In South Korea, women are subject to many barriers between the cult of beauty, youth, and submission to father and husband. Will and Danny McIntyre
Faced with growing misogyny in the country, a new ultra-feminist movement called “4B” intends to abandon any form of association with men. At risk of exposure to threats and uncertainty.
Their names are Yeowon, Minji or Youngmi. All are part of a new radical feminist movement born in South Korea called “4B”. Born from the abbreviation of four Korean words beginning with “bi” (“no” in the language of the country, editor’s note), it signifies rejection of heterosexual marriage (“Bihon”), rejection of heterosexual relationships (“Bisexeu”), seeking a romantic partner (“Biyonae”), and rejection of reproductive duty (“Bichulsan”). ).
In the video: 100 years of… Korean beauty
As reported The Cut: Through a long report published at the beginning of March, this current, which develops mainly online, claims its opposition to the traditional patriarchal society, and therefore very homophobic, that governs the country. Women in South Korea have always been subject to many imperatives between the cult of beauty, youth, and submission to father and husband. “I couldn’t leave the house without makeup. I was ashamed of my face because of this pressure, always wanting to be beautiful and desirable, physically or sexually,” Yangmi, who has been an activist since 2018, explained to the American magazine.
The movement is a continuation of other Korean feminist currents that have emerged in recent years. Among them, “Escape the Corset”, which mainly rises against the dictates of beauty. Many feminists cut their hair like this as a sign of rebellion. In parallel, a 2019 study found that 24% of Korean women in their 20s had cut back on spending on cosmetics.
Insults and threats
But the followers of “4B” push further. For these women, the practice of “bihon”, i.e. the total cessation of all heterosexual relations (even friendships), remains the only way to break free from the current patriarchal society. “They think Korean men are incorrigible,” she says The Cut:. It must be said that this feeling intensified after the election of President Yoon Suk-yeol in March 2022. During his campaign, the head of state split the anti-feminist campaign, accusing activists of the low birth rate in the country and even calling: for gender equality and the abolition of the family ministry.
Therefore, assuming a position as a woman is very dangerous in South Korea. In contrast to the feminist movement, a current called “Ilbe” was created a few years ago, which is particularly fierce. Yvonne explains that she discovered her photo posted on their website and has received numerous threats of rape and abuse online for weeks. A 2016 survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and the Family also showed 41.5% domestic violence, which is significantly higher than the global average of 30%.
Save and save
For members of “4B”, only one option is viable to get rid of it: to work more than others. “They know they won’t have a man or a husband to support their family,” said Jeong, a feminism researcher. The Cut:. The magazine also mentions several events organized by the “4Bs” to teach them how to better manage their finances with savings. Many still live with their parents or are forced to leave the cities. “Saving money is essential to us,” Youngmi continues.
In a video separated by 65 years, several Koreans find themselves
always according to The Cut:The latter mainly operate online to bring women together, but they have no title to “change men” whom they consider oppressive. If they have more than 4,000 members today, no one knows, however, whether this ultrafeminist current will manage to survive over time.
Source: Le Figaro
