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U.S. Women Spark Online Interest in South Korea’s 4B Feminist Movement After Trump Re-Election
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.”
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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