After Trump's Victory, the 4B Movement Expands on TikTok.

Maria Barbieri, known on social media as @girl_dumphim, appeared determined and confronted the camera with a razor in hand. After Donald Trump was elected president of the United States, she "woke up wanting to make a change" and tried to shave her hair, but ended up cutting it too short with scissors, commenting, "Give up on America? I've already done that. Plus, I've decided to stop dyeing my hair because, right? To hell with that. To hell with wanting long, luxurious hair... To hell with being everything the patriarchy wants us to be, because clearly, they don't care one bit about us."

In her TikTok post, Barbieri included a text that read "Opting out. 4B," referring to a feminist movement born in South Korea that encourages women to abstain from marriage, dating, having relationships, or having children with men until all genders have equal rights. This video has garnered over 3 million views.

Barbieri was just one of several people sharing videos about the 4B movement. Another user, @rabbitsandtea, said, "I did my part as an American woman by breaking up with my Republican boyfriend last night and joining the 4B movement this morning," receiving nearly 9 million views. Another video by @smith.woods contributed to the movement's message directed at trans women, advising them to stand firm.

TikTokker Regan, known as @ftheniceguy, called on women to avoid relationships with men, arguing that their safety and lives are worth more than a romance. "When they have shown time and again that they don't value who you are, it’s important to protect yourself," she stated, being part of the LGBTQ+ community herself.

The discussion on how to apply the 4B movement to U.S. politics has not only exploded on TikTok but has also been seen on platforms like X, Threads, and the r/Feminism forum. Interest on Google regarding the movement significantly increased after Trump was confirmed as president, particularly among young male voters.

Originating in response to the patriarchal culture in South Korea, which includes issues like dating violence and the gender pay gap, the 4B movement has gained strength in recent years. South Korea has the lowest birth rate on the planet, and many women, despite government incentives, feel that the country's patriarchal structure imposes a high cost on motherhood.

Although the movement began in the late 2010s, it has only really garnered attention in the United States this year. New York magazine published an article in March exploring how followers of 4B, such as Barbieri, were resorting to cutting their hair and renouncing beauty products. This phenomenon has shown how the practices of 4B manifest as a form of protest against the fears women face in South Korea.

Some creators, like Dalina, who identifies with gender-neutral pronouns, were involved in the movement long before the election. She renounced romantic and sexual relationships with men after feeling that certain attitudes were veiled threats. Her video encouraging women to learn about the 4B movement has surpassed 130,000 views.

With Trump's election and threats to reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, many women have begun to express their fears by turning it into action on digital platforms. Barbieri states that her original video for the 4B movement was a result of her experiences in feminist spaces on Reddit, Facebook, and Instagram. Although she received negative comments, she was surprised to find support from numerous women interested in the movement.

TikTokker Ashli Pollard, who has been practicing 4B for two years, has recounted how this decision has given her a new sense of freedom. Like many women, her desire to share her story grew after the election as she sought to show that her life choice is deep and deliberate.

Meanwhile, some comments on 4B videos have attempted to discredit these women's concerns, even citing controversial figures. Despite the controversy and attention it has generated, Dalina points out the alarming rise in maternal mortality rates and critiques why any woman should face such a risk without protection from men.