Are women more valuable than men?


NrrdGrrl! Discussion Forum: Just Plain Talk: Are women more valuable than men?
By Erin on Friday, June 12, 1998 - 07:37 pm:

Recently I saw the movie "Titanic" with all the men going down with the ship and the women spared.
I was wondering, does this mean that women are more precious than men, or that men are more expendable? It would seem much more horrifying to see women being killed than men. Maybe this is why only men are sent off to wars. What do you think?


By Shampoo on Friday, June 12, 1998 - 08:25 pm:

I think the reason that back then they had the whole "women and children first" thing is because men are supposed to be the big brave hero's, and women are the delicate flowers... blah blah blah...


By Lee on Friday, June 12, 1998 - 10:41 pm:

Before advances in medicine, a lot more women used to die during/after childbirth. The infant/child mortality rate was also higher. I think all the women/children first stuff had to do with continuing the species or something like that. Then it became part of social attitudes, etc. Anyway, I think it's just as awful to see men die as to see women die.

Of course, w/the Titanic, there was the whole class thing involved, as a number of people have pointed out in the Titanic discussion. The death rate among women & children was much higher in third class.

Okay, here I go, off on a tangent. I saw the movie & one of the scenes that really bothered me was the mother in 3rd class quietly reading to her kids as the ship was sinking. The family had returned from trying to get out, but were kept down by the locked gates. She pretty much quietly accepted this fate.

I know there are a whole lot of social reasons, etc., but I couldn't help but wish she'd raised some hell. Anyway, I talked it over w/some coworkers, who are parents and they had a different take on it--that the mother was just trying to keep things as routine as she could so that the kids would be less afraid. I can see it that way too, but I haven't settled on one or the other intepretation. Any opinions?


By HappyFace on Saturday, June 13, 1998 - 10:47 am:

that woman has probably been beaten down her whole life and this was the final blow. it's hard for us to understand because in America everyone pretty much has equal oppurtunities. maybe the woman knew there weren't enough life boats and that her children would die. she was trying to keep them from being afraid. it probably really hurt her to see that her wonderful children would never have a life in the golden america. that's my guess.


By El on Saturday, June 13, 1998 - 01:47 pm:

I think one of the reasons that women are exempted from being drafted for wars is that they are the child bearers, and in this way are more "precious".

Maybe its just because we're nicer to keep around :)


By Ifa on Saturday, June 13, 1998 - 03:27 pm:

omigod i was crying my eyes aout for that scene!!!! that was the one where she was telling them the story of Tir na nOg, right??
hey, just in case anyone doesn't know that story (here's me showing off like crazy!!!): Tir na nOg is Irish for the Land of Eternal youth. there's a story that it's this island wayyy across the sea, and if you can reach it you'll never grow old, and you'll live forever. Alternatively, you could die and then i think your soul might go there, but i'm a bit iffy on that point.


By Lee on Sunday, June 14, 1998 - 12:38 am:

Okay, family story time. My dad's grandparents came over here from Ireland 'round the turn of the century. My great-grandmother gave birth to my grandmother's older sister on the way over. A set of great-great grandparents (mom's side) died w/in a year of each other of TB, shortly after they'd immigrated here, from Ireland & Scotland repectively. Great grandmother & her sister were raised in an orphanage.

Great grandmother married a Welshman who was one of 18 kids & parents didn't have enough money to keep them all, so they sent him over here (US), where he worked in shipyards at the age of 12. Knowing social constraints, etc., not suprising these people went along w/the system, but wish someone had fought back. Guess I was thinking of these people when I saw the movie.


By Anonymous on Tuesday, June 23, 1998 - 09:30 pm:

Women are certainly ðcious than men! They are the only half of the human species who can give birth and continue the human race. As we know, all we need is a male spirm, and that is something the modern man has provided for many years to come in a frozen state. We have plenty of it! Back when the Titanic went down, women were even more precious because some of them died in childbirth.


By Ultraviolet on Friday, July 17, 1998 - 07:32 pm:

I think the whole women and children first thing came about because one man can inpregnate many women, making more children or something. This is also why mormons and muslims have several wives, so they can have as many children as possible.


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