In times of war or tyranny, why do people talk about "men, women and children" as victims?

[Tooting Carmen]

Why not just say "people" or "humans" when referring to the victims of war or tyranny? Or, maybe to make it more interesting, "adults, boys and girls".

[Bobby Martnen]

idk bro

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

Why not just say "people" or "humans" when referring to the victims of war or tyranny? Or, maybe to make it more interesting, "adults, boys and girls".

Saying 'people' or 'humans' doesn't have the same effect as saying 'men, women, and children.' It's about the images that come to mind. When you say people or humans it's too general as an image but when you get specific it has more of an emotional pull. What comes to mind is more specific.

[Suinthila]

In order to emphasize women and children, supposedly more vulnerable than males

[sean]

In times of war or tyranny, why do people talk about "men, women and children" as victims? Why not just say "people" or "humans" when referring to the victims of war or tyranny?

Because they are non-combatants. Although there are no civilians in war. Any able body is a potential enemy. People have mercy on women and children because we don't want to blame them for war. There are some honest motivations, but also bad ones like letting people live just so they can be taxed like in the Book of Judges, eventually letting foreign influence deteriorate the dominant culture.

Obviously women are valid targets today as are children in certain theaters. Most people dying in the world today however are not war casualties or victims of war crimes.

[Suinthila]

Because they are non-combatants. Although there are no civilians in war. Any able body is a potential enemy. People have mercy on women and children because we don't want to blame them for war. There are some honest motivations, but also bad ones like letting people live just so they can be taxed like in the Book of Judges, eventually letting foreign influence deteriorate the dominant culture.

Obviously women are valid targets today as are children in certain theaters. Most people dying in the world today however are not war casualties or victims of war crimes.

In the past world war, civilians were the main target and victims of both sides in the war, e.g., the massive allied bombings on civilians, in the European war field and in the Pacific. So, not so much mercy.