Listen to the article here:
I was quite young when I first read about the case of Junko Furuta. A young Japanese schoolgirl was kidnapped while returning home, tortured, and murdered over 44 days by four teenage boys. Even when these men raped her for 44 days straight, tortured her for weeks, tore her from limb to limb. She only begged them to let her go home to her family, she just wanted to survive and breathe. The case sent shockwaves through Japan, exposing a darkness that most of us would rather ignore (The News Insight,2022)
That was the first time I felt so insignificant being a woman. Disgust filled my stomach. The fear of men became evident in my life. This case became my constant reminder of the horrendous brutality a woman can face. The fear of becoming someone else's statistic like Junko clawed out my sense of freedom.
Recently the Junko Furuta case resurfaced through the "man vs. bear" question. It might be a silly internet meme, but it sheds light on a severe issue.
"Would you rather be stuck in the woods with a man or a bear?" This clickbait question took social media like a storm with many women choosing a Bear over a Man.
This question gained traction because it exposes a sad reflection of the unsafe society we live in. A total of 9,764 women fell victim to different forms of violence in one year (ending in October 2022) in Bangladesh, according to the non-government organization LightHouse. Many cases go unreported due to social stigma or fear of retribution. Among them, 4,360 victims were raped, and 450 were killed after being raped (Dhaka Tribune, 2023).
Here the statistics on violence against women are far more alarming than bear attacks.
The threat feels less terrifying if it comes with fur and claws. At least with a bear, the danger is upfront. There's no manipulation, no false sense of security.
Now, before you write me off as totally anti-men, hear me out. Is a bear encounter preferable? Absolutely not. But here's the thing - a bear attack is usually a predictable, terrifying, life-threatening event. There are warning signs and most importantly there's a clear understanding of the threat. A man, however, can be a wolf in sheep's clothing. The smile that doesn't reach his eyes, the "friendly" conversation that takes a turn - these red flags are often much harder to identify.
Remember Sleeping Beauty, the myth of the Chivalrous Stranger, where Prince Phillip finally shows up to save you? But in reality, he became a predator, raping the princess in her sleep. He preyed on hiding in plain sight, disguised as a helpful stranger or a romantic partner. So, of course, I would choose a bear rather than a man, A fight-or-flight scenario I'm sadly prepared for.
Now obviously there will be a "not all men" argument in their defense. And yes, you're right. Not all men are predators. But here's the exhausting part: not all men but enough to make us wary, the burden shouldn't be on us to decipher who is and who isn't a threat. The debate isn't just about fear. It's about anger. Anger at a world that seems designed to make women feel unsafe. Anger at a system that fails to protect us. Last year 26,797 complaints of women abuse were directly made to the national emergency service number 999. Only around 10 percent of the number of cases filed at the police stations are filed in court. That means, 20,000 cases are filed on average every year under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act (Prothom Alo, 2024). Unfortunately, the system is not even adequate to meet the demand for service.
Let's be honest, the statistics are grim. News reports are a constant reminder that the biggest threat a woman can face often comes walking on two legs.
The debate is about highlighting the very real fear that women carry. My fear, as a woman, makes me always be aware of my surroundings, forbids me to overshare or make a scene, tells me to never be alone with someone I do not trust, to never walk alone at night, to make sure my family or friends have my location, to tell others where I was going and reminds me to always, always be careful.
All these precautions, all these rules to follow because these may or may not increase my chance of surviving a predator.
Let's face it, In bear situations, playing dead or retreating slowly can increase my chances of survival. Now, consider a situation with a dangerous man. Predatory men don't offer a chance to "play dead" and escape like the bear does.
The man vs Bear concern should have been a ridiculous question. It should have been a silly opportunity for a laugh. Women shouldn't have to choose between a wild animal and a predator in human clothing. We should have been free to explore the woods, the streets, or anywhere else, without fear.
This silly question is a call for all of us including men to be part of the solution, challenge our daily sexist jokes, speak up against harassment, and be allies in creating a world where women feel safe. I believe we deserve a better life, a better world, where I don't have to live in constant fear, where safety isn't a privilege, and where neither a two-legged or four-legged animal will be a source of fear.
good