Why You Should Stop Saying 'Hey Guys' | Opinions | NowThis

‘Hey guys’ — it might be time to retire this dated greeting from your vocabulary.

Foluké Tuakli: 'If you’re like most Americans, you use “guys” as a gender-neutral pronoun, a generally accepted vocative used to address mixed-gendered audiences.

At first glance, “guys” seems inviting, friendly, maybe warm, even comedic at times. But, it, like many male default terms should not be normalized as an all-encompassing phrase - innocent as it may seem.

While we connotatively understand the word means no harm, with a deeper look you’ll understand that we’ve been ignoring the cognitive impact on women as well as gender nonconforming folks by only explicitly addressing the male-identifying individuals present.

The term “guys” meaning has changed over time. Etymologists believe it began In the 17th century with a man named Guy Fawkes, a participant in the failed 1605 Gunpowder Plot, according to the Washington Post. He only barely escaped a brutal execution by jumping off a scaffold and breaking his neck. For the next few centuries, those who likened him in fashion or appearance were referred to as “guys”. Eventually, according to the Boston Globe, the term broadened to describe creepy people, then to a generic term for men, and now a “gender-neutral phrase”.

For decades, we have long set a standard of only addressing men in a room. Of course, we claim it’s colloquial, but with our elevated knowledge and inclusive perspective it now just seems lazy, inconsiderate, and a small part of what reinforces the gender hierarchy today.

I personally hate it. How is one to feel emboldened to speak or assert themselves when upon greeting they are misgendered or ignored in language? Can we be surprised that for decades women, as a general population, often feel uncomfortable asserting their voice when we don’t even take the time to properly address them?

These linguistic tendencies were developed and reinforced in eras where women were barely meant to be seen and not heard.

I cannot speak for all women or all people when I express my discontent with this popular tick. However, this normalized term does not serve its apparent purpose and I think it's time to scrap it.

Please note, you’re not a bad feminist if you’re comfortable with or use the phrase “guys” - yes, there are larger issues, that we the feminists, need to combat - reproductive rights, rape culture, violence against women, LGBTQ+ rights, and the general reprogramming of most people’s mind when it comes to valuation of women in society.

But, when you stop valuing the personhood and visibility of individuals - you make it easier to dehumanize them on a macro scale, minimizing his, her, its, their right to respect and equality.

Keep in mind, I’m not offended per say if someone lumps me in with the guys -- I’m sure there’s no mal intent. In fact, if you and your friends want to freely address each other as such - by all means… I just want you to know you are one small step away from making a more conscious effort to dismantle patriarchy.

Don’t believe me? Try walking into a room full of cisgender heterosexual men and triumphantly announce, “hey gals!” “okay, gals””thanks sis”. I’m sure within 10 minutes (if not seconds) at least one person will correct you. So, I say to you, why can we, women, gender non conforming and everyone who doesnt fit under a “guy” umbrella be equally entitled to their preferred pronouns and identifiers?

We should ALL be as protective of our gender identities as cisgender heterosexual men - we deserve it!

So what can you do?

Substitute one “hey guys” with a simple “good morning everyone” or everybody’s favorite “hi y’all”. Find ways to use people’s names or every address folks with a collaborative “Welcome team!”'

#Gender #Sexism #Words #News #NowThis #NowThisNews

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[carlymelzer]

Are you kidding me. I’m a female stop telling that I should feel offended at something that’s not offensive.

[zerpardox]

“Drinking woulnt affect my child”
Their child:

[JohnSmith-plsf]

For all the boys and girls who disliked this video



Here, you dropped this 👑

[houserjimster]

They turned off like/dislike ratio and set comments to newest lmao

[michaelshannon]

Hey guys, lets disable the dislike count so nobody knows how much everyone hates us.

[supremechair]

Literally just existing is offensive at this point like wtf.

[gavinthecrafter]

If you address an entire group of women with "Hey guys", I guarantee you none of them will be offended.

[smilivvy]

"the word "guy" has become gender neutral over time"
2 seconds later
"it only addresses men 😩😩😩😩😩😩"

[samthex]

Hey guys, it's hilarious how they hid the like to dislike ratio.

[theanimationlizard]

-“Salutations, non gender specific people, I have learned to cherish dearly. How do I owe the pleasure of this delightful reunion?”
-“Uh, hey, dude.”

[jcdenton]

I love how they disabled the likes and dislikes. Says a lot.

[ReasonExtremist]

- *WE DO NOT LIKE THIS VIDEO* -
make this top comment since they disabled the likes ratio. let's see how long it takes them to disable the comment section, guys xD

[fayexiia]

Stop telling us we should be offended by something that’s not offensive.

[sophieulrych]

Alrighty GUYS, here’s my opinion as a girl- this is stupid, guys was never even a gendered term in my vocab, I called all my female and gnc friends guys and when ppl called me guy it never even crossed my mind that is was gendered. There are so much bigger issues in the world, I wish ppl would put this kind of passion into actual issues

[levistears]

*the ability to speak doesn’t make you smart*

[dawsonduran]

When the like/dislike are disabled because you know how stupid the video is

[carmen]

They literally said IN MODERN LANGUAGE, HEY GUYS IS A NEUTRAL GENDER PHRASE

[aryanpramanik]

What cowards you literally hid the like :dislike ratio, shows how brave feminists are and what they are portraying women to be.

[darksamurai]

This is why feminist aren’t taking seriously

[cheesesunchips]

Hey guys, I'm surprised that the comment section hasn't been turned off LMAO