Another day, another hypothetical scenario dividing people on social media. However, this societal discourse has some sharp teeth.
The question, aimed at women, appears simple: Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear. The hypothetical has perplexed and offended many men, but it has struck a chord with far more women, who understand why they would select the bear.
While there is no uniform answer, many ladies on TikTok, Instagram, and X have stated that they favor the bear. This has provoked outrage among some males online, but it has also spurred an important discussion about violence against women and how danger does not always take the form of a wild beast on the prowl.
In one TikTok video with over 16.7 million views, an interviewer asks eight ladies on the street whether they’d rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear. Seven out of eight respond “Bear,” with little hesitation.
There are numerous versions of this video, with the question posed to groups of friends, family members, lovers, and strangers on the street. When asked why they would choose the bear, the women all give the same answer: With a bear, they are aware of the dangers associated. They understand, at least theoretically, how to survive the encounter.
The comments on the previously stated video make this brutally clear.
“You know what to expect from a bear.”
“Absolutely a bear. Humans are capable of so, so much worse.”
“Bear, because If I got attacked by a bear people would believe me.”
According to the U.N., about 89,000 women and children were intentionally killed around the world in 2022. According to U.N. data, one out of every three women worldwide has suffered intimate relationship or non-partner sexual violence, which includes domestic violence and rape.
That excludes sexual harassment and other situations that can make a woman fear for her safety.According to UN data, a significant proportion of female legislators and journalists have faced psychological abuse in the public domain – a specific statistic, but one that shows how deep into a woman’s existence the threat of violence can go.
As much as it appears to be a war between the sexes, the “man vs. bear” debate is not divided along gender lines. Many males have weighed in on the subject and sided with the bear.
One TikTok user asked her father, a lifelong bear hunter, what he would prefer for her. “You’d have a better chance with the bear,” he responded, after a moment of reflection. Then, without irony or drama, he continues: “Because men are evil.”
