Classism Racism Sexism

Source 1: Demographics of the TITANIC Passengers: Deaths, Survivals, Nationality, and Lifeboat Occupancy

By: John R. Henderson

Researcher: Kaaden Francis

Revised by: Everyone

Abstract

This website demonstrates the death and survival data of the passengers of the Titanic and shows how many people of each class died. It also tells us how many women, men, and children survived from each class. From all the information from the various charts, the author acknowledged that it was clear that there was classism and sexism that resulted in certain people of certain classes and genders to die. Information on the death and survival data of people of specific nationalities are provided as well.

Notable Quotations

"In simple terms, almost all of the women and children in First and Second Class survived, while most of the women and children in steerage died. In contrast, most of the men in First, Second, and Third Class died." (Demographics of TITANIC, "WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST?" Section, Paragraph 1)

"To me, a non-statistician, the tables above show significant indications of class discrimination. Evidence of numbers and testimony have proven that only on one side of the Titanic did the rule 'Women and children first,' apply. What becomes even more clear when looking at the numbers is that a more important concept of the day was 'First Class first.' " (Demographics of TITANIC, "DISCUSSION OF THE TABLES ABOVE" Section, Paragraph 1).

Source 3: Titanic Today

By: Laura Wilson

Researchers: Liam Taylor and Melissa Gilbert

Revised by: Everyone

Abstract

This source goes over both classism and sexism on the Titanic. To begin, first class passengers had a higher chance of surviving than say third class passengers because first class passengers were the first to be put on the lifeboats. Now here’s the sexism: women and children were evacuated onto the lifeboats first. Women and children, and the first class in general, had a greater chance of being put aboard the lifeboats and surviving than men, and people from lower classes in general.

Notable Quotations

“Social inequality at its most extreme and...most vertical, with...the richest visibly on top and the poorest visibly on the bottom. The sinking showed just how real the implications of an arbitrary class system can be with a 61% survival rate and only a 24% survival rate in third class” (Wilson, p4).

“ 'The poor people suffered so much more [than the rich],” he told me. “While children in third class drowned, first-class passengers escaped with their… Pekinese [dogs]… and two fur coats' ” (Wilson, p7).

Source 5: Class and Gender in Shaping the Memory of the Titanic Disaster Since 1912 (Chapters 2 and 3)

By: Joe Woolley

Researcher: Allison Arciniega

Revised by: Everyone

Abstract

In the second chapter of this encyclopedia, the author thoroughly provides insight on possible classism on the Titanic. The author writes about the chance that the design of the Titanic could be proof of classism since it shows how bringing third class passengers to the Boat Deck, where the lifeboats were positioned, would be a difficult hassle. Now it’s important to also go over the chapter, chapter 3, that explores the influence of gender on the Titanic. In chapter 3 of the encyclopedia, the author explains how women (and children, though less significant) were prioritized when putting people on lifeboats. This can possibly be viewed as sexism, but, in an unbiased fashion, the author indepthly talks about how society’s view of man having to sacrifice themselves for women to prove their masculinity was the main reason for having women and children board the lifeboats.

Notable Quotations

"First and Second Class, are the only means of access to the Boat-Deck, while the two Third Class staircases give access to C-Deck only, a full three decks below the Boat-Deck. Here we find proof, it would seem, of a deliberate attempt in design to prevent Third Class passengers from reaching the boats in an emergency" (Woolley, Chapter 2, p5).

"This is a highly significant source in portraying a deep rooted gender conflict arising out of the Titanic disaster suggesting that if traditional gender roles are abandoned through universal suffrage then so should male compassion towards the plight of women" (Woolley, Chapter 3, p5).

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