Why Are South Korean Women Saying No To Motherhood?

When our radical foremothers told us to denounce marriage, by it being a labour contract, they wouldn’t have thought this would cause an alarm and be the reason behind a national emergency. In South Korea, women are responding to patriarchy, misogyny, unequal division of labour, and gendered roles by rejecting societal demands and expectations. Known as the 4B feminist movement, this group of South Korean women are not ready to give in to the patriarchal demands. 

It’s amusing how women, simply by exercising their choice, have managed to threaten the societal fabric, forcing a nation to declare a national emergency. 

The 4B feminist movement represents a powerful assertion of women's autonomy and agency. By exercising their right to choose, women are disrupting the status quo and challenging the patriarchal norms that have long constrained them. No longer willing to conform to societal pressures, these women are rejecting the traditional expectations of marriage and motherhood, sparking a seismic shift in South Korea's demographic landscape.

At the heart of this movement lies a fundamental rejection of the unequal division of labour and gendered roles that have perpetuated misogyny and discrimination. Women are demanding equal rights, opportunities, and recognition in all spheres of life, refusing to be relegated to subordinate positions dictated by traditional gender norms.

Unequal Division of Labour

In an interview with BBC, Yejin, a woman in her 20s has associated this narrative shift with the persisting perpetual cycle of work. "I love my job, it brings me so much fulfilment," she says. "But working in Korea is hard, you're stuck in a perpetual cycle of work."

Further adding to this, she talks about how notions of success and productivity have a gendered lens wherein she, as a woman, has to choose either career growth and self-improvement or setting up a family. "Koreans have this mindset that if you don't continuously work on self-improvement, you're going to get left behind and become a failure. This fear makes us work twice as hard”, she said. 

The repercussions of this feminist uprising are reverberating throughout South Korean society, particularly in the realm of population dynamics. With the country facing the lowest birth rate in the world, policymakers have been forced to confront the grim reality of a shrinking population and its dire implications for the economy, security, and social welfare.

The plummeting birth rate, now at a staggering 0.72, threatens to destabilize the very fabric of South Korean society. If left unchecked, projections indicate that the population could halve by the year 2100, with profound consequences for the country's future prosperity and stability.

In response to this demographic crisis, successive governments have implemented a range of financial incentives to encourage couples to have children. However, these measures have proven ineffective in reversing the downward trend, highlighting the need for more innovative and comprehensive solutions.

Proposals such as hiring nannies from Southeast Asia and exempting men from military service if they father three children before turning 30 underscore the desperation of policymakers grappling with the magnitude of the crisis. Yet, these measures fail to address the underlying issues driving the decline in birth rates and risk exacerbating existing inequalities.

Critics have accused policymakers of neglecting the voices of young people, particularly women, and failing to address their needs and concerns. The 4B feminist movement represents a potent reminder of the urgent need to prioritize gender equality and empower women to shape their destinies.

As South Korea confronts the challenges posed by its dwindling population, it must heed the call of the 4B feminist movement and embrace a more inclusive and equitable vision for the future. Only by dismantling patriarchal structures and promoting gender equality can the country chart a path toward sustainable growth, prosperity, and social harmony.

Systemic Flaws

Moreover, the choice is not just due to sociological factors, but also systemic ones. Structural issues like housing, private education, skewed notions of success, and the pressure of productivity and excellence are also preventing women from planning a child. Stella, another single woman, understands the burden all too well. She watches parents spend up to £700 ($890) per child a month, many of whom cannot afford it.

Another reason that’s preventing women from embracing motherhood is the depressing social phenomenon of the uncertainty of resuming work again. Over in the city of Daejon, Jungyeon Chun, mother of two, said, “I didn't feel like I was making a major decision having children, I thought I would be able to return to work pretty quickly." But soon the social and financial pressures kicked in, and to her surprise she found herself parenting alone. Her husband, a trade unionist, did not help with the childcare or the housework.

The 4B feminist movement in South Korea represents not only a powerful assertion of women's autonomy and agency but also a clarion call for systemic change. By challenging patriarchal norms and refusing to conform to traditional gender roles, women are reshaping the demographic landscape of the nation. However, the plummeting birth rate and the ensuing national emergency underscore the urgent need for comprehensive solutions that address the structural inequalities and systemic barriers facing women. As policymakers grapple with the magnitude of the crisis, they must prioritize gender equality and empower women to make choices about their bodies, lives, and futures. Only by dismantling patriarchal structures and promoting inclusive policies can South Korea chart a path toward sustainable growth, prosperity, and social harmony for all its citizens.