Amy Diehl, Ph.D.Apr 28, 2023
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
Show threadKen '|<3ns41' 🌻 🫰🏻
@amydiehl my favorite illustration of the non-neutral nature of the term is when someone says, "So, how many guys have you slept with?" 🔥
Apr 28, 2023 at 12:16amWeb
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".