The problem with the 4B movement is that it plays into the idea that sex is labour: work women do for menSince Trump’s election win in the US, the idea of a “sex strike”, linked to a form of women’s activism that began in South Korea, has taken hold on social media. Like many things that become a mainstream buzzword, it is in fact about much more than the literal meaning of those words.This iteration of the “4B movement” is giving a voice and useful banner to women’s fear and rage across a nation that is increasingly refusing to provide basic reproductive rights and healthcare. Women are understandably scared about the consequences of unplanned pregnancy or pregnancy complications after the repeal of Roe v Wade. In addition, the so-called attitude gap between young adult women and men – that has seen young men move to the political right, while young women have remained largely more liberal – is no doubt also adding to what is being labelled by policy experts as a fertility crisis, but which is, in fact, a crisis in women’s lack of choice.Finn Mackay is the author of Female Masculinities and the Gender Wars, and a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of the West of England in BristolDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...