Why did the woman and children go on the life boats first on the titanic?
Mainly because of chivalry. Manners were much more formal in the early 20 century and the men thought it best to care care of the women and children before themselves. The saying “women and children first” is known as the Birkinhead drill after a fanous incident in 1852 when the troopship HMS Birkinhead foundered near Cape Town, South Africa. There was not enough lifeboats for the troops and their families so the soldiers stood firm and allowed the women and children to go first.
