Have you seen the video about the angry bear? It’s about raising awareness for consent for sexual activity. Are you talking about this issue? Most importantly, if you have been abused or know someone who has, speak up. It’s the only way to fight back.
A video making the rounds on social media this week has a lot of people talking. A joint effort by original comedic content website College Humor and year-old activist group It’s On Us, the video was released in time for It’s On Us National Week of Action to raise awareness of consent.
The video shows an over-the-top situation where five guys are hanging out when one discovers a bear in the other room. One guy says he knows the bear is there, but he doesn’t know how to get rid of it. He dismisses the others’ concerns when they learn the bear eats one out of every five people (meaning one of them will be eaten). The video’s statistics are a mirror to the one in five women will be sexually assaulted by the time they finish college. Fewer than 5% of these assualts will be reported to law enforcement. The guy who knows about the bear uses a contemptuous, derisive attitude victims often hear after being sexually assaulted, saying at one point “bears will be bears” embodying the oft-repeated refrain “boys will be boys.”
The idea of consent and prevalence of sexual assault in the U.S. is something I often talk about on my social media platforms, so I’m encouraged to see this topic brought up and being shared. Had you seen this video shared in your feeds? What kind of discussions has it provoked? Have you seen the same sort of head-in-the-sand behavior showcased in this video? If so, we’d like to hear your comments and start a conversation. The only way to stop this behavior is to fight back.
If you’ve been sexually assaulted, you are not alone, please report the assault, tell a friend, law enforcement, someone, and if nothing else, visit NotAlone for resources.
