What about children, the disabled, and the elderly first, and all other capable adults after? They usually are a small group combined when compared to all others who are grown men and women.
To the question, though—women and children? I’m gonna get flamed to death for saying this, but—- I’ve spent the last few years learning a hard truth. I consider myself a feminist. My major hobbies, besides going toe to toe with men a foot taller and 100 lbs heavier than me in ice hockey, is lifting weights, heavy and hard. I struggle and strive and I know I’m stronger than a lot of women out there, and I push to be stronger every day and fuck how “bulky” or “manly” I become….
…..and a fat, out of shape dude who never hits the gym can still overpower me, lift more than me, move more heavy shit than me, be more physically capable than me. I get this proven to me regularly, and it chafes my ass and makes me angry and ashamed and horrified. I know that I’m stronger than many women and some men, but the average dude who doesn’t even try is still going to be stronger than me. I hate it. I HATE IT ALOT.
But in an emergency situation, that shit has to be put aside, and it is up to the strong and the capable to help everyone else to survive. EVERYONE should be trying hard, but the ones with the most strength are likely going to be healthy men and a few women, and everybody weaker and less capable than them is going to need help from the stronger ones to fight for survival.