To not find 'guys' an offensive term?

[DrSheldonCooperPHD]

We have a new manager at work. Our team is 20 people (12 women and 8 men).

New manager held a mini informal meeting this morning, all very nice and very chatty. At the end he said something along the lines of 'thanks guys, great meeting' and one of the women in the team said 'excuse me? guys? That's extremely offensive to the majority of the team who are female!' And walked out of the meeting room.
The MD was also in the room and he and new manager left for another meeting shortly after so I've no idea what happened (if anything) after.

Would this offend you? It didn't even really register with me until she piped up. Everyone seemed very bemused by it all.

I work with all men and am never offended by the term 'guys' it doesn't mean I'm not being addressed. It's just a way of addressing a group. I find it more offensive when someone then says guys and lady!

Oh honestly, what a tool. I am as pro women rights as it gets in the work place, and frequently call out sexist behaviour (intended or not) including the use of girls. But seriously, how can anybody really be offended by guys?! Plenty of people would use it to refer to a group of women (eg walking into a room and saying “hi guys”). One “guy” = a man. “guys” can be any combination. It may not be your preference, but it isn’t sexist. The use has changed as clearly evidenced by the dictionary definition.

All she has done is make herself look like an absolute idiot, and, if he is senior to her, undermined her career I would assume.

I can't believe some of the responses on here.

Seriously ask your daughters if she is a guy. If she says no then please try to see that there is problem.

Yes, irritating.

Let's use 'llamas' instead.

I’d be irritated because “guys” really gets on my nerves like “reach out” and a few other teens I can’t be doing with. But it’s not because I would feel excluded as a female, I just don’t like the term.

TBH, I would have an issue with the woman who complained and walked out. Taking offence at the inoffensive makes it harder to get genuinely offensive things taken seriously...

I think "guys" is fine, but if anyone in my team had an issue with the terminology, I'd be happy to consciously stop using it. However, I'd expect them to raise it in an appropriate way, rather than an attention-seeking way designed to make everyone feel uncomfortable.

It irritates me mostly because guys would be used to address a group of both men and women. But girls or ladies would only ever be used for a group women only and not men.

The same reason as why boys names are 'cute' and 'unisex' when used for girls and you wouldn't call a boy Sally: because either consciously or subconsciously being male is a promotion and being female is a demotion.

I wouldn't have called him out but it is a symptom of sexism.

Nope not one bit offensive, it's a term I use....but then my group of friends also use the term....Birds...shock ...horror!

I use guys as a catch all and I like to consider myself a feminist. I’d rather be called the guys than the girls...

I use it but sometimes wish I didn't. It's just a way of trying to create camaraderie but not as cheesy/american as team.

Everyone is entitled to their say. But she did speak for everyone. Do they find it offensive?

@coolwalking do you think using the word 'guys' is a part of the 80's we should get upset about? Language is fluid and I find it fascinating, the word 'guys' is inoffensive do I refuse to get upset by it.

Not offended by guys. I’m late 50s. Everyone is good, quite like people.

I have Irish friends who use 'lads' for male, female or mixed groups. I love it.

I don't like peope to refer to my gender in a professional environment. Much prefer guys, lads, people etc. A bit like actresses who prefer to be called actors, I think it's demeaning to be put into a seperate category.

Seriously ask your daughters if she is a guy. If she says no then please try to see that there is problem.

I don't need to ask anyone's daughter. I am a woman, u have a vagina, I don't find it offensive.

I can’t believe people are bothered, it’s been used as a generic term of address for mixed sex groups for years.
If anybody complained about it where I work (predominately female btw) people would definitely be about it.
Bizarre what people get worked up about these days (because we’ve let them)

I use guys to mean everyone - even in an all female group.

This! I do exactly the same.

very offensive terminology bleeds impression only men count in discussion. glad she spoke up and reminded speaker group.was composed of two sexes not just "Guys"

Your colleague needs to check her facts before being offended. Because although we generally use the term more for males, the Cambridge Dictionary (for example) gives the following definition: "used to address a group of people of either sex"

What is actually wrong with being referred to as a different gender?

I loathe it. I hate being called a girl too.

However what my usual tactic is (whoever does it) is the first time someone includes me in "guys" i say to them, usually i take them to one side) and say i don't like it and not to use it to me again.

If they persist i'll ask them not to, each time, and not on one side.

It's not about being "offended" it's about people using terms that you don't like. I have turned this on meetings and used "hello ladies" to a mixed group. NO MEN i have ever said it to like it. Not once.

It's courtesy.

I'm not offended by it personally. But I am making a concerted effort to break the habit myself because some people do find it upsetting. That's enough for me to try to change.

As Brefugee says, it's a courtesy thing.

Did she apply for his job and not get it?

I find it more offensive when someone then says guys and lady

Oh no, that is so cringeworthy!

Op your colleague was definitely over the top and imo she's made her self look silly. She should have spoken privately to him.
Guys is a revolting expression to me. Jimmy Savile used to say Guys and Gals, that phrase always sickened me, I've absolutely no idea why, i used to have a stomach churning skin crawling reaction when he used it.
The nearest I've ever been to Savile is watching him on screen, so no personal physical reasons why.

Nope , not offensive to me .
Dh and I both use it and so do our friends and family .
Dh has had to be really careful now at work with this kind of thing though ,it’s actually a minefield .