The radical ‘femcel’ movement urging women to give up men forever
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Yeowon has vowed to give up all relationships with men, ‘eliminating the risks that come from heterosexual marriage or dating.’. The 26-year-old office worker is one of a growing number of Korean women making the same pledge, as part of a uniquely gendered form of protest called 4B.
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In the wake of Donald Trump’s extraordinary political comeback which sees him take the keys to the White House today, American women have taken inspiration from the movement, looking to emulate it with a similar crusade of their own. Far more than simply withholding sex to make a statement though, it’s a lifestyle choice born from generations of inequality and violence — one many say they’re committing to for the long haul.
4B, also known as ‘four nos’, refers to four Korean words that all start with bi-, or ‘no’. Proponents refuse to date, have sex with, or marry men, with Femi Wiki describing it as ‘the motto of radical feminism.’ Although it has been compared by some to the ‘femcel’ community (involuntarily celibate women) 4B differs in that the motivation behind it is rooted in women’s rights.
The term emerged online around 2015, as women formed digital communities in the wake of South Korea’s MeToo and Escape the Corset movements. ‘Early participants shared their negative experiences in romantic relationships, which evolved into critiques of toxic masculinity and advice on how to avoid problematic partners,’ feminist scholar Dr Euisol Jeong tells Metro.
