Is saying "you guys" not work appropriate anymore?

likefunnysmart
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Strictly y’all

likefunnyhelpful

I am mindful of saying it, not because I’ve ever heard anyone be upset about it, but because there are people for whom gender identity is an incredibly salient issue. They may never vocalize it, but by mentioning “guys,” I may inadvertently trigger someone or otherwise distract them from being their whole self in the work place. I hope that makes sense, and I’ll brace for the insults and “snowflake”-laden dismissive comments that may come my way.

likehelpfulupliftingsmartfunny

It comes down to this: people may be offended, but those same people are assuming another’s intention to be against them. If we need to change historically used vocabulary (that isn’t even remotely associated with racism, misogyny, etc.) then we are making changes for someone else’s agenda. I’m a 90s kid, but I still don’t understand why some people in my generation feel like this. Whatever, I’m here to focus on my career

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I still say “guys” all the time. 0 people have been offended. The day I’m told I can’t say this anymore is the day I lose faith in humanity

likeupliftingsmart

That has always annoyed me that in consulting we are not people we are “resources” - I say “personnel” not resources.

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Whenever I walk into a room, I solely greet people by their employee ID numbers while staring at the floor, thereby ensuring no one is offended while advancing society’s progression towards Machine to machine communications

likefunnyhelpful

I use it as a general neutral term

likehelpfulsmart

Not that I speak for all women, but I find it jarring when someone walks into a room and says “Hey guys.... and gal” after scanning the room and seeing me there. I’d rather just be included in the initial greeting, but I think I also consider “guys” to be a gender neutral term for a group 🤷🏼‍♀️

likehelpfulsmart

Even worse is when a man swears and apologizes to me, the only woman in the room. The apology is way more offensive than anything he originally said

like

Replace "guys" with "goons".

likefunny

What’s good goons

I prefer, "hey a-holes." everyone's got one so completely gender neutral.

likefunny

I’ve succeeded using “Party People”. I suggest you do the same

likefunnyhelpful

You suggest ? Lmao 😂

I hear my wife saying it all the time to her mostly female team 🤷🏻‍♂️

likehelpful

Likewise! I heard this repeatedly among other women in technology.

like

I’m pretty sure only men think that guys is a gender neutral term. Doubtful y’all would be equally happy if we switched to “hey ladies” and called it gender neutral

likesmarthelpful

The point of avoiding “guys” is less about not offending people and more about creating a less-male dominated culture. Just like abandoning “businessman” or “salesman"

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What we need is more people on the lookout for microaggressions! 😉

Manager? How about personager!
Manners? Should be personners!
Demand? Why not Depersond!

These are definitely the most pressing issues in America today!

likefunnyhelpful

Use "folks" or "ya'll". Take your team to red neck country while you're at it.

likefunny

SC2 my hero 🙌

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I’m trying (and failing, although getting better) at dropping it from my vocabulary. I don’t think it’s about offending/not offending anyone, but I think it drives some of the subtle unconscious bias about who is “in the room” or “in the group.”

We know women get overlooked and ignored in meetings (and that for the most part we aren’t doing it on purpose). We know the enormous role language plays in how our brain works. We also know our brain’s enormous capacity to process, differentiate, and group gender. Even though I know I intended it as gender neutral, I have to recognize when I say “you guys” I’m sending subtle signals about who in that room has value.

likesmart

I grew up in Chicago. Sorry, for not being sorry, GUYS!

likesmart

I substitute “All y’all bitches.” For both genders

likefunny

I’m female and use “guys” often with mixed groups and even my female group of friends. It’s pretty gender neutral to me

like

Its totally fine as long as nobody in your audience has a stick up their ass

likefunny

I don’t see why so many folks in this thread are so offended by the notion that they shouldn’t use “you guys”. Honestly, it’s a pretty small change, and if it makes someone in the room feel more welcome or respected, then it’s worth it.

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Well said, AC1!!!

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Nope

funnylike

Deloitte 1 is clearly SJW or PC police

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