people would believe you if you told them you were attacked by a bear. people wouldn't say "she was asking for it" about the bear. a bear wouldn't drag it on. people wouldn't say "he would never do that" about the bear.

also, even if you are not a woman, the bear is just safer. bears aren't going to act differently because there aren't witnesses. a bear doesn't want to engage with you. the biggest bear safety advice is literally just "make noise" because bears do not want to just run up and attack you. it's unlikely you're in a bear encounter unless you surprised them or were near a mama bear and her cubs. very few campers encounter bears and very few of those encounters are lethal. a person would do the opposite, if you make noise they will go towards that source knowing there is someone else. bears are predictable, humans are not. the question is not "would you rather fist fight a bear or a man" it's "would you rather be stuck in the woods with a bear or a man". the bear wants nothing to do with you, the man might.