The 6B4T Movement

Like the #MeToo movement, the 6B4T movement began in another country before spreading to China. In this case, it started in South Korea. The movement is about empowering women to be independent from men. The "6B" stands for the four no's, plus two obligations added later: no marriage, no kids, no boyfriend, no sex, boycott products from misogynistic brands, and support other women engaging in 6B4T. The "4T" stands for the four things to get rid of or reject: corsets, fandom or idol culture, otaku culture, and religion (Koetse 2021). It's interesting because it's considered very extreme, but it doesn't affect anyone else. It's not surprising, though, considering Confucianism values women on their ability to produce a son. Socially, women still do not have agency over themselves and their body.

On April 12, 2021, the platform Douban shut down many feminist groups, targeting the keyword "6B4T". It sent an announcement to the participants of those groups saying that it was disbanded due to its content of extremism and radical politics/ideology, in line with Chinese laws and regulations (Koetse 2021).

The notice Douban sent to feminist groups announcing their disbandment (@FeministChina 2021).

Of course, the 6B4T movement is focused on the individual woman and the choices she makes. Still, its popularity on the internet is what sensationalized it and allowed it to cross borders into China in the first place. The problem unique to China is that the 6B4T principles directly oppose the state's idea of social harmony, in addition to any traditional values being held onto. If every woman in China were to practice 6B4T, it would be a crisis. Thus, once again, the self is politicized.

References

@FeministChina. "Douban, a social media site used by Chinese urban youth, closed more

than 10 feminist groups and banned the keyword 6B4T, a feminist view from South Korea that advocates women not getting married and having no children. Douban calls 6B4T an 'extreme' and 'radical' 'ideology'." X, 12 Apr. 2021, 9:09 p.m., https://x.com/FeministChina/status/1381776572718399490/photo/1.

Koetse, Manya. “Censorship of Chinese 6B4T & Feminist Groups Prompts Wave of Support

for ‘Douban Sisters.’” What’s on Weibo, 13 Apr. 2021, www.whatsonweibo.com/censorship-of-chinese-6b4t-feminist-groups-prompts-wave-of-support-for-douban-sisters/.

Liao, Sara. “Unpopular feminism: Popular culture and gender politics in Digital China.”

Communication and the Public, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1177/20570473241268066.