The connection to feminism is because it was feminists who decried chivalry as being some conspiracy to keep women in bondage, and started giving dirty looks to men who held doors open for them, and things like that. Of course, in a situation like this, they still want the chivalry.
Basically, they want to be treated equally when it suits them, and given special privileges when that suits them better.
There is no connection here. Men, women AND children were abandoned by the crew. I think we should point toward getting better crews on these ships and not worrying about trying to tie this to anything else.