Is Gender-Neutral Use of the Word "Guys" Harmful to Women?

[ScipioCowboy]

FYI: The proper form is y'all.

 

[vta]

FYI: The proper form is y'all.

You'se.

 

[burmafrd]

I always thought a parents duty was to think of their childs welfare above their own ego. I really doubt that is what that couple is doing.

 

[Dallas]

I'm 40 and I've been called one of the guys, dude and even bro by one friend. It doesn't bother me in the least.

Good to see ya, bro.

 

[Signals]

True.

Why not just return to the lingo from the 70s and say "cats"

Because this could become highly offensive to the K9 community. The last thing we need is a bunch of angry dogs as it might arouse Michael Vick, he could relapse and his career could be over.

Wait a second... :

 

[Temo]

In modern times, authors tend to resolve the problem by using their own gender. Female authors use "she." Male authors use "he."

I use "she" even though I'm male just because it startles people a bit. Anything I can do to be just a little different

 

[YosemiteSam]

To me, the fundamental issue is whether it really is harmful to the healthy development by women of gender identity and self-esteem. If it is, I'd be all for changing the language (just as we've changed it, for example, by curtailing our use of the offensive term "******" to refer to people who face mental development challenges). I just struggle with the notion that it is harmful.

I know plenty of women that committed suicide after someone referred to the group they were a part of as "guys".

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

First off I wonder if the email was real to begin with or if it was just a plant to stimulant conversation.

Many radio hosts love these kinds of things because it stimulates conversation and it is a sure fire way to get a group of people calling or writing in to express their opinions...and those opinions are usually pretty wild with mock outrage over silly things. But again it gets interest easily.

We hear too much of that on the radio no days and we see too much of it on tv.
Throw out some topic and watch the people on opposite ends of a given spectrum give their opinions over the topic. Sure the host will interject their opinions in many cases to sway the debate but I think a good portion of them really don't care about the topic in question and only care about how it will drive the interest of the listener/viewer and the ratings spike it can cause.

Kind of sad anymore really. If you watch some shows on tv that has a format of debate over issues it is rarely objective and no points are conveyed due to the one sided nature and yelling.

You can see/hear this type of thing from some of the Dallas Media in their columns or radio shows...Take Galloway for example. There are times I think he may believe in what he says to a degree but most times I think he is just giving over the top statements and opinions in order to get viewers/readers to comment about him or to him and in doing so making sure that his bosses see that he is getting reactions.

 

[ZeroClub]

There are times I think he may believe in what he says to a degree but most times I think he is just giving over the top statements and opinions in order to get viewers/readers to comment about him or to him and in doing so making sure that his bosses see that he is getting reactions.

Certainly! It amounts to trolling for attention and the DFW media has done if for years. Skip Bayless was doing it decades ago.

Bayless might have been the first in DFW. Anybody remember another DFW media type who trolled for attention even earlier than Skip?


(Verne Lundquist's Bowling for Dollars doesn't count).

 

[joseephuss]

I would like to make a suggestion. Rather than try to change to behavior of 6 billion people on the planet who already have a habit of using the word "guys," how about changing the definition of the word to be gender neutral. That way all the women are happy and men don't have to change a thing.

Sincerely,

Solomon

I doubt 6 billion people on the planet use the word "guys".

I find if someone is truly offended by something I say, they let me know one-on-one. They don't need a mouthpiece to speak for them and tell them they should be offended by something.

 

[Seven]

I'm 40 and I've been called one of the guys, dude and even bro by one friend. It doesn't bother me in the least.

I hear the girlies call each other 'dude' all the time. I even call them 'dude' when in casual convo. They really don't seem to mind. I've only been corrected once. It was my mom........... :

 

[joseephuss]

I hear the girlies call each other 'dude' all the time. I even call them 'dude' when in casual convo. They really don't seem to mind. I've only been corrected once. It was my mom........... :

Yep, she prefers to be called Dawg in casual conversation.

 

[Faerluna]

Yep, she prefers to be called Dawg in casual conversation.

This made me LOL irl! :laugh2:

 

[big dog cowboy]

Yep, she prefers to be called Dawg in casual conversation.

So I can call up Seven's mom and say "Sup dawg?"


:laugh1:

 

[Kangaroo]

I find this whole thing funny between playing sports when I was younger and then again when I was 17 and in boot camp. I so remember being called ladies by coaches when they get mad at you as a group when they thought you where being soft and they did that mind game all the time in basic training. Yea I am so scared for life because of that