Following Donald Trump’s re-election, a growing number of young liberal women in the U.S. are turning to South Korea’s 4B movement, an anti-marriage, anti-dating feminist movement that advocates for disengagement from men. The movement, which took root in South Korea around 2015, is now sparking online interest in the U.S. as women voice frustrations over Trump’s election and broader societal gender issues.

According to social media posts on TikTok and Instagram, many American women, particularly young liberals, say they feel disillusioned by male voters supporting a candidate previously found liable for sexual abuse. In response, some women are exploring 4B, shorthand for “bihon, bichulsan, biyeonae, and bisekseu,” meaning no marriage, no childbirth, no dating, and no sex with men. Many U.S. women involved in the conversation say they want to step back from men and relationships to focus on themselves and avoid the influence of what they describe as harmful institutions.

Ashli Pollard, a 36-year-old from St. Louis, explained her stance to CNN: “We’ve begged for men’s safety and done all the things we were supposed to, and they still hate us. So if you’re going to hate us, we’re going to do what we want.” Pollard, who has not dated men since 2022, says the 4B movement helped her envision a life without centering men. She now plans to remain single and hopes more women will realize they have choices outside traditional relationships.

South Korea’s 4B movement emerged as a fringe branch of #MeToo and other feminist movements responding to intense gender inequality and violent incidents against women. Gender issues, including femicide, digital sex crimes, and an entrenched wage gap—the highest among OECD nations—have fueled its spread among young South Korean women. While the movement has since fragmented, UCLA professor Ju Hui Judy Han notes its sentiments resonate widely: “It’s not a very widespread movement, but a lot of people empathize with the sentiments.”

Han adds that the online popularity of 4B in the U.S. reflects frustration with systemic gender inequality. “When there’s such systemic discrimination, how could anyone imagine getting married and giving birth?” she asked. The recent U.S. election and the overturning of national abortion rights have reignited American interest in feminist movements that promote self-autonomy.

Not all women are embracing 4B fully; some, like Pollard, find alternative ways to protest by boycotting male-owned businesses or limiting emotional labor for men. Alexa Vargas, 26, from Boston, who disengaged from relationships after abusive experiences, also finds herself aligning with the movement’s ideals. However, she emphasizes that her primary goal is “to protect young women and girls.”

Some, however, express skepticism about 4B’s impact on U.S. feminism. “I don’t expect everyone to hold hands and agree not to date men,” says Abby K., 27, from Florida, who joined 4B after a breakup over political disagreements. “I could see it fueling change in some way.” Han also suggests the movement may not become mainstream in the U.S., though she hopes it will foster solidarity and a greater understanding of gender inequality globally.

Reflecting on American women’s renewed interest in 4B, Han concludes, “Many American women are trying to find ways to seek empowerment… These struggles for reproductive justice and gender equality are certainly not just American concerns.”