As soon as Donald Trump was reelected last week, an online protest movement began, led by women who voted for Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris. Distraught women, mostly white, began recording videos of themselves screaming, crying and ranting against the Republican victory. In the videos, posted mostly on Instagram and TikTok, the women said they don’t feel safe around men now because their right to abortion won’t be secure with Trump in the White House.
This revolt has grown since the election, especially in blue states like Colorado, Vermont and Minnesota, and in Washington, D.C. Some women filmed themselves shaving their heads or getting tattoos in protest. Others pledged to wear blue bracelets or blue-beaded safety pins so like-minded women can identify each other and find solidarity. Many also announced that they are joining the so-called “4B movement”—meaning that for the next four years they refuse to date men, get married, have sex with men or have babies.
“It’s heartbreaking to know that in this country you only matter if you’re a straight white man,” said one woman named McKenna, who hesitated to give her last name in an interview with The Guardian. “It’s just devastating that we’re at this point. So I will not let another man touch me until I have my rights back.”
The 4B movement, which started in South Korea in reaction to widespread sexual harassment, gets its name from four Korean words that all start with the letter “b”: bihon (heterosexual marriage), bichulsan (childbirth), biyeonae (dating) and bisekseu (sex). But the American version is different. Women in this country are basically saying: “I’m going to punish men because the election didn’t go how I wanted it to.”
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
Even secular counselors say the 4B movement is not a healthy response. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to cut yourself off from romantic relationships or intimacy as a way to punish men or the administration—it ultimately ends up being self-punishing,” said Amy Chan, a dating coach who was interviewed by USA Today. “We won’t create a better world by seeing men as evil or as the enemy,” she added.
But here we are. The votes are counted, Donald Trump won in a landslide and political divisions have never triggered so much bitterness—to the point of dividing families. So how does the Christian community reach out to Left-leaning women who have become so angry that they seem emotionally unstable?
I’ve spent most of my adult life addressing the pain of women in developing countries. I started a Christian humanitarian organization in 2003 to provide a safety net for women who face domestic violence, economic abandonment, forced marriage, genital mutilation and denial of education—all serious problems in the world’s poorest countries. I know Jesus went out of His way to care for female pain, and He confronted those who abused women.
I have four things to say to any American woman who feels unsafe in today’s political environment:
— Jesus is the safest man you will ever know. Get to know Him! It’s true that some men are sexist, cruel and demeaning. I’ve confronted many of them and helped to rehabilitate some of them. But Jesus is not like any other man—He is perfect because He is the Son of God. When we believe in Him, He transforms us from the inside and sets us free from our sinful nature. If a man abused you, Jesus knows what happened. He loves you and He can heal you.
— You must learn to trust in God, not politics. Regardless of our political affiliations, there is one throne in the universe that is above all others. Psalm 103:19 (NASB) says: “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.” No president, no king and no political party has all the power. God has the last word. Knowing He is ultimately in charge gives us true peace.
— Jesus cares not only for vulnerable women but also for the unborn. Many women today are angry because they feel they no longer have the right to terminate a pregnancy. They make the claim, “My body, my choice”—but an unborn child is not “your body.” God says of us all: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jer. 1:5a). Our selfish culture says killing the next generation is acceptable, but who said they are right? I beg you to reconsider this issue.
— Don’t let bitterness poison your soul. Try forgiveness. We are tempted to think that if we show hatred toward a person, we are harming them. But actually when we seethe inside with resentment, we are hurting ourselves. Anger is toxic. It can cause premature aging, unpleasant attitudes, a weak immune system, broken relationships and disease. Let go of toxic emotions and seek joy, peace and love—even for your political enemies.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
J. Lee Grady is an author, award-winning journalist and ordained minister. He served as a news writer and magazine editor for many years before launching into full-time ministry.
Lee is the author of six books, including “10 Lies the Church Tells Women,” “10 Lies Men Believe” and “Fearless Daughters of the Bible.” His years at Charisma magazine also gave him a unique perspective of the Spirit-filled church and led him to write “The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale” and “Set My Heart on Fire,” which is a Bible study on the work of the Holy Spirit.
