It’s no great mystery. Obviously bears are the Sigmas of the forest.
But far be it from me to speak for the women of the world.
Ladies, just why is it that you’d rather meet a bear, than a man, in the woods? Not, you understand, that anyone is judging you.
What stops a bad guy with a gun? A good guy with a gun.
What protects a woman from bad men? ...🤔...
Traditional ways of ensuring the safety of our precious womanfolk -- like fathers and big brothers vetting new boyfriends for starters -- were traditions for a reason. Do they seem to be making a comeback? Ladies, do you wish them to?
(Disclosure: I feel ashamed for how I dropped the ball in this regard for my daughters)
*warning, Unpopular opinion* I have heard a lot of "explanations" from women about this meme. To be honest, they just infuriate me. I have grown up in bear country and have had experience with bears since I was 3 years old. (I dont particularly like talking or telling people this) but I was also almost raped to death at age 15 by a strange man I ran into alone (although not in the woods). So I feel fairly qualified to speak. I still would pick a strange man over a bear, and I freak'n love bears! I could better explain, but basically, the fear you feel about a strange man in the woods is different and isn't accuratly comparable to the fear you should be feeling about a bear. Rapest and bad dudes don't just randomly walk around the woods hoping to run into a attractive girl alone. Preditors go where the pray is. Every man I have ever met alone in the woods has always been a outstanding gentleman concerned with my safety. If your too emotionally controlled to be able to make a logical decision, that you would rather encounter real danger then meet real potential safety, then thats on personal problem and on you, and not men.
Its genuinely offensive to women who have actually been through the trauma of being mauled by a bear, and them having to hear what they went through "is better then running into a strange man who might not be a nice guy."