "irreversible" change.
• The movement gained traction after a brutal murder near Gangnam Station in 2016, which sparked outrage and highlighted the issue of misogyny. The killer was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but the act wasn't viewed as a misogynistic hate crime, just as an isolated case.

The Four "Nos" Explained

• No Sex: Rejecting sexual relationships with men.
• No Dating: Refusing to engage in romantic relationships with men.
• No Marriage: Opting out of marriage as an institution.
• No Childbirth: Choosing not to have children.
• The movement seeks to eliminate these four aspects, which are seen as over-represented in women's lives in Korea, to achieve a "breakthrough."

The Hoju System and its Legacy

• The Hoju system, which designated men as the legal head of the family until its abolishment in 2008, entrenched male dominance in South Korean society.
• This system continues to influence gender roles and power dynamics today.

Community and Empowerment

• Women are creating supportive communities, such as shared apartments and workspaces, to support each other professionally and personally.
• Seoul's first strength training studio exclusively for women provides a space for physical empowerment and self-esteem building.
• Minkyung Lee's personal journey from being "shy" and "afraid of misogyny" to becoming a devoted feminist is highlighted.
• Minkyung states her goal is "Not being wife anymore, or a girlfriend for other man anymore. Just be myself, and be with other women."

Resistance and Backlash

• Professor Hyun-Jae Lee, a feminist philosophy researcher, faces email threats and disruptions of her lectures by male students.
• Many young men express feeling disadvantaged compared to women, citing mandatory military service and perceived diminishing opportunities.
• Some men view the 4B movement as extreme and unnecessary.
• A case at Seoul Women's University involving a professor accused of sexual harassment highlights the challenges of addressing misogyny within educational institutions. The university's silence and lack of action further fueled support for the 4B movement.

Criticisms of the 4B Movement

• Artist and anthropologist siren eun young jung criticizes the 4B movement for focusing too much on individual success and hyper-capitalism, arguing that it "misses the point" of true political change.
• She suggests that accumulating wealth and status is only "scratching the surface" of what's required for meaningful change.

Broader Feminist Movement and Societal Impact

• The broader feminist movement is gaining traction in South Korea, even among women who don't openly identify as feminists.
• South Korea's extremely low birth rate (0.72 children per woman in 2023, the lowest in the world) reflects a growing trend of women choosing not to have children.
• Women are sharing knowledge and solidarity as "weapons for the future."

Yeoseong gukgeuk: A Historical Precedent

• Yeoseong gukgeuk, a 100-year-old form of theater performed solely by women, is presented as a historical example of female independence and self-organization.
• In its early days in South Korea, feminism and the LGBTQ+ scene shared close ties.

Conclusion

• While gender equality remains a long way off in South Korea, change is beginning to take root.
• The 4B movement, despite its controversial nature and criticisms, represents a significant shift in women's attitudes and choices.
• The video concludes with a message of hope, emphasizing that women are changing "very fast, every day, day by day."