*THREAD*
"Women and children first"
Despite chivalry on board the
#Titanic , men fare better than women in nearly all other maritime disasters
And it wasn't even on board the Titanic that these words were uttered for the first time either
"Women and children first"
Despite chivalry on board the
#Titanic , men fare better than women in nearly all other maritime disasters
And it wasn't even on board the Titanic that these words were uttered for the first time either
On 25th February 1852, HMS Birkenhead, a British troop ship was transporting soldiers destined to fight along South Africa's coast.
There were 643 passengers & crew aboard. Most of them from Scotland, including 25 women & 31 children, who were the family of the soldiers.
There were 643 passengers & crew aboard. Most of them from Scotland, including 25 women & 31 children, who were the family of the soldiers.
In the early hours of the morning, HMS Birkenhead struck a hidden reef off Danger Point.
A gash was sliced along the iron hull. Water quickly flooded the lower decks and instantly drownes dozens of soldiers sleeping in their hammocks.
A gash was sliced along the iron hull. Water quickly flooded the lower decks and instantly drownes dozens of soldiers sleeping in their hammocks.
Panic and chaos ensued.
Captain Robert Salmond ordered that the Birkenhead be reversed off the reef.
This made the tear in the hull much worse and more water flooded in
Captain Robert Salmond ordered that the Birkenhead be reversed off the reef.
This made the tear in the hull much worse and more water flooded in
As the soldiers began to work the pumps, others moved their wives and children out of the way and into the lifeboats.
As the lifeboats left the ship, the Captain realised that the ship was lost and commanded all survivors to abandon ship and save themselves.
As the lifeboats left the ship, the Captain realised that the ship was lost and commanded all survivors to abandon ship and save themselves.
A lieutenant called Seton overruled this and ordered that the soldiers and crew stand fast.
He knew that if desperate men threw themselves into the sea, they would swamp the lifeboats and kill their wives and children within them
He knew that if desperate men threw themselves into the sea, they would swamp the lifeboats and kill their wives and children within them
When the ship went down within 20 minutes, more than 400 men drowned in the water or were eaten by the great white sharks.
The lifeboats survived and the legend of the "Birkenhead Drill" was born.
Prioritising women and children first in maritime disasters.
The lifeboats survived and the legend of the "Birkenhead Drill" was born.
Prioritising women and children first in maritime disasters.
When the Titanic sank on 15th April 1912, killing 1500 passengers and crew, again the call for women and children to be saved first was given.
70%.of women and 50% of children survived as opposed to 20% of men.
70%.of women and 50% of children survived as opposed to 20% of men.
This spread round the world in headlines showing the chivalry of men in their final moments.
This strengthened the widely held belief that British men in particular cling to, that in times of trouble, men sacrifice themselves for women and children.
This strengthened the widely held belief that British men in particular cling to, that in times of trouble, men sacrifice themselves for women and children.
The telling and retelling of this particular story over the years has shaped what people understand to be standard chivalrous behaviour displayed by men.
Cambridge historian Lucy Delap argues that the British ruling elite spread the notion that men put women's interests first purely as a goal to shatter the case for female suffrage.
They argued that there was absolutely no reason to give women the vote because, even when facing death, men will always put women first.
Women should be grateful for the sacrifice men make for them.
They cited Titanic as the example
Women should be grateful for the sacrifice men make for them.
They cited Titanic as the example
The reality is that men had tried to push in front and board the lifeboats on the Titanic.
It was only due to the policy of the captain & his officers upholding this rather than the general morality of men on board that women & children were saved first.
It was only due to the policy of the captain & his officers upholding this rather than the general morality of men on board that women & children were saved first.
There was no real chivalry on board the Titanic
Rather a combination of
The ship taking 3 hours to sink, giving plenty of time to line up allowing women & children first
People thought the Titanic unsinkable
They all believed they'd be rescued
The class system was adhered to
Rather a combination of
The ship taking 3 hours to sink, giving plenty of time to line up allowing women & children first
People thought the Titanic unsinkable
They all believed they'd be rescued
The class system was adhered to
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