Are American Women Actually Engaging in a Sex Strike?

In a recent viral discussion on social media, some users are advocating for women to cease dating and having sex with men as a form of protest against the election results, particularly with Donald Trump’s anticipated victory in the 2024 election. This proposal, inspired by South Korean feminists and their 4B movement, has ignited considerable conversation online, with calls for women to refuse to engage with men as a means to instigate a noticeable decline in the birth rate. Despite the fervent discussions surrounding this idea, there remains little evidence or rationale to suggest that such a sex strike is feasible or imminent in the United States, especially when considering the cultural and social factors at play.

The South Korean 4B movement, which promotes abstention from dating, marriage, and motherhood as a response to societal and gender inequalities that were highlighted in the aftermath of a high-profile murder case, serves as the framework for these calls in the U.S. However, the gender dynamics in South Korea differ significantly from those in America. Polls reveal widespread opposition to feminism among South Korean men, alongside stark economic disparities—such as the largest gender pay gap among OECD nations. These cultural elements underscore the challenges that South Korean women are facing, and represent a context that doesn’t easily translate to the circumstances in the U.S.

One critical distinction is the comparative gender gap in political engagement. In the recent U.S. election, about 45% of women supported Trump, while approximately 53% backed his opponent, Kamala Harris. This relatively modest gender gap—a mere 10 percentage points—contrasts sharply with South Korea’s 25 percent voting gap. The political landscape in the U.S. indicates a not-insignificant portion of women who engaged positively with male candidates, making the notion of a collective sex strike seem unrealistic and disproportionate. Many women, even those who may be politically aligned with leftist ideals, may not feel driven to adopt such extreme measures as a reaction to electoral outcomes.

Further exploration of this notion reveals that while some media outlets have taken the idea of a sex strike seriously, it appears to stem more from frustration than from a well-organized or unified political strategy. Reports have emphasized the sense of anxiety among women regarding the implications of potential misogyny during a second Trump term, framing the proposed actions as a form of self-assertion. However, the reality remains that a significant portion of women do not share a singular experience or sentiment that would galvanize them into action to the extent of rejecting male companionship collectively.

Another angle to consider is the everyday lives of potential participants in such a strike. Many women are strongly tied to personal relationships that provide emotional and social connections, making a total withdrawal from men an impractical proposition. The prospect of refraining from dating or engaging with men to convey a political message seems more symbolic than actionable, akin to exaggerated expressions of discontent rather than a grounded movement. This reality highlights a disconnect between online advocacy and the lived experiences of women, who are often navigating complex interpersonal dynamics that are not easily overshadowed by political discontent.

Ultimately, while discussions around a sex strike may resonate with certain frustrations about gender politics and societal dynamics, they are unlikely to evolve into an actual movement akin to what has transpired in South Korea. The cultural, political, and personal context in the United States poses significant obstacles to such a drastic call to action. Instead, it may be more productive for women to channel their frustrations into advocacy or other forms of political engagement that can foster real change, rather than opting for an extreme and divisive measure that lacks substantial backing or tangible outcomes.