Following Donald Trump’s win in the US election this week, lots of American women have shown an increased interest in South Korea’s 4B movement.

Having won in a landslide against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, the president-elect hasn’t held back in his views on the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade, having celebrated the move on multiple occasions.

What are Trump’s incoming policies on abortion?

When the convicted felon turned US president returns to the White House in January, it is expected that Trump will instate numerous laws that restrict what women can do with their own bodies, specifically when it comes to abortion rights.

Fear of this was initially sparked back in 2022 when Trump publicly praised the US Supreme Court for overturning Roe v Wade – a law which generally protected the rights of a woman or person who can have an abortion – describing it as a ‘beautiful thing to watch’.

Ahead of his 2024 campaign, the 78-year-old – who himself has been accused of both sexual assault and harassment by several women, something he’s denied – subsequently admitted to considering vetoing any anti-abortion appeals that land on his desk when he is re-elected.

There’s also the 900-page ‘wish list’ conjured up by Trump’s right wing associates known as Project 2025, which proposes using the 1873 Comstock Act, which bans the mailing of abortion pills. Trump has repeatedly denied he had anything to do with Project 2025.

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“I have no idea who is behind it.

“I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.”

What does this mean for women and people than can conceive?

The Comstock Act is extremely significant for anyone with the capability of becoming pregnant, being that medication accounts for around two-thirds of abortions in the US.

If enacted to its fullest extent, then Americans could see not only a ban on abortion pills, but also on the equipment that clinics need to carry out the procedure.

These policies could mean that even individuals who have endured heinous cases of sexual assault or abuse will find it more difficult to terminate unplanned or unwanted pregnancies in the US.

Such legislation could also be used to roll out a nationwide ‘de facto’ abortion ban.

It is important to note that new laws won’t see abortions stop, only ‘safe abortions’, as doctors and GPs in the states have warned that women in desperate situations will likely still go to extreme, often life-threatening lengths to terminate a pregnancy.

What is the 4B movement?

As we say, Trump’s re-election has reportedly seen a staggering spike in interest when it comes to something known as the 4B movement – a campaign against the patriarchy which has its founding in South Korea.

One heartbroken woman penned on Twitter in response to the news of Trump’s win: “American women, looks like it’s time to get influenced by Korea’s 4B movement.”

Another added: “The women in South Korea are doing it. It’s time we join them. Men will NOT be rewarded, nor have access to our bodies.”

Taken from four Korean words that start with ‘bi’ – which means ‘no’ in English – this movement saw women in the country shutting down child-birth, dating, heterosexual relationships and heterosexual marriage in response to oppressive laws being placed onto them.

Followers of the moment are essentially carrying out a widespread boycott against a system that favours men, even when it comes to the female body.

Domestic violence also accounted for 824 women killed in 2018 – this, along with the staggering gender pay-gap in the country, means that marriage and sexual relationships with men are seen as threatening.

One Korean woman from Busan who practices the disengagement from traditional relationships altogether told The Cut this week: “Practicing bihon means you’re eliminating the risks that come from heterosexual marriage or dating.”

Naturally, therefore, in the wake of Trump’s re-election, it may well be that many US women feel the safest means of living their lives is to embark on a similar way of living.