So I’ve realized that in conversations I’ll use traditional terms for men as general terms for all genders, both singularly and for groups. I always mean it well, but I’ve been thinking that it’s not as inclusive to women/trans people.
For example I would say:
“What’s up guys?” “How’s it going man?” "Good job, my dude!” etc.
Replacing these terms with person, people, etc sounds awkward. Y’all works but sounds very southern US (nowhere near where I am located) so it sounds out of place.
So what are some better options?
Edit: thanks for all the answers peoples, I appreciate the honest ones and some of the funny ones.
The simplest approach is to just drop the usage of guys, man, etc. Folks for groups and mate for singular appeal to me when I do want to add one in between friends.
I tend to use “folks” for my usual gender-neutral collective pronoun.
I don’t think “dude” is a real issue, is it? Here in Australia, I’ll happily use mate for any gender, and I often hear other genders do the same.
Of course, we also tend to unnecessarily shorten (or lengthen) people’s names here, and those always get used:
- Darren = Daz or Dazza
- Josh = Josho
- Dan = Danno or Danny-boy
- Adam = Ads
- [first name] Thompson = Tommo
- [first name] Johnson - Jonno
Even our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is Albo. You get the idea… ;)
