University
Old Dominion University
Country
United States of America
Document Type
Conference Paper
ORCiD
0009-0001-6450-2275 (Wilson)
Description/Abstract
This paper explores declining birth rates as a global act of resistance and reclamation by women and birthing individuals against hyper-masculinized institutions, using South Korea's 4B movement as a case study. The 4B movement, which rejects marriage, childbirth, romance, and heterosexual relationships, represents a paradigm shift challenging entrenched gender norms, state control, and systemic inequities. It exemplifies a global phenomenon as similar movements gain traction in the U.S., Japan, and beyond, amidst rising conservatism and declining fertility rates. Framing this analysis with intersectionality, Feminist IR theory, and Kuhn’s paradigm shift model, the paper argues that this resistance signifies a transformative push for cultural and institutional reform. By rejecting roles imposed by traditional frameworks, participants confront state systems that commodify reproduction, instead advocating autonomy and equity. The implications are profound, as global governance faces inevitable transformation in response to these demographic and cultural shifts.
Keywords
Intersectionality, Feminist Critique of Institutions, Paradigm Shifts and Global Change, The Political Nature of Motherhood
Disciplines
Comparative Politics | Critical and Cultural Studies | Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | International Relations
DOI
10.25776/vba3-5606
Session Title
Colonial Legacies, Cultural Identity, & Repatriation
Location
Cape Charles Room, ODU Webb Center
Start Date
3-21-2025 1:30 PM
End Date
3-21-2025 2:50 PM
Upload File
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Included in
Comparative Politics Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, International Relations Commons
Beyond the Institution of Motherhood: Shifting the Paradigm
Cape Charles Room, ODU Webb Center
This paper explores declining birth rates as a global act of resistance and reclamation by women and birthing individuals against hyper-masculinized institutions, using South Korea's 4B movement as a case study. The 4B movement, which rejects marriage, childbirth, romance, and heterosexual relationships, represents a paradigm shift challenging entrenched gender norms, state control, and systemic inequities. It exemplifies a global phenomenon as similar movements gain traction in the U.S., Japan, and beyond, amidst rising conservatism and declining fertility rates. Framing this analysis with intersectionality, Feminist IR theory, and Kuhn’s paradigm shift model, the paper argues that this resistance signifies a transformative push for cultural and institutional reform. By rejecting roles imposed by traditional frameworks, participants confront state systems that commodify reproduction, instead advocating autonomy and equity. The implications are profound, as global governance faces inevitable transformation in response to these demographic and cultural shifts.