The Take: Behind a backlash to feminism in South Korea

South Korea’s fight against rampant sexism and gender-based violence faces a growing backlash to feminism.

South Korean women carry flags reading 'feminist' as they march during a rally to mark International Women's Day in downtown Seoul on March 8, 2024 [Jung Yeon-je /AFP]

A local politician’s comments connecting a rise in male suicide attempts to women being in the workforce is part of a broader backlash to a feminist awakening in South Korea. The fight against rampant sexism and gender-based violence includes the growing 4B movement, which calls for women to refuse marriage, childbirth, dating and sex with men.

In this episode: 

  • Haein Shim, (@HaeinShim) Freelance journalist
  • Lee Yeeun, 4B Movement activist and Escape The Corset Movement activist

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, and Ashish Malhotra, with Duha Mosaad, Manahil Naveed, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, Veronique Eshaya, and our host Malika Bilal.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.

Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al-Jazeera’s head of audio. 

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Source: Al Jazeera

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