Does the women and children rule still exist?

Women in those days wore complicated ensembles of dresses and undergarments that were big, layered, poofy and cumbersome. Absolutely impossible to swim in if they ended up in the water. So it makes sense that they would have priority for the lifeboats.

There is probably no rule; however, I think I'd really feel like a heel if I pushed my way into a life boat ahead of waiting ladies and little kids. But in hysterical panic mode I might start punching grannies and toddlers to save my own sorry ass. One never knows until one is tested.

Okay, I went on an Antarctic cruise a couple of years ago, and participated in the lifeboat drill. The drill was that everyone was assigned to a particular lifeboat, according to where their cabin was, there were enough lifeboats for everyone (as per international law), and there was no rule about who got into the lifeboat first. Then they spent a long time talking about how horrible it would be to have to use the sealed podlike Antarctic lifeboats, which are nothing like the open boats of the early 20th century.

Times and lifeboats have changed, precisely because of what happened on the Titannic.

I think women and children first is pretty much an understanding, I mean if you are a 30 year old man are you seriously going to be able to live with yourself if you get in the lifeboat when there is a 4 year old girl and her mother waiting in line behind you and it turns out they never made it off?

You'd push a child out of the way to save your own ass? That's the kind of world we live in now, I guess. Men don't exist anymore.

If it happened today, you'd probably lose your job while drowning because you assumed someone's gender incorrectly.

It's women, children and transgenders first now.

In the age of blood shot eyes, KFC drive thru, baggy pants and viral videos I doubt it.