So there's this social media debate, where women are asked whether they’d trust a man or a bear if they were stuck in a forest. I asked this question, too, to a friend of mine and this was his reply:“Most men are not dangerous. There are significant levels of misogyny and sexual violence against women, but the majority of serious sexual offenses are committed by a small percentage of men. They're typical serial offenders, mostly men from single-parent homes, mostly men with severe anger issues, many of which have been sexually abused themselves. The average man is not gonna assault a random woman in the woods. 

Also, by the way, women make up around 25% of sexual predators committing abuse against children and teens. Do you think a child is safer in the woods with a bear or with a random woman?”

Nearly one in four Indian men have committed sexual violence at some point in their lives, and one in five has admitted to forcing his wife or partner into sexual acts, according to the Times of India. The National Commission for Women reports that approximately 1.4% of men have experienced sexual harassment. In contrast, 80% of women have faced sexual harassment, a number that skyrockets when considering unreported cases.

Given these statistics, the question arises: how can we discern which individuals pose a threat? Imagine being offered three drinks, with the knowledge that one is poisoned but no knowledge of which is—would you risk consuming any? This analogy illustrates the caution many women exercise due to their lived experiences.

When a person, whether male or female, reports being assaulted, they are often met with disbelief or accusations of false claims, leading to social stigma. This should not be the case, but it is a harsh reality. Conversely, if a bear were to kill someone, no one would question the victim's innocence or worry about the bear's life being ruined. The bear makes a choice and is consequently punished. Sadly, human perpetrators often do not face the same level of accountability.

While false claims do exist, and it's estimated that around 25% of women may make such claims, it's crucial to remember that over 99% of women experience harassment when marital rape is included in the statistics. The issue at hand is not a battle of the sexes, but rather a call to inform those who may be unaware of these alarming statistics. It is imperative to take this issue seriously and work together to address this urgent problem.

To move forward, we must unite in our efforts to solve this crisis, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the need for collective action.

With that being said, would you leave a child in a forest in the care of a bear or a woman?