Is calling women ' birds ' or duck rude ?

[YogaRebel]

I was brought up to believe referring to a woman as a ' bird' is quite rude and belittling. Eg I saw him with his bird the other day.
What his new birds name ?

My husband disagrees - he thinks it's a term of endearment / description and just a colloquialism in certain parts of the country.

I'd say that's true of duck eg ' Ay up me duck ' but not convinced about bird. I don't want my teenage son referring to girls as birds but I'm told I'm being OTT.

Neither bother me.

Depends where you're from.
Men calling women 'birds' when they don't call men that is rude.
I know people who use both duck and bird, but they use it for either sex.

I've never heard 'bird' used, in a way that I thought sounded affectionate or respectful.

On the other hand, 'ducks', I have heard said affectionately, usually one woman to another.

I think it's just cultural in some areas, 'bird' is Essex/London, 'hen' is Scottish, 'duck' is Midlands, I think? I don't see it was offensive.

Totally different. Duck is a term of endearment like chick, hen, pet (though that can be patronising). Birds is awful though. Short for dolly bird.. Like all dolled up, pretty ornamental, useless.

Duck is midlands and is nothing to do with women at all. It’s said by men and women to men and women. It’s just a form of greeting in that geographic area and is not offensive.

I disagree on 'bird', but I guess it depends on context. 'You daft bird', or 'what's the bird saying?' can be said between women and isn't meant as unkind. It's just vernacular for 'woman'.

It’s patronising and I don’t like it but it isn’t necessarily meant in a harsh way. Either way, if you don’t like someone calling you a certain word than someone should respect that whether or not they understand.

@zafferana

I think it's just cultural in some areas, 'bird' is Essex/London, 'hen' is Scottish, 'duck' is Midlands, I think? I don't see it was offensive.

Hen and Duck would both be used by men or women to a girl / young woman, as in 'thanks hen / duck / pet / love / doll" insert your favourite but I've never heard anyone call someone bird to their face. "Thanks Bird" just isn't used.

Bird has different connotations "met a Bird at the dancing"

I am southern and see hen or duck as a regional thing (not really a southern saying) said by both men or women as affectionate. I see bird as something only men would say and it feels rude and dismissive to me. People I know who would use bird are mainly mysogonists so aware it's probably an unconscious bias.

Around here men and women get called Duck.

Duck is used in east midlands and leicester area.

AFAIK “duck” is dialect local to Stoke on Trent/North Staffs and is not just aimed at women

Duck, when used regionally as a term of endearment is used by both men and woman and addressed to both men and women.

Bird is not a term of endearment and is never used to refer to men. Whilst it may not be said in an aggressive or derogatory manner by everyone who says it, it isn't an endearing term at all and many women do not like to be called it. It's a very dated term and belongs back in the past, when women were often deemed as being less equal to men.

'Me duck' was a term of affection in the East Midlands when I was growing up. There's a warmth to it that isn't offensive.

"me duck" is extensively used in rural Bedfordshire although I have only heard it from the over 60's.

I don’t like bird but where I come from duck is common and is a term of endearment

Duck is completely different to bird

Duck is said by all sexes to all sexes & vica versa

I am not keen on duck but know it’s a term of endearment
Bird is borderline offensive, a bit like “her indoors”

'Duck, chick, hen' are all meant as terms of endearment, colloquially.

I find it a bit sad that colloquialisms should be eradicated on the basis of political correctness.

More spring to mind...'bab, love/luv, pet, my lovely, mucker etc...'

Where do you want it to end?

I don’t think bird is used in the same way as hen or duck, but I don’t think it’s belittling or patronising.

It’s used a lot round here, and the male equivalent would probably be ‘bloke’.

‘He was with his bird’
‘She was with her bloke’

They’re used the same way, just regional verbiage I think

@zafferana

I think it's just cultural in some areas, 'bird' is Essex/London, 'hen' is Scottish, 'duck' is Midlands, I think? I don't see it was offensive.

I grew up in Essex and I find bird offensive. I now live in an area where duck is in frequent use for both men and women. I think they're very different.

OP, I think you're right to ask your ds not to use that word. At the very least, you find it offensive, so he should respect your view. Frankly, your DH doesn't get to comment on whether a term is offensive towards women or not!

I think it's just cultural in some areas, 'bird' is Essex/London

Bird is used everywhere. Even Australia.

www.bayswatercarrental.com.au/

Where I live duck is a term used for both men and women.

Where I'm from duck is said to both men and woman