Would you rather be alone in the forest with a human or a bear?

Since its peak last April, the controversial question has spread like wildfire on social media, garnering thousands of responses from women about their choices – and criticism from those who did not understand the crux of the matter.

The majority of women chose “bear,” drawing attention to the sad reality of how widespread sexual assault among women is.

“The story itself draws attention to women’s feelings and sparks a really important discussion about the safety, or I would say the lack of safety, that women feel in society and in being alone,” says Rochelle Cleland, advocacy director for Spokane’s Lutheran Community Services Northwest, which provides a wide range of support for crime victims, refugees, children and other vulnerable populations.

According to United Nations data, one in three women worldwide is a victim of intimate partner violence or sexual violence by other partners. These categories include domestic violence and rape.

These figures only take into account physical and sexual violence and do not include the broader range of experiences that make women feel unsafe, such as sexual harassment and threats.

“Sexual assault is often about power and control,” Cleland said. “And by that I mean when someone commits something against someone – whether it’s sexual harassment, rape, sexual abuse – the perpetrator is exercising power and control over that person.”

“Often in our society we still focus on stranger danger, even though statistically we know that most perpetrators of sexual abuse are known to the victim, the survivor. They are teachers. They are coaches, they are neighbors, they are church members, they are partners.”

Since the perpetrators are usually acquaintances of the victim, usually life partners, the likelihood that the attack will be reported is low.

According to a report by UN Women, less than 10 percent of survivors report the attack to the police.

“The biggest fear is the fear of not being believed,” Cleland said.

The few who seek justice often face a multitude of challenges.

“People don’t report it because once they get into that system, they’re often asked to relive their trauma. And they’re often faced with laws and policies that put them at the center of those conversations, not the perpetrators,” said Jessi Willis, a professor of female sexuality and studies at Eastern Washington University.

“This human versus bear debate is an example of the fact that we still live in a time where people who have experienced violence or are afraid of violence are either belittled, humiliated and not believed,” Willis said.

“It’s really about whose voices are heard, who feels safe in this world, and how power imbalances can be addressed and changed to create a different living environment,” Willis said.

Willis highlights that the question highlights the conditions under which abusive and violent behavior is normalized in men.

“When we look at gender-based violence and the specific incidents of man on bear and these exchanges on social media, we see how power dynamics work culturally,” Willis said. “This is not about men, this is about how masculinity normalizes violence in the sense of sexual terrorism.”

The concept of sexual terrorism recognizes that the current situation in the world contributes to a system in which men fear, control and dominate women.

“It speaks to the normalization of gender-based violence, which is widespread not only in the United States but, of course, around the world,” Willis said.

A live poll published in early April on the website of Today, NBC’s morning program, found that of 3,835 respondents, 63% were bear, 29% human and 8% undecided.

A recent poll published by The Spokesman-Review on Instagram found that 21% (68) of 236 respondents chose “man,” while the other 79% (168) chose “bear.”

An anonymous user who participated in the survey said, “In the forest, a bear acts instinctively, while a human may act with predatory intent. The primal nature of a bear’s actions contrasts with the calculated danger a human poses in the wild.”

Since the question went viral, thousands of men have flooded the comment sections of the videos, trying to distance themselves from the male collective that makes women choose the bear.

“Psychologically, we want to be seen as good people, and gender-based violence is not about good people or bad people,” Willis said. “It’s about behaviors that are ingrained and then repeated in different ways.”

Thousands of survivors have taken to social media to share their experiences in response to the question posed and have received encouragement from other survivors online, creating an endless chain of support. Unfortunately, those who have misunderstood it have taken it as an attack on themselves.

“The resistance of men who want to be seen and understood as good men who would never engage in sexual assault or violence would do us all a great service by being more curious about the different experiences that people express.”

Because trends like this one are sparking conversations about issues like sexual assault, Willis believes the next step is changing the culture that justifies violence.

Starting such conversations early with children, no matter how uncomfortable they may be, can lay an essential foundation for their safety, Cleland says.

Addressing consent, boundaries, physical integrity and the word “no” can make all the difference.

Such conversations are and should not be temporary, but long-term.

“Another aspect is recognizing that these are difficult conversations that can be emotionally and psychologically draining,” Willis said. “But they are also essential to change.”

To reach Lutheran Community Services’ 24-hour support line, call or text (509) 624-7273