Why is it ok for men to die in conflict but not women and children?

Question

You know when they say on the news... "... including women and children..." like that's any worse than the men who died. Are we not all equal?

Always thought it was a silly phrase...

Answer 1

It's just popular society belief that men are the brave and noble ones who must fight to protect the women and children. Ya know, one of those old fashioned sayings that developed back before women's rights and all that jazz.

Answer 2

It is "more" okay (doesn't make it good) for males to die in conflict because males are more expendable in an evolutionary sense. I say this not because I personally believe men have less value as human beings. Here's the evolutionary logic: A society with fewer men can still produce just as many children (via polygamy or extra-marital sex), while a society with fewer women will produce fewer children overall. In an evolutionary sense, being more fruitful and multiplying more means your genes will become more common in the species as a whole.

This works in other species too. Think the praying mantis, where the male dies after having sex to provide a meal for the female mum-to-be. I found another case in which males are more likely to die young in a Daily Mail article. Readers may note that people who eat veal help prolong the lives of these newborn males. Those who eat only dairy do not.

"To supply milk, dairy cows are kept either pregnant or lactating. When they produce male calves, who clearly cannot give milk, the only use for these calves is to be reared for veal.

But because we refuse to eat veal, male dairy calves in the UK are usually shot at birth, even on organic farms, because they have almost no commercial value."

Answer 3

I don't think it is ok for ANYONE to die in conflict. It happens though and nothing will change this. I think it will go back from the time that woman didn't fight on the front lines and back then it was generally men who were fighting and therefore died.

Answer 4

BWHAHAHAHA. Always a good question.
Part of the myriad double standards that flow through human relationships. A man who sleeps with a lot of women is a stud; a woman who sleeps with a lot of men is a whore.

Equal does not mean the same.

Answer 5

I think it is because, the army is suppose to protect women and children. I think that men are to protect the women because they are the seeds of life, and children are the fruits of the seed. Sorry that sounds sappy

Answer 6

That's because they are men, you know...martial. And no, they are not equal to each other, but that's another question.

Answer 7

and the grandpa
and the dogs and cats

I dont know
because we live in a double moral world

Answer 8

good point....wer all equal....i always thought it was silly meself

Answer 9

Good point...suppose cos it sounds better...well not better as such, but...OH you know what I mean!!!!