Amy Diehl, Ph.D.
I've written that "guys" is not gender-neutral. Apparently Gen Z agrees. New poll (N=1,500) finds >50% of respondents (ages 18-26) are opposed to using guys to refer to men and women at work. Only 30% were in favor of guys as a catchall.
https://www.newsweek.com/generation-z-calling-men-women-guys-work-poll-1797105
Gen Z Feel Strongly About Calling People 'Guys' at Work

More than 50 percent of young adults believe it's not OK to refer to males and females as "guys," according to exclusive research for Newsweek.

Newsweek
Apr 28, 2023 at 12:08amWeb
Show threadAmy Diehl, Ph.D.Apr 28, 2023
Here's my "guys" Fast Company article with lots of gender-neutral alternatives.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90629391/guys-is-not-gender-neutral-lets-stop-using-it-like-it-is
Show threadLew RileyApr 28, 2023
@amydiehl Come on, y'all. We can do better.
Show threadRobert GuillamApr 28, 2023

@amydiehl
Thank you for this. Very useful

You changed a random internet stranger's habits today.

For other usages such as “hey / hi / hello guys,” substitute “guys” with:

all
everyone / everybody
people
folks
team
colleagues
comrades
squad
friends
pals
peeps
party people
lovely people
beautiful humans
Or just say “hey,” “hi,” or “hello” without attaching any other word

Show threadAmy Diehl, Ph.D.Apr 28, 2023
@RoboGorillaman awesome!
Show threadMan aging with April showersApr 29, 2023
@amydiehl "friends and enemies"
Show threadJennifer Mach (she/they)Apr 28, 2023
@amydiehl I love "you lot", haha! My co-worker calls us all "dumplings".
Show threadKen '|<3ns41' 🌻 🫰🏻Apr 28, 2023
@amydiehl my favorite illustration of the non-neutral nature of the term is when someone says, "So, how many guys have you slept with?" 🔥
Show threadAmy Diehl, Ph.D.Apr 28, 2023
@K3n_5s Perfect!
Show threadlj·rkApr 28, 2023

@K3n_5s @amydiehl While true, it's also not really how language works, taking words in isolation or other context and inferring their general meaning from that isn't the way to go about things.

The point still stands though. I do use it as a neutral form in some friend groups... just like I use "gals" as a neutral form, alternating "gals", "sis", "guys" and "folx". But only this context makes "guys" neutral or even explicitly "femme".

Show threadKaelef Apr 28, 2023
@amydiehl The comments on the Newsweek page are embarrassing. "I've always said it and no one has ever complained!" 🙄
Show thread𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓽🍓𝓻𝓲𝓪Apr 28, 2023
@amydiehl The Goonies are going to be so disappointed.
Show threadTim Burnham 🇺🇸🇺🇦Apr 28, 2023
@amydiehl yeah but. Language is descriptive, not prescriptive. Using Guys in a neutral sense helps /make/ the word more inclusive. Discouraging this use seems... counterproductive?
Show threadJustin YoungApr 28, 2023
@amydiehl 🤔