Why did the first tanks of World War I have genders?
In short: When tanks debuted in 1916, they were classified as either male or female. This video explores the origins of these early, unreliable machines and the strange logic behind assigning gender to weapons of war.
On 15 September 1916, tanks saw their first combat action during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. These initial models were notoriously temperamental; of the 49 tanks deployed for the assault, only 25 were operational enough to move forward.
The classification system split these 25 tanks evenly between male and female designations. This distinction raises broader questions about the human impulse to anthropomorphize and name instruments of destruction.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The very first tanks of the First World War
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-the-very-first-tanks-of-the-first-world-war.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
