In the late hours of a night filled with pride for her work, an animator named Darim concluded her tasks at her studio in South Korea, unveiling a trailer for a character in the popular game MapleStory. But the announcement quickly spiraled into chaos, as she was bombarded with a torrent of threatening messages, including death and rape threats, solely for a moment in the trailer where her character held her thumb and forefinger together. This innocent character pose was tragically misconstrued by young male gamers as a “finger-pinching gesture,” equating it to a feminist symbol that had circulated disparagingly online nearly a decade ago.
Darim, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted being overwhelmed by the vitriol. “There were insults I'd never heard before, they were disgusting and inhumane,” she said, recalling messages warning she had ruined her career. This incident showcased a growing trend in South Korea where women suspected of harboring feminist views are viciously attacked online, leading to demands for their dismissal from workplaces.
This new form of digital witch hunt is driven primarily by a young male gamer demographic that feels threatened by the progress of women. The harassment resulted in the immediate removal of the promotional video by Nexon, the game developers, and left the entire studio shaken. Many women in the industry, like Darim, now live under the constant threat of public shaming or job loss due to any perceived affiliation with feminism.
Dr. Minsung Kim, a gamer concerned about these troubling trends, launched an organization aimed at supporting victims of online harassment. He explains how the ‘finger-pinching gesture’ is used as a pretext to launch an all-out assault on women perceived as undermining male authority. Unfortunately, this situation mirrors broader societal dynamics where allegations of feminism have become a weapon, resulting in tangible career consequences.
The animosity toward feminism in South Korea escalated in the 2010s amidst rising activism among women protesting against sexual violence and systemic misogyny. This backlash coincided with an increased online presence in discussions of the feminist movement, where misconceptions proliferated. Sociologists like Myungji Yang note that many young men gain their views from radical online communities, leading to a distorted perception of feminism as a threat to their livelihoods.
In a parallel scenario, a woman named Jigu suffered a brutal physical attack from a man who targeted her solely for her short hair, which he associated with a feminist identity. Her traumatic experience ended in a historic ruling that recognized her assailant's motives as misogynistic, further highlighting the dangers that women face in this increasingly hostile environment.
Women expressing any feminist beliefs now navigate a landscape filled with threats and potential ostracization. Efforts to push for legal protections have been thwarted due to political resistance, illustrating a troubling trend toward discrimination that persists within corporate and legal structures. Polls show a disheartening decline in women identifying as feminists amid fears of backlash, with active feminist organizations striving to find ways to combat this rising tide of anti-feminism.
As Darim, Jigu, and other victims recount their experiences, the need for assertion and solidarity among women has never been clearer. The road to gender equality in South Korea faces profound challenges, but the courage of those who dare to stand up against misogyny continues to illuminate the need for change.
