Man Versus Bear went viral. Even though a controversy rages, let’s be clear about why the Bear wins. The Bear gets the vote because of the past traumas and shattered trust of too many women.

Those women have experienced childhood trauma, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and later sexual traumas, mostly perpetrated by a man that they knew or know. They, to put it very simply, don’t feel safe. So, if you can’t trust a man familiar to you, why would you trust a strange man in a remote forest?

Women have been molested. Abused. Gas-lit. Stalked. Raped. Date-raped. Sexually harassed. They’ve experienced saying “No” and a man not listening. It’s the unfortunate reality of too many women’s lives.

These traumas make a woman vulnerable and untrusting. “Am I safe with you?” is always the question on a woman’s mind with a strange man. So, to be alone in the forest with someone you aren’t sure you can trust? What woman with past traumas would choose that situation if there were another choice?

A bear isn’t trying to hurt you. It might strike out if threatened. But bears want to be left alone. Bear attacks are rare. Not attacks by men. And there are clear ways to protect yourself from a bear.

This is a reality.  It’s not a personal malignment of men in general or good men in particular.

It’s about the state of the world women live in, especially with past bad experiences. Past traumas have triggers. And one of those triggers would be finding yourself alone with a strange man in a forest.

Why not avoid getting into a situation you can’t trust, if you can?

Man Versus Bear? Shattered Trust is the Issue

Abuse, childhood trauma, and sexual violation shatter trust and lives. Histories like this are good reasons not to feel safe with a strange man in the forest. This isn’t about all the trustworthy men.

It’s that if you’re a woman who has been traumatized, you must be hypervigilant when you meet a strange man in an isolated place. How do you know this is a man you can trust? You don’t.

Especially if you’ve been violated by a man who should have protected you and made sure you were safe. That’s trauma – and it’s a worst-case scenario for any girl or woman.

And that’s when she’s not alone in a forest with a strange man. That’s when she’s in her home. Her state. Walking in her city at night or sometimes in broad daylight. Or when out on a date.

Today, women’s rights to their bodies are being violated even further. Choice has been taken away. Women of childbearing age are at risk of dying because they can’t get the medical care they need.

That’s because of people (sadly, mainly men) who are supposed to represent their best interests.

Man Versus Bear isn’t primarily a political matter, though. Even if, perhaps, in this current climate and reality it is. The issue is trauma and trauma on all levels needs to be taken seriously.

Trauma is why women are terrified daily. Trauma has been and is the reality of many women’s lives. We need to understand their terror. It’s real. Shattered trust isn’t about offending anyone.

So, think hard about it. If you consider a woman’s past traumas, which would you choose?

Man or Bear?