why do they call the subject of sex education the birds and the bees?

Answer 1

I was thinking about this the other day. Both birds (like hummingbirds) and bees are both involved with sexual reproduction in plants, by allowing/facilitating cross-pollination. I was thinking this was the reason these organisms were used as a metaphor for sex.

Answer 2

Because most parents like to use nature metaphors regarding sex without actually explaining any relevant information.

Talking about birds mating and caring for an egg is a lot less icky than talking about semenal fluid and social diseases.

Answer 3

My guess is that when sex ed was first introduced the clean mouthed people of the past didn't want to say the word.
so they came up with an analogy as that is what all animals do in nature as a way of explaining to their children without actually going into the human mechanics of it. Then the term stuck after that.

Answer 4

I could be very wrong, but I always assumed it was because birds (aside from being a nickname for a woman) do not have external genitalia, and so may appear female. Bees, on the other hand, have stingers, which could be Freudian for, well ... you know.

Answer 5

"Birds and the bees" usually refers to fumbling attempts at describing sex to children by using poor metaphors. See below for more about the history of the phrase:

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bir1.htm

Answer 6

Since birds eat bees, it gets kind of unsettling.

Answer 7

ya,,that's a dumb subject name for sex,,,maybe ,,birds/bees/flowers/trees/moon up above,,would say it more completely

Answer 8

Saying the word sex to a young kid is a bit... strong.

Answer 9

to be polite