The 4 Nos (AKA 4Bs in Korean):

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1. No sex with men (bisekseu)

2. No giving birth (bichulsan)

3. No dating men (biyeonae)

4. No marrying men (bihon)

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South Korea’s peaceful protest movement is spreading.

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Since Donald Trump’s re-election, talk of American 4B participation has bloomed across the internet. Google searches about the movement spiked by 450% the day after the election, and there’s been talk about expanding the tenets of 4B to include unpaid care work, consumption of “pink-tax” products (i.e. products marketed to women that come at a higher price tag than their equivalents for men, like deodorant, hair dye, razors, etc.), and even smalltalk with men (is that 7Bs in total?).

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The original South Korean movement, that started in the 2010s, came as a reaction to toxic beauty standards, workplace sexism, non-consensual pornography, and the murder of women (femicide).

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Because the social ramifications in South Korea of publicly identifying with the movement are ugly, we don’t know how many women have participated. That said, the country’s birth rate fell from 1.23 children per woman in 2010 to just 0.78 in 2022 (a 37% decrease). Starting in 2020, South Korea’s population began to decline.

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Declining populations are associated with a host of socioeconomic issues, including:

• An aging population with challenges finding labor and resources enough to support itself
• Reduction in demand for things like restaurants, retail goods, and tourism
• Decreased innovation potential (as innovation is associated with youth)

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All this is to say–adopting 4B isn’t petty revenge; it’s a powerful form of systemic protest. Even if those in power do nothing in response, the passive effects of this protest have the potential to collapse empires

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If you choose to participate in 4B, there are two things you’ll need:

1. A good self-defense class to protect your body
2. A good self-care strategy to protect your spirit
3. A good vibrator, obviously ;)

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A vibrator is not a weapon, but in the war for your freedom pleasuring yourself is an act of resistance.