If you’re paying attention to the Man vs. Bear debate on the internet, you might be just as horrified as we are by the stats and personal stories that are coming out of the debate, but if you aren’t familiar with what this means: we are here to educate you. 

The Man vs. Bear debate is a simple question posed to women on social media: “would you rather be alone in the woods with a man, or a bear?”.

The responses have started a sad, but necessary conversation about violence against women. But, some men still found women’s answers preferring the bear as shocking and have labeled this as “misandrist” or an opportunity to openly hate on men. But that is far from the truth. 

While it’s not a unanimous vote, many women voted to be alone with the bear. Myself included. Here’s why: 

A bear can only kill me. 

It isn’t going to torture me, or enjoy killing me. It isn’t going to sexually assault me, or try to leave me powerless for its own enjoyment. A bear will behave like an animal, because it is an animal. 

No one will ask me what I was wearing if a bear attacked me. 

If I was attacked by a man, there would be some “important” factors to some, like: 

• What I was wearing 

• If I was drinking or under the influence

• If I was out alone at night

• If I was flirting and leading him on

• And unfortunately, so many more examples. 

If I was attacked by a bear, no one would ask me those questions. 

If I was attacked by a bear, people would believe me. 

No one would accuse me of trying to ruin the bear’s life. No one would accuse me of making up lies about the bear because I wanted attention. No one would ask me if I was sure if it was THAT bear. 

If I was attacked by a bear, I wouldn’t have to see the bear out in public, or at work, or at family functions. And I would most likely see the attack coming. 

I wouldn’t be forced to see my attacker recreationally. I also would most likely see the attack coming as bears have clear signs when they are about to attack. Men do not. They can attack at any time, in any place, even when you feel safe. 

And if you are a man reading this, and you are appalled. GOOD. You should be. 

If you are a man who is up in arms about women choosing to be in the woods with a bear instead of you, ask yourself this: what would cause a woman to be so afraid of men that she would actually prefer to face a wild animal? Read the following statistics: 

The chances of a woman being attacked by a bear is roughly 1 in 2.1 million. 

1 in 6 US women will be sexually assaulted. 

1 in 4 women in the US will be the victim of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. 

I grew up around bears. I have accidentally gotten into closer contact than I would have liked at points in my life. There has never been a time that I have been in proximity with a bear, that I felt nearly as afraid as when I have been in close proximity to a strange man who I did not know. 

So if you are a man who is feeling upset, misunderstood and frustrated that no one believes you, then this is giving you just the teeniest, tiniest taste of what women deal when they are attacked by other men. 

Instead of arguing, let’s be a little less concerned about defending men’s reputations and a little more concerned about improving women’s safety.