Men are willing to die in favor of "women first"?

[erwin]

The practice arose from the chivalrous actions of soldiers during sinking of HMS Birkenhead in 1852, though the phrase itself was not coined until 1860.[1] Although never part of international maritime law, the phrase was popularized in its usage on the RMS Titanic,[2] where, as a consequence of this practice, 74% of women on board were saved, and 52% of children—but only 20% of men.[3]

Unfortunately, some officers on the Titanic misinterpreted this order from Captain Smith to actually prevent men from boarding lifeboats. It was intended that women and children would board first, and any remaining free spaces would then be allocated to men. Because so few men were saved on the Titanic, the men who did survive were in danger of being branded as cowards.



It is much a part of western culture that men are less valued than women as the mantra of "women first" still exists to the extent at which men are expected to die for their favor. In January 2009 a US Airways Airbus A320 flight 1549 with 120 passengers on board crashed into the Hudson River. Upon describing the incident and what ensued a passenger stated "At first chaos, but everyone was kind of orderly, man. You know after a while everyone, we just, I just kept saying relax relax, women and children first. And then it just started filling with water, quick." Heading toward the forward exits, and then standing on the wings, the passengers developed their pecking order. Women and children went first into the rafts, then people who had fallen into the river and been plucked out.

[modraed]

Hello, my calendar says its 2009.

There are evacuation procedures in place for airplanes and ferries, etc. Nowhere does it say "women first". It says "Rows 1-12 exit out this door yada yada". The cabin crew are trained in emegency evacuation PROCEDURES. Its not "make it up as you go along". The cabin crews practice these procedures in the event of emergencies, there are drills.

What the hell does it matter what Joe Passenger says? Had the emergency been of a life-threatening nature the cabin would have been evacuated in accordance with established airline policies and procedures. Duh!

[atworth49]

Bollocks to that, they can swim!

I'm jumping in the life raft first!

[nemausus36]

First, a minor correction.US Airways Airbus A310 flight 1549 did not CRASH into the Hudson River.. It was LANDED in the river, intentionally, for emergency purposes.

Actually, the preservation of women and children could be considered a basic primal instinct. This is because it takes both men and women to further the species, yet women are often the physically less hardy of the two. Couple this with what many refer to as "natural male authority" (the habit of men to take control in stressful situations), and men decide instinctively to protect the women and children (more pysically vulnerable individuals) first. This was certainly a good thing on the Airbus Emergency Landing, as the passenger most at risk for hypothermia was an infant passenger, who needed to get off the plane and into emergency medical hands as quickly as possible...

[lifton]

Send them first, fallen women and children make for better traction for those who come after.

[gillian59]

So bizarre. I was on here just a few hours ago and this same thing was posted. Could somebody clue me in to what the hell is going on here? There has to be some explanation for this freak show.

[treasigh]

Women first is the cry for all political and social decisions as well.

A man cannot do much of anything without first thinking "How will this affect women?" "Am I going to be considered sexist if I go to the restroom first?" Am I being sexist by using the last of the toilet paper?"

I myself would probably allow women and children to go first but would be extremely mad at myself afterward.lol

[urian27]

No, I don't think so.

[toryn34]

Of course they'll die for us ladies, if not then I'll just duct tape myself to one of their mothers. You know they'd die for that woman.