Interesting. I didn’t know the words origins. I’ve always considered it alongside the classic English tradition of referring to women as various animals.
This isnt a uniquely female experience. Men commonly refer to their friends as “dog”. Also, in the gay community, men’s body types are equated to animals such as “bear,” “otter,” and “cub”.
As someone not too familiar with American cultures, I’d probably make an assumption and go for the (to me) more masculine bird over the docile and flower loving bee, since bees have stingers that they normally would never use and birds have beaks/peckers.
Hmm, well, I have heard women being compared to singing birds (or more degrading as vultures or pen of hens if in group), but I’ve more often heard women being romantically compared to bees or flowers. Though, I don’t think I’ve ever heard men being compared to bees, but often to birds (eagles, vultures, seagulls, etc.).
Might also be local culture, as I usually think of harmony, nature, and perhaps matriarchy when pondering bees, while birds seem much more gender neutral, like, standoff-ish, elegant, brutal, impulsive, egoistic, even presented as predatory and evil in children movies and some media.
So, using common stereotyping, you can see where I’m coming from.
I’ve heard dame used more often than bird myself. Honestly, not sure I’ve actually heard bird used… it’s like a vague sense of “I think I knew that… right?” and my brain shrugs back.
It’s slang you’d hear 50 years ago in the east end and Essex. You’ll only really hear it used by gangsters in movies these days or someone putting on the accent for laughs, possibly from an old geezer, you certainly won’t hear it used by respectable establishments or family friendly media. It’s not generally considered offensive but is considered uncouth.
Bees have a stinger, and “bird” has been a slang term for a woman (like, what, 1920-1950s?).
Regards, I agree that’s needlessly vague, and just about to the point of useless.
The only bees with stingers are the female ones, though.
Fine, Bs represent bra size so that’s the women’s room, and a cock is a bird, so that’s the men’s room.
Any way you slice it, these signs don’t help.
A tit is a bird though
I give up I’m going to go piss in the kitchen
Dishes done.
So is a Booby
Gotta have both.
As is a cock.
Birds have peckers
Wow, how did I miss that??
Wtf
Alternate comment: I love how you need to internalize 100 years of sexism before you can relieve yourself
Harmless old slang terms are now sexist. Got it.
Nope
I’m pretty sure it was sexist back then too. It’s just that nobody cared.
Googled it real quick and it’s from the French Burd, meaning noblewoman
So… No?
Interesting. I didn’t know the words origins. I’ve always considered it alongside the classic English tradition of referring to women as various animals.
This isnt a uniquely female experience. Men commonly refer to their friends as “dog”. Also, in the gay community, men’s body types are equated to animals such as “bear,” “otter,” and “cub”.
And not men?
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You’re using logic in a situation where someone has to pee badly.
Thank you for the explanation.
As someone not too familiar with American cultures, I’d probably make an assumption and go for the (to me) more masculine bird over the docile and flower loving bee, since bees have stingers that they normally would never use and birds have beaks/peckers.
I’ve only ever heard bird used as working class slang for a woman in Britain.
Hmm, well, I have heard women being compared to singing birds (or more degrading as vultures or pen of hens if in group), but I’ve more often heard women being romantically compared to bees or flowers. Though, I don’t think I’ve ever heard men being compared to bees, but often to birds (eagles, vultures, seagulls, etc.).
Might also be local culture, as I usually think of harmony, nature, and perhaps matriarchy when pondering bees, while birds seem much more gender neutral, like, standoff-ish, elegant, brutal, impulsive, egoistic, even presented as predatory and evil in children movies and some media.
So, using common stereotyping, you can see where I’m coming from.
Maybe that’s where I heard it? Dunno, it’s certainly not current by any stretch.
Odd that so many people are coming out the woodwork to say they didn’t know Britons fairly often call women birds.
I’ve heard dame used more often than bird myself. Honestly, not sure I’ve actually heard bird used… it’s like a vague sense of “I think I knew that… right?” and my brain shrugs back.
It’s slang you’d hear 50 years ago in the east end and Essex. You’ll only really hear it used by gangsters in movies these days or someone putting on the accent for laughs, possibly from an old geezer, you certainly won’t hear it used by respectable establishments or family friendly media. It’s not generally considered offensive but is considered uncouth.