Squid Game 3 birthing scene sparks misogyny backlash
Squid Game 3 birthing scene sparks misogyny backlash
While the scene was clearly designed for shock value, many viewers found the execution to be absurd and deeply problematic. Social media quickly lit up with reactions, with some calling it “ridiculous,” while others went so far as to label it “misogynistic propaganda.”
Critics argue that the depiction of childbirth in such an unrealistic and sensationalized way undermines the emotional gravity and physical intensity of the actual experience. Several users pointed out how the scene reduced a significant moment in a woman’s life to a bizarre plot twist, seemingly designed to provoke rather than meaningfully contribute to the narrative. Others questioned the writers’ intent, suggesting it was a desperate attempt to generate buzz rather than thoughtful storytelling. The backlash highlights a growing audience sensitivity toward how female experiences are portrayed in mainstream entertainment, especially in shows with massive global reach like Squid Game.
The South Korean web series Squid Game, which made waves globally when it premiered on Netflix in 2021, has officially concluded after three dramatic and highly anticipated seasons. The final season, released on 27 June, brought plenty of twists, emotional reckonings, and shocking moments—but one particular scene involving a childbirth sequence has ignited a fierce debate online. The portrayal of Player 222’s labor and delivery during a deadly game has left viewers baffled, with many calling the depiction unrealistic, absurd, and even “misogynistic propaganda.”
In season 2, viewers learned that Player 222, Kim Jun Hee (played by Jo Yuri), had entered the Squid Game despite being heavily pregnant—a controversial decision in itself, but one that was largely overlooked at the time. However, in episode 2 of the third season, the storyline escalates when Jun Hee suddenly goes into labor during a tense round of the game. With the help of fellow contestant Jang Gerum Ja (Player 149, played by Kang Ae Sim), she gives birth—right there on the arena floor.
What shocked viewers the most was not just the absurd timing, but how quickly and neatly the scene unfolded. Within minutes, Jun Hee delivers her baby, shows minimal signs of physical strain, and, in a completely implausible twist, walks shortly after giving birth. In a show known for its brutal realism and psychological tension, this moment stood out for all the wrong reasons.
To it and she literally WALKED OFF childbirth??? like her broken ankle impacted her more than giving birth with no real medical care—how does that work.”
Gi-hun made it to the final games twice. Jun Hee gave birth in less than 15 minutes, no bleeding, nothing, but her broken ankle was treated as more painful than childbirth. The baby didn’t have diapers and was fed twice but still survived.” A popular meme even poked fun at the medical inaccuracy: “Player 222 gave birth to her first.
The criticism goes beyond just mocking the scene. Many fans and critics alike are questioning whether Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator, writer, and director of Squid Game, fully understood the gravity and physical realities of childbirth. it if you didn’t know anything about it?” Another expressed disbelief: “The fact that Jun Hee gave birth in under 10 minutes and then walked it off like she was doing it every other week is making me ctfu WHO WROTE THIS!!!!”
While Squid Game has never shied away from shocking its audience, the handling of Player 222’s birthing scene has triggered a much-needed conversation about how female experiences—especially something as deeply personal and physically intense as childbirth—are represented on screen. Critics argue that this moment reduced a life-altering event into a bizarre, almost cartoonish plot device, erasing the pain, vulnerability, and risk typically involved. The backlash underlines the growing demand for responsible, authentic storytelling in shows that command global attention.
As Squid Game wraps up its narrative arc, this scene may remain one of the most divisive moments in its history—one that some say exposes the limits of even the most ambitious fictional universes when they choose spectacle over substance.
