Man or Bear? The Debate Over Safety and Gender Violence

By Corinne Edmonds 

Earlier this year, a peculiar question arose on TikTok and other social platforms: “Would you rather choose man or bear?” The discussion has sparked deep reflection on the real-world fears and dangers women face daily. The premise is simple — would one feel safer with a wild animal like a bear, or with a man in a vulnerable, isolated setting? On the surface, many would quickly choose the bear, assuming it is the lesser of two dangers. But as the conversation unfolded, it highlighted a much darker and more complex issue: the persistent threat of violence that women experience, often at the hands of men.

The Bear’s Threat

It’s easy to assume that being alone with a bear is the worst scenario possible. After all, bears are wild creatures, and in nature, they are unpredictable and dangerous. Statistics support this fear to some extent — about 40 people a year are attacked by bears. These attacks, however, are typically motivated by hunger or a sense of self-preservation on the part of the bear. While these incidents are tragic and terrifying, they are relatively rare in comparison to other forms of violence women face. 

When it comes to bear attacks, the worst-case scenario is often death — a swift and natural result of the animal’s instincts. While any loss of life is devastating, many women who choose the bear over a man argue that at least the danger is known. With a bear, you might not have a chance for survival, but at least there is no ambiguity about the outcome or intention. 

The Graver Danger: Men and Gender Violence

However, the comparison doesn’t end with the question of which threat is more dangerous. The deeper concern lies in the nature of human violence, particularly violence against women. The number of women who face sexual violence far outnumbers those who suffer from bear attacks. According to recent statistics, approximately 376,000 women were sexually assaulted or raped in 2023 alone— a staggering number that highlights the widespread nature of this threat. 

For many women, the fear of violence is not only about physical harm, but also about the long-lasting emotional and psychological trauma that accompanies it. Unlike the bear, whose violent actions are driven by instinct, the violence that men perpetrate often carries with it an element of malice, control, and premeditation. The nature of sexual violence, in particular, can include physical and emotional torment, causing deep scars that may never fully heal.

Studies have shown that sexual violence often includes not only rape, but other forms of physical and sexual torture. The damage can be horrific — internal injuries, abrasions, and long-term emotional pain. For many victims, sexual violence is accompanied by a range of abuses, from physical torture to gang rape, sometimes culminating in death. In many cases, the victim’s last moments are spent in the company of someone they trusted or someone they had no reason to fear, turning a basic human interaction into a traumatic ordeal.

One particularly chilling study by Stanford Law examined the injuries sustained by children in sexual assault cases. It revealed that many victims, especially young children, suffer from severe and lasting physical trauma, including anal and perineal tears, bleeding, and damage to internal organs. These injuries often signal the violent nature of the assault, which is compounded by the emotional toll it takes on the victim. 

Addressing the Deeper Issue

This debate is more than just a social media debate; it is a window into the very real fears that women face when it comes to personal safety. It forces us to ask hard questions about how we view and address gender violence in our society. It also points to the urgent need for change — not only in how we respond to such violence but in how we address its root causes: misogyny, sexism, and the systems that allow this violence to persist. It challenges us to reconsider how we view the safety of women and to take concrete steps to ensure that they are no longer forced to live in fear — whether that fear comes from wild animals or from the people around them. 

However, this does not mean that we should fear all men, and we shouldn't judge our safety measures based on gender. While it's important to be cautious, it’s essential to evaluate situations and individuals based on their behavior. Safety should always be a priority, but it should be informed by circumstances, not stereotypes. In the end, the conversation around "Man or Bear?" is not just about which is more dangerous, but about acknowledging the persistent threat that gender-based violence poses, and taking meaningful steps toward a world where no woman has to face that kind of fear at all.

Works Cited

Laybourne, Alexander. “Bear Attacks Statistics 2024 – Global Injuries & Fatalities.” WAF, 11 Nov. 2024, worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/bear-attacks-statistics/. 

“Domestic Violence Statistics.” The Hotline, 4 July 2023, www.thehotline.org/stakeholders/domestic-violence-statistics/. 

Gorman, Lindsay. “Rape as Torture: Application of the U.S. Torture Statute to The Physical and Psychological Consequences of Rape and Sexual Violence on Victims.” Stanford Law, law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gorman-Rape-as-Torture-DOJ-Victim-Psychology-Part-I-Annex-2.pdf. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.