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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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Russia Demands SWIFT Reconnection as Condition to Revive Black Sea Initiative
Russia has set forth a key demand for the restoration of the Black Sea Initiative—reconnecting its Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT financial system. This request, which falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union (EU), comes amid ongoing negotiations between global powers on the war in Ukraine.
Partial Ceasefire and Black Sea Security Agreement
Following recent talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a partial ceasefire specifically covering energy facilities. While this fell short of the broader ceasefire pushed by former President Donald Trump, the parties also agreed on measures to ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels in the Black Sea and to prevent their use for military purposes.
However, the Kremlin quickly detailed additional conditions, demanding the lifting of sanctions on food exports, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and cargo insurance. Most notably, Russia is insisting that Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in agricultural trade be reinstated on SWIFT, a global messaging system that facilitates secure financial transactions.
EU’s Role and Sanctions History
SWIFT, headquartered in Belgium, falls under EU regulations. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU removed several Russian banks from SWIFT in 2022, including Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Rosselkhozbank. The exclusion was a significant blow to Russia’s financial system, as it restricted the country’s ability to conduct international transactions.
Rosselkhozbank, a state-owned institution, plays a critical role in facilitating payments for Russia’s agricultural exports, a major revenue source through the global sale of wheat, barley, and corn. While the EU has not directly sanctioned Russian agricultural exports, the banking restrictions have complicated payments for these transactions, leading to the collapse of the initial Black Sea Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations.
Diplomatic Tensions and Uncertain Outcomes
The demand to reinstate Rosselkhozbank puts the EU in a difficult position. Granting this request could signal a willingness to make concessions, potentially encouraging Russia to seek further sanctions relief. However, refusing it could provoke tensions with the Trump administration, which is eager to secure a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opposed easing sanctions, arguing that they must remain in place until Russia ends its military aggression. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this stance, stating that sanctions would only be lifted after Russia takes concrete steps toward peace.
As EU sanctions require unanimous renewal every six months, any member state could disrupt the process. Hungary, which has previously expressed opposition to sanctions, could leverage this situation to push for changes when restrictions are up for review on July 31.
Future of SWIFT and Global Financial Pressures
While the EU holds the power to reinstate Rosselkhozbank’s SWIFT access, the U.S. could signal leniency by ensuring that those engaging with the bank avoid legal repercussions. Analysts suggest that Russia’s demand may be a strategic move to test both Washington and Brussels, pressuring the EU to reconsider its stance on financial restrictions.
For now, the EU remains firm in its approach. France has indicated that sanctions should remain unless Russia agrees to a full ceasefire, reparations, and security guarantees for Ukraine. However, with negotiations ongoing and international pressure mounting, the debate over SWIFT and broader sanctions relief is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
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