South Korean women hold up signs in Korean at a protest demonstration.

Why the United States should look to Asia for societal reform

From a four-day workweek to the 4B movement, Americans could take a page out of a few Asian countries' books

South Korea's 4B movement among women began in 2018 in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

Socialtruant/Shutterstock

Words by Anjana Pawa

For much of modern history, the West has positioned itself as the standard of progress and forward thinking culturally, politically, and economically. Much of Asia, within this context, has often been seen in contrast: catching up, still modernizing, or struggling to match the liberal ideals and freedoms that are presumed to be native to the West, particularly the United States. But that narrative doesn’t actually match what’s happening in reality. Across many facets of society—whether it be workplace reform, gender equality, infrastructure, or education—much of Asia is making bold, tangible strides where the United States has stalled or even regressed.

Sexist progress is still progress

One of the clearest examples is within labor reform. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many American workers have hoped for a more flexible workplace. As many offices, especially government offices, in the United States are being mandated to return to work full-time post-pandemic, some countries in Asia are reimagining their structures. In Tokyo, the city has introduced a four-day workweek schedule for government employees. This initiative was introduced mainly as an incentive to help female employees to balance childcare with their careers. And in Singapore, flexible working took effect back in December 2024, allowing employees to request various accommodations if needed, including remote work or adjusted hours—which has been especially helpful for young working mothers. Though these measures are still rooted in patriarchal traditions and reinforcing the misogynistic idea that caregiving falls solely onto women, they mark a necessary step toward beginning to recognize and accommodate the realities of an exploited workforce.

Meanwhile, American workers continue to log long hours and report high levels of burnout, but still struggle to access affordable childcare, health care, or access paid leave. The United States remains one of only a few nations in the world, and the only developed nation, without federally mandated paid parental leave, and efforts to implement more flexible work arrangements often face resistance from both policymakers and employers alike. Only six other nations in the United Nations don’t have these protections: The Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga. Though most Americans publicly support policies that would improve conditions for working families, proposals are often met with resistance from lawmakers who view these benefits as burdensome to corporate interests.

Opting out of the system

Labor and the workforce is not the only place where societal narratives are shifting. Similar patterns are emerging in the sphere of gender equality, with women taking control of the narrative in parts of Asia. The United States watched the rollback of reproductive rights under Donald Trump’s first presidency, with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. And with his second term underway, we’re watching executive orders gut protections for trans individuals and a growing number of state legislatures enacting laws restricting gender-affirming care and public expression. These policy moves represent a significant shift in rights for women and LGBTQ+ individuals.

By stark contrast, young women in South Korea are pioneering one of the most radical global feminist movements in decades. The 4B movement—which stands for no sex (bihaeng), no dating (bichul), no marriage (bihon), and no childbearing (biryu)—rejects the traditional roles women have long been expected to play within a patriarchal Korean society. The movement initially began in the mid-2010s in response to women’s frustration over workplace discrimination, domestic violence, and a lack of legal protections. Rather than asking for reform within existing systems, members of the 4B movement are opting out of these systems altogether and refusing to participate in societal structures they see as inherently oppressive. Since the movement began gaining traction, especially in online spaces, South Korea’s birth rate has dropped to become the lowest in the world, falling to 0.72 births per woman in 2023. The next lowest birth rates globally are Taiwan and Hong Kong, which are about 1.1 births per woman. This has now left South Korea’s government with no choice but to reconsider policy on all levels, from housing to workplace benefits for parents.

More inclusive policies

Parts of Asia are also moving toward greater inclusion and equity for queer and trans people. In 2023, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to allow same-sex couples to adopt children, expanding on its 2019 legalization of same-sex marriage. Thailand recently passed The Marriage Equality bill, which ensures that all couples, regardless of their gender identity, have the right to marry, signaling a major cultural and political shift in Southeast Asia. These landmark decisions reflect a generational shift in which young people are increasingly pushing for visibility, protection, and structural change.

While this does not suggest that Asia is a monolith or that the continent does not face its own challenges, the idea that Asia is uniformly “behind,” while the United States, and the West, is “ahead” is beginning to feel like a relic of a different era. Asian nations are not catching up, they are leading.

Published on May 20, 2025

Words by Anjana Pawa

Anjana Pawa is a Brooklyn-based culture reporter who regularly covers music, entertainment and beauty. You can find her on Twitter at @apawawrites.