Warning: This article discusses emotionally-charged topics like sexual violence and murder.
A few weeks ago, some street interview videos went around on TikTok in which women were asked if they'd rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear. By far, the bear wins out, and it has been a point of discourse ever since.
While bears can obviously do a lot of damage to a person during an attack, the odds of one occurring are very slim. Under most circumstances, bears would much rather avoid humans entirely. Unless the bear is defending itself, protecting its cubs or completely unable to find food, the bear is gonna turn tail and run. Unfortunately, it's not that simple with human men.
The fact that women would rather take their chances with a bear is backed up clearly by the abysmal statistics around sexual assault and female murder victims. Without any additional data beyond "man," a woman can assume they're safer with a bear.
Nobody is saying that all men — or even a majority of men — are dangerous. The point is that enough of them are a real threat that a random bear is a better bet for a woman than a random man.
The original 'man or bear' interviews
@screenshothq The question of being stuck in a forest with a man or a bear is circulating on TikTok right now and sparking some interesting conversation.... we know what our answer would be 🐻🌳 #manvsbear #tiktok #tiktoktrend #trending #challenge #streetinterview #voxpop ♬ Terror Music (Scary Song) - IMPERIUM RECORDS
Responses
@dadchats This is America 🐻 👨
♬ original sound - dadchats
@fbgmwmo 😀 i 💕 this trend , not every man is bad !!
♬ original sound - Claire Boyer
@robandhaley Man or bear? #manorbear #manorbearquestion #manvsbear #shannanwatts #lacipeterson #hannahclarke #gracemilane #jenniferdulos #suzannemorphew #gabbypetito #annawalshe #chriswatts #scottpeterson #brianlaundrie #barrymorphew #fotisdulos #rowanbaxter #truecrimecommunity #truecrimetok #truecrimetiktoks #foryoupage ♬ original sound - robandhaley
@polyesterpants Replying to @Meeko Latte Suave’s mom #protectwomen #wtf #creepymen #leavewomenalone #menorbears #eek ##irestmycase ♬ original sound - Katie 🍉
@dontceceme I can’t get over these #comments #relatable #feminist #bears #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound - cece
@strongtherapy He gets it. #bear #bearorman #manorbear #manbear #manbear #womenarentsafe #thebear #manvsbear #womenssafety @mlr843 ♬ original sound - Jess (Licensed Therapist)
@blessyourbeauty Man or bear? Definitely bear.
♬ original sound - Claire Boyer
@mr.sweet_tea Purity culture did NOT EAT 🗣️🗣️ (but the bear did) #csasurvivor #08 #purityculture ♬ original sound - Claire Boyer
@r.fisher17 this trend breaks my heart
♬ original sound - Claire Boyer
[Image: Rasmus Svinding]
