In South Korea, a growing backlash against feminism has led to online witch hunts, harassment, and even violence against women suspected of holding feminist views. The movement is largely driven by young men who feel threatened by women’s increasing empowerment and the perceived erosion of their privileges.
One victim of these witch hunts is Darim, an animation studio employee who was targeted after a trailer for a popular video game featured a female character making a hand gesture that some men deemed offensive. Darim received thousands of abusive messages, including death and rape threats, and was nearly fired from her job.
The witch hunts are often spearheaded by young male gamers who scour the internet for any sign of feminist sympathies. They target women who work in the gaming industry, as well as those in other professions, and bombard them with abuse and demands for their firing.
The authorities and companies are often complicit in these witch hunts, with some even capitulating to the demands of the anti-feminist groups. In Darim’s case, the police initially refused to take her report of abuse, citing the taboo nature of the hand gesture.
The consequences of these witch hunts are severe, with many women afraid to speak out or identify as feminists. A recent poll found that only 24% of women in South Korea define themselves as feminist, down from 33% in 2019.
Activists and experts say that legal change is needed to protect women from these witch hunts and to prevent them from being fired for their views. They also argue that companies and authorities must stand up to the anti-feminist groups and refuse to capitulate to their demands.
