I will sometimes use the phrase "Hey guys" in my posts here... I think of "guys" as a vaguely unisex term (typical man). I've noticed that a number of other Hellobee members also use the word "guys" as a generic way to refer to other members:
http://boards.hellobee.com/search/?q=guys
Is it unisex to say "guys" and "hey guys"? What do you guys think... (argh, I can't stop!).
Just wondering!
persimmon / 1135 posts
Yeah, I totally consider it unisex in this context... though you could just channel your inner Texan and say "Hey y'all!"
The perfect gender-neutral address 
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
@megwag - Alas, I just checked and I don't have an inner Texan...
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
I definitely feel like our society uses "guys" in a unisex way, and I definitely use it, regardless of who I'm talking to. Sometimes I try to gear my word to be more gender specific, like if I'm planning something with all ladies, I'll try to be like "Hey girls!" or "Hey ladies!" instead. But if there's a mix, or I'm not sure, I tend to use "guys."
I kind of with there was a more unisex word though...
persimmon / 1135 posts
Keep looking! You'll find him if you look hard enough... even my British husband has found his. I'm spreading the Gospel of Y'all here in the UK!
http://ameringlish.blogspot.com/2011/06/greatest-word-in-history-of-world.html
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Ha. I think "guys" is a generational thing. My Mom and I were at a restaurant once and the waiter said, "Hi guys" to us. As soon as he went away, she went on about how we're not guys, we're women! I get that and I would probably prefer ladies to guys if I'm out with just women. If it is mixed company, I don't mind guys.
@megwag - I have lived in North Carolina for 6 years now and still can't bring myself to say hey ya'll.
pea / 14 posts
Definitely unisex! I do drag out my inner Southerner every now and then and say y'all but I get funny looks for that up here in Canada 
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Jbhops - I agree with that - that it probably in a generation thing. I don't know that I've ever heard my parents use "guys" to refer to a group of people, and I definitely have never heard my grandparents use it. Plus I also prefer a more gender-specific term when I'm with a group of all ladies. Sometimes saying (or hearing) "Hey guys" to a group of girls just sounds strange.
cherry / 242 posts
Agree that it's probably generational. I use it in a unisex manner. But like @adira, if the group is all women, I use a female-specific term.
coffee bean / 41 posts
I use "guys" all the time in reference to a group. And, it does always remind me of Sloth (Goonies) shouting "Hey you guys!"---they were in a group of guys/girls so if Sloth says it so can I!
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I think "guys" is unisex. But usually when I say something to a group of girls I'll say "hey gals" or "hey girls."
pear / 1723 posts
I'm not offended by "guys", but I try not to use it myself when I'm addressing women. I do use y'all a lot instead - not from TX, but grew up in PA and NC! I also use "hiya" as kind of a smushed short greeting.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
Yeah, I think it is unisex, too, and I use it a lot sometimes. I do say "hey gals!" or "hey girls" instead but sometimes "hey guys" sound better.
pear / 1769 posts
I use it as a unisex term, I sometimes think twice about it when it is an all girls group though.
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
It's interesting that so many people don't use the word "guys" when it's an all girl group! Because that's kind of the situation here!
clementine / 861 posts
I think "guys" is perfectly fine as a unisex term. I've lived in Atlanta for about 8 years, so I sadly have started using "y'all" pretty frequently.
persimmon / 1341 posts
I think it's perfectly fine. I would much rather see "Hey Guys" than "Hey Bitches" or "Hey Baby Mamas"...:)
kiwi / 718 posts
I do say guys, sometimes, but I am texan so I use y'all more often, I think
But I definitely think that it's a unisex term & wouldn't mind using it with an all female group
honeydew / 7968 posts
i use hey guys all the time. but when it's all ladies, i try to say hey ladies.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
unisex for sure! but in french it doesn't work. So they have to say, guys and girls.
GOLD / apricot / 337 posts
Great question! I used to think it was no big deal and never even considered it, until one of my friends pointed out that it was a bit sexist. I think it's unisex, but try to be cognizant when a use it in a room full of women.
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