Although coined in 1860, the phrase "women and children first" was made famous after the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. This evacuation policy actually comes from the actions of soldiers aboard the HMS Birkenhead which sank on February 26, 1852. There were not enough lifeboats for the 643 passengers on board the ship and soldiers made sure that women and children boarded the lifeboats first. Only 193 people survived this disaster. When Captain Smith gave the order to abandon the Titanic with "women and children first", some officers misinterpreted his orders and prevented men from entering the lifeboats altogether. The orders were meant to allow women and children into the lifeboats first, with remaining empty seats given to male passengers and crew.
Even though there were 2, 223 people on board the Titanic, there were only 20 lifeboats with a total maximum capacity of 1, 178 people. This meant that in the event of a catastrophe, 1, 045 people would be left to fight for their lives in the icy waters of the Atlantic. 1, 517 people died when the Titanic sank although 500 more people could have been saved if lifeboats had been filled to capacity. As a result of the "women and children first" protocol, 74% of the women on board were saved, 52% of the children on board were saved and only 20% of the men on board were saved.
Due to the disproportionate percentages of women and children saved compared to men, many of the Titanic survivors became widows and orphans who struggled financially. Many of the men who died were life beneficiaries of trusts created by their parents but this did little for their widows. Typically these trusts continued for the men's children only with their widow having no control of the assets.
With the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic approaching, the recent capsizing of the Costa Concordia has brought the "women and children first" policy into question. There were 4, 200 passengers and crew on board this cruise ship. 11 people are confirmed dead and 21 remain missing and are presumed dead. The captain of this ship did not implement the "women and children first" policy and more than 99% of its passengers survived. During the sinking of a ship, every second counts and ensuring women and children are loaded into the lifeboats first takes considerable organization and experienced crew members to enforce this policy. It is said that during the sinking of the HMS Birkenhead that many women did not want to leave their husbands and that they were forced into the lifeboats. Similar scenes were depicted in the 1997 movie Titanic.
So what do you think about the "women and children first" evacuation policy? Should it have been implemented on the Titanic? Should it be implemented in today's society, where women want equality? If it was to be implemented how would it apply to same sex couples? Would lesbian couples with children be allowed to escape into lifeboats keeping entire families intact? What then would happen to gay male couples with children? Would they be forced to hand over their offspring to women in lifeboats?
I think if someone wants to give up a seat on a lifeboat, that should be his/her choice, whether they are male or female. I think we have learned from the Titanic that ships must be equipped with lifeboats to give all passengers a fighting chance at survival.
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