Your reference to cowardice raises an interesting point about what is and is not acceptable behaviour in a crisis. I think the concept of 'cowardice' is a masculine one, as in only applied to men, and its purpose is to induce men to disregard our own safety and put women and children first. Women are naturally inclined to run away from danger, which is an evolutionary strategy and not something they can control easily, and once upon a time no one would have rebuked them for doing so. However, in choosing to enter the male realm they make themselves subject to male behavioural norms and now their behaviour can fairly be judged by male standards.

I read once that most women did not want the vote after the first world war because they feared they would have to do the nasty things men have to do once they had it. They were right.