Xanthippe,what I mean is that women and children first is a"Bygone Era"as Longhairgal said in her comments. Maritime disasters in the past had the tradition of "Women and Children First".Children were entitled to special consideration for two reasons: helplessness and innocense incapable of fending for themselves.
Remember when it was the norm to give a women your seat on the bus?Even to this day when disasters occur children should go first and women should go second then the men for the children need their women/mothers more than men at this time of their lives.
Blueblades