Women, would you rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear?

Women’s Perception of Safety: Man or Bear?

There is a fascinating theoretical discussion currently playing out across social media: would you rather be stuck in a forest with a man or a bear? Overwhelmingly, women have chosen the bear. They didn’t have to take their time with it either, just said “bear” straight away. The answer came as quickly as if they were asked if they would rather have a basket full of kittens or a swift kick in the teeth. “Men are scary,” one woman said. “I said bear because the advice to stay safe is to play dead, but that won’t always work with a man,” said another.

I’ve been asking myself the same viral question again and again for most of the last week. Man or bear? Bear or man? I still can’t make my mind up and that troubles me. This should be a very easy question! I want to say the man, I really do, but I can’t shake the idea that I would be safer with the bear. I am not sure if it is men or bears that are being most maligned in all of this, but there is no denying that is this a very revealing question.

I have put this thought experiment to most of my female friends now, and the response is always the same: there’s a pause and then they ask, “what kind of bear?” That’s not good. Even if they eventually chose the man, the fact they wanted more information on the bear first is concerning. Watching my mum weighing up her options of surviving a polar bear attack before finally settling on “man” was a sobering experience.

The experiment doesn’t work as well if you change the parameters with specifics. If you identify the man or the bear, for example, then it becomes a much easier question to answer. “Would you rather be stuck in the woods with Tom Hardy or a panda?” Tom Hardy. “Would you rather be stuck in the woods with Boris Johnson or a grizzly bear?” Then it’s the grizzly, obviously. The beauty of the question lies in its vagueness because that forces you to work with averages. On average, is a woman safer in the woods with a man or a bear?

Bear Attacks: Rare but Sensationalized

1. Brown bear attacks: Approximately 40 attacks worldwide each year, with 14.3% being fatal (Nature).
2. Polar bear attacks: 73 attacks worldwide between 1870 and 2014, with 20 being fatal (USGS).
3. Black bear attacks: Around one human fatality per year in America, increasing due to human encroachment on their territories (America), and rising in Japan (Japan).

Bears generally leave humans alone and will alter their behavior to avoid us where possible. Humans pose a greater danger to bears than the other way around, with thousands of bears hunted and killed by humans each year.

Male Violence against Women: A Grim Reality

• On average, two women per week are murdered by their partner or ex-partner in the UK (Refuge).
• Globally, 55% of all female homicides are committed by intimate partners or family members, resulting in five deaths every hour (UN Women).
• Intimate partner violence affects more than 640 million women aged 15 and older worldwide (UN Women).
• In the UK, 71% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space, rising to 86% among 18-24-year-olds (UN Women UK).
• An estimated 41% of women have been cyber-flashed online (UN Women UK).
• One in four UK women will experience a physical sexual assault during their lifetimes, rising to one in three globally (Rape Crisis).

Given these statistics, it’s understandable why many women perceive bears as a safer option than men. The reality is that women face a greater risk of violence and harassment from men compared to bear attacks.

A bear will act like a bear. It’s predictable and it

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis:

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article addresses issues related to gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and the safety of women. These issues are directly connected to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The article also highlights the inequalities and risks that women face in comparison to men, which is relevant to SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities. Additionally, the article touches on the need for strong institutions and justice systems to address violence against women, aligning with SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
• Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices
• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

The article highlights the prevalence of violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual harassment, and intimate partner violence. Therefore, Target 5.2 of SDG 5 is relevant as it aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The article also indirectly addresses Target 5.3, which focuses on eliminating harmful practices that affect women, such as sexual harassment and assault. In terms of SDG 10, the article emphasizes the need to reduce inequalities and ensure equal opportunities for women, aligning with Target 10.3. Lastly, the article touches on the importance of reducing violence rates, which is connected to Target 16.1 of SDG 16.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
• Indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18
• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of people who own a mobile telephone, by sex
• Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age

The article mentions statistics and data related to violence against women, which can be used as indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets. For example, Indicator 5.2.1 measures the proportion of women subjected to violence by an intimate partner, which aligns with Target 5.2. Indicator 5.3.1 measures the prevalence of child marriage, which is relevant to Target 5.3. Indicator 10.3.1 measures mobile phone ownership, which can be used to assess gender disparities in access to technology and opportunities. Lastly, Indicator 16.1.1 measures the number of intentional homicides, which can be used to track progress in reducing violence rates, aligning with Target 16.1.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: inews.co.uk

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