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Among my friends, peers, and coworkers (generally 22-40), I've noticed many women calling mixed groups - and even groups of women - "guys". In the same groups, in casual parlance, women will call other women "dude".

I think these terms are losing their gender-specificity and merely becoming a way to refer to a generic (non-sex/gender specified) person.

Of course, depending on your peer groups, and the level of formality in communication, your situation may be different. (i.e. if your entire peer-group is hypersensitive, politically-correct language police, feel free to modify.)



I know a number of women who call mixed groups and even groups of women "guys", and I know women who don't like to be called "guy". I don't think the existence of the first group justifies in any way me being an asshole to the second group. I think it's reasonable to be accomodating here, especially as someone who just dropped into someone's irc channel.


Or the circle you're working in is comprised of people from varying languages, countries, and backgrounds to whom "guys" might be at best ambiguous.


Yeah, ESL issues can contribute to this blurring as well.




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