In the wake of Trump’s historic re-election, many on the Left are scrambling to find someone to blame. Some say it was Biden’s fault for taking too long to step out of the race. Others blame Harris for a poorly managed campaign that failed to distance itself from the past four years and her progressive policy stances. But there is one group that is pointing blame at the electorate. Specifically, what they believe is a misogynist, male electorate.
In the days following the election, there was a large uptick in Google searches for the “4B movement.” The 4B movement is a feminist effort originating in South Korea which is shorthand for “bihon,” “bichulsan,” “biyeonae,” and “bisekseu.” This translates to no marriage, no childbirth, no dating, and no sex with men. The movement began in 2016 in response to mistreatment of women in the country including revenge porn, digital sex crimes, and the murder of women because they’re women – also known as femicide. Nearly a decade later, 4B has gained traction in the United States as some women on the Left believe mass misogyny is what propelled Trump to his second term in the White House.
Those promoting the 4B movement in the U.S. say they are enraged by Trump’s re-election. In response to the results, a woman named Ashli Pollard told CNN, “We have pandered and begged for men’s safety and done all the things that we were supposed to, and they still hate us.”
The only way they explain his gains among women and minorities is through the influence of the patriarchy and an attempt at self-preservation. One woman from a viral TikTok video says, “I’m talking to you too, those of you ladies who have the internalized misogyny required to do what you did. Minorities who are so scared of a woman in power that you’d rather cozy up to the white man, just in case some crumbs fall off his plate.” For women in the 4B movement, issues like the economy, immigration, and global security pale in comparison to so-called reproductive freedom.
There was a similar effort to swear off men in 2022 after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but it didn’t stick. This time around, liberal women hope to solidify their efforts by attaching themselves to a broader movement. Many women have gone beyond the 4B movement and added their own distinctive flare. For example, it’s now a trend on social media for women to shave their heads to avoid the male gaze. They believe that if men are deprived of sex, female attention, and attractive dating options then they will “flip their lid.” Their hope is that withholding certain privileges will compel men to support liberal abortion laws.
While many on the Right deride the 4B movement for its exaggerated claims, it didn’t come about in a vacuum. Second-wave feminism promised women equality and happiness. Instead, they got abortion, casual sex, and violent pornography.
Indeed, modern culture’s hyper-sexualization of women has led many to feel like they must engage in casual sex or get left behind in favor of other women — online or in real life. Such cultural pressures also lead many women to rely on the false promise of abortion as a safeguard against an unexpected pregnancy.
Instead of just mocking silly videos online and owning the libs, those on the Right ought to acknowledge that they agree with 4B in one aspect: There is a substantial problem with how modern culture treats women.
4B blames misogyny, and their solution is to abandon men. Social conservatives, however, know that a battle of the sexes is not the solution but rather is part of the problem. Instead of rejecting men, women need men to fully flourish – and vice versa.
The solution to the fear and difficulties that 4B experiences in modern culture begins with healthy, restored relationships between men and women, stable family formation, and participation in thriving communities. People are formed by what they see and experience, and the only way to overcome the errors of 4B is to offer such women a better adventure.
In his Vice-Presidential debate, JD Vance made a similar point. He argued that conservatives need to win back the trust of women by patiently promoting pro-family policies that have their best interest in mind. 4B women are inherently distrustful of men and social conservatives, but instead of ignoring this part of the population, conservatives must continue to articulate a pro-family vision of human flourishing that accounts for the pain of these women.
It is true, a majority of our culture does not respect women, but Trump is not the reason why. It is the Left’s sexual ideology that treats women like sexual objects. It is no surprise that the 4B movement is angry, but it is time to point that frustration in the right direction. Their justified anger ought to be oriented toward the liberal, sexual ideology that has brought modern culture to this degradative state.
