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Wanted your thoughts on something. Recently I was talking to a group of women I know from work albeit not very well just saw them hanging out at the mall, I went up to them and said "How are you guys doing?". One of them seemed to get a little perturbed and said "It's wrong to use that kind of language, it's offensive" I said sorry and asked why and she said "It's offensive to all genders and is sexist to use that term when there are women since we aren't guys". I said I was sorry again and left all while giving me some mean looks but geez. Granted, these were some younger people but I am a woman yet never felt it was offensive or somehow "wrong". I have heard both men and other women say "you guys" even if it's a mixed group or even all women.
Am I in the wrong and need to "get with the times" or is it really no big deal?
Wanted your thoughts on something. Recently I was talking to a group of women I know from work albeit not very well just saw them hanging out at the mall, I went up to them and said "How are you guys doing?". One of them seemed to get a little perturbed and said "It's wrong to use that kind of language, it's offensive" I said sorry and asked why and she said "It's offensive to all genders and is sexist to use that term when there are women since we aren't guys". I said I was sorry again and left all while giving me some mean looks but geez. Granted, these were some younger people but I am a woman yet never felt it was offensive or somehow "wrong". I have heard both men and other women say "you guys" even if it's a mixed group or even all women.
Am I in the wrong and need to "get with the times" or is it really no big deal?
Wanted your thoughts on something. Recently I was talking to a group of women I know from work albeit not very well just saw them hanging out at the mall, I went up to them and said "How are you guys doing?". One of them seemed to get a little perturbed and said "It's wrong to use that kind of language, it's offensive" I said sorry and asked why and she said "It's offensive to all genders and is sexist to use that term when there are women since we aren't guys". I said I was sorry again and left all while giving me some mean looks but geez. Granted, these were some younger people but I am a woman yet never felt it was offensive or somehow "wrong". I have heard both men and other women say "you guys" even if it's a mixed group or even all women.
Am I in the wrong and need to "get with the times" or is it really no big deal?
It's a regionalism. Where I live, we say "you guys" all the time, men, women, or a mixed group. It's fine and I say it. Hey, you guys! New Englanders say it and I think New Yorkers say it too and it is definitely not offensive unless someone wants to be offended.
... there is no end to the petty foolishness over gender and language. But if the goal is to interact with people while avoiding drama, all you can do is try to find out what they want to be called and call them that. In this case, I have no idea. I doubt "You gals" is preferable...
Wanted your thoughts on something. Recently I was talking to a group of women I know from work albeit not very well just saw them hanging out at the mall, I went up to them and said "How are you guys doing?". One of them seemed to get a little perturbed and said "It's wrong to use that kind of language, it's offensive" I said sorry and asked why and she said "It's offensive to all genders and is sexist to use that term when there are women since we aren't guys". I said I was sorry again and left all while giving me some mean looks but geez. Granted, these were some younger people but I am a woman yet never felt it was offensive or somehow "wrong". I have heard both men and other women say "you guys" even if it's a mixed group or even all women.
Am I in the wrong and need to "get with the times" or is it really no big deal?
You shouldn't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. If she was offended, that is HER problem
There is no "lesson" to learn. She does not have the right to set the "rules". sheesh, ignore her.
Wanted your thoughts on something. Recently I was talking to a group of women I know from work albeit not very well just saw them hanging out at the mall, I went up to them and said "How are you guys doing?". One of them seemed to get a little perturbed and said "It's wrong to use that kind of language, it's offensive" I said sorry and asked why and she said "It's offensive to all genders and is sexist to use that term when there are women since we aren't guys". I said I was sorry again and left all while giving me some mean looks but geez. Granted, these were some younger people but I am a woman yet never felt it was offensive or somehow "wrong". I have heard both men and other women say "you guys" even if it's a mixed group or even all women.
Am I in the wrong and need to "get with the times" or is it really no big deal?
I think the problem was hers, not yours. Anyone who gets an attitude over a simple statement like that shouldn't be lecturing others on what's offensive. Pot..Kettle.
Wanted your thoughts on something. Recently I was talking to a group of women I know from work albeit not very well just saw them hanging out at the mall, I went up to them and said "How are you guys doing?". One of them seemed to get a little perturbed and said "It's wrong to use that kind of language, it's offensive" I said sorry and asked why and she said "It's offensive to all genders and is sexist to use that term when there are women since we aren't guys". I said I was sorry again and left all while giving me some mean looks but geez. Granted, these were some younger people but I am a woman yet never felt it was offensive or somehow "wrong". I have heard both men and other women say "you guys" even if it's a mixed group or even all women.
Am I in the wrong and need to "get with the times" or is it really no big deal?
I've never detected any sign of irritation when I called a group of women, "You guys". But if I'd called them, "You girls", I doubt if they would have liked that. Down South, they don't have that problem, because everyone is called, "You all" or "Y'all".
I agree that this is regional. I grew up in Wisconsin, and everyone used "you guys" with mixed groups or even with all female groups. To us, the term had no gender unless you used it with "a guy," which would mean a male. (I saw a guy walking.) However, in Texas, they use "y'all." I did get asked once why I said "you guys" but I think the person wasn't offended, just curious. In California, it is acceptable usage for a mixed group, although it is not as commonly used as in the mid-west. I don't know about the eastern part of the country - I have never lived there.
I don't think you did anything wrong, although a simple explanation of how you use the terms would probably have helped the person to understand that this was an innocent expression.
I don't find it offensive, but when I am approaching someone I do not know, I'll call out "hey you all" in a southern accent, and I haven't had any issues.
Wanted your thoughts on something. Recently I was talking to a group of women I know from work albeit not very well just saw them hanging out at the mall, I went up to them and said "How are you guys doing?". One of them seemed to get a little perturbed and said "It's wrong to use that kind of language, it's offensive" I said sorry and asked why and she said "It's offensive to all genders and is sexist to use that term when there are women since we aren't guys". I said I was sorry again and left all while giving me some mean looks but geez. Granted, these were some younger people but I am a woman yet never felt it was offensive or somehow "wrong". I have heard both men and other women say "you guys" even if it's a mixed group or even all women.
Am I in the wrong and need to "get with the times" or is it really no big deal?
Here in Minnesota we say "You guys" to any mixed group. The only time I ever heard boo about it was when I lived in the South and they'd say "You guys? There's girls here too." but it was said jokingly to make fun of my regional accent. I just can't say "Ya'll" with a straight face.
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... there is no end to the petty foolishness over gender and language. But if the goal is to interact with people while avoiding drama, all you can do is try to find out what they want to be called and call them that. In this case, I have no idea. I doubt "You gals" is preferable...