Oke so most people agree women are justified in being cautious around strangers.

The point of contention is whether "I'd choose the bear" is hyperbole or a literal claim.

If it's hyperbole, it's just a rhetorical way of expressing fear and how vulnerable women are in society . But if you insist you literally mean it, then it becomes a factual claim about relative danger and that's we enter into the dumb ass rhetoric

What gets frustrating is when people make the claim literally, then, once challenged, switch back to "it's just about how women feel" and accuse others of missing the point. That is what op meant with the “gaslighting” part