Hey guys — I mean, zhes, here’s something you need to know: It’s inconsiderate to use the term “guys” when addressing a group that includes females.
So says NowThis producer Foluké Tuakli.
The energetic instructor points out that using the word ignores its “cognitive impact on women.”
Wait a minute — I thought there’s no such thing as male and female.
If I spent some time analyzing it, I believe I could come up with at least 3 or 4 different evolutionary tracks the social far Left is simultaneously traveling in the handling of the sexes, all of which contradict one another.
Anyway, in a new NowThis video, Foluké — who was 20 years old in 2016 — explains:
“‘Guys’ is a simple term. It could mean boys; or if you’re modern, hip, it means people.”
Modern and hip? Aw, girl, people’ve been using that term for at least several decades.
There’s nothing more winceworthy — and ubiquitous on the web as of late, it seems — than a young whippersnapper inadvertently revealing their punishingly insufficient historical perspective beyond the advent of the Twilight saga.
But it’s okay, Foluké — I used to think my generation invented the F word.
‘Hey guys’ seems innocuous, but here’s why you might want to try a different greeting pic.twitter.com/3Ep4Nmjf3d
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 9, 2019
Moving on:
“At first glance, ‘guys’ seems inviting, friendly, maybe warm, even comedic at times.”
Comedic?
“But it, like many default terms, should not be normalized as an all-encompassing phrase, innocent as it may seem.”
Too late, gal. It was normalized a long, long time ago. Catch up. Watch some 80’s movies. Maybe a few featuring the two Coreys. Or check out Growing Pains — you know, your parents’ jams.
In fact, hold your ears, Foluké–
Now back to you, the reader — according to our freshfaced fixer, the truth is, all you people have never taken a deep look. So the new generation’s here to woke you up:
“While we may understand the word means no real harm, with a deeper look you’ll understand that we’ve been ignoring the cognitive impact on women, as well as gender non-conforming folks by only explicitly addressing the male-identifying individuals present.”
Cognitive! You’ve been messing with chicks’ minds, ya shallow-lookin’ cavemen. Not to mention screwin’ up people who aren’t men or women or anything at all.
Let’s peer even deeper — Foluké lays out the heritage of your atrocious He-Man usage.
From The Daily Wire:
Tuakli then turns to the derivation of the word, asserting, “The meaning of ‘guys’ has changed over time.” She refers to a Washington Post article that quoted an etymologist saying the word derived from Guy Fawkes, who joined the failed 1605 failed Gunpowder plot and narrowly escaped being executed on the scaffold by jumping and breaking his neck. She then turns to The Boston Globe, which she says “broadened the term to include creepy people, then to a generic term for men.”
Oy.
As per our young and spunky guide — whether you realized it or not — all this time, you slobs have been making women downright uncomfortable:
“For decades, we have set a standard of only addressing the men in the room. Of course we claim it’s colloquial, but with our elevated knowledge and inclusive perspective, it just seems lazy, inconsiderate, and a small part of what reinforces the gender hierarchy today … Can we be surprised that for decades, women felt uncomfortable asserting their voice when we didn’t even take the time to properly acknowledge them?”
Take note: The woke are living on a different plane — one of elevated knowledge. No word yet on how they intend to be inclusive of people who use the term “guys.”
No matter, listen up: Feminists have a lot of work to do, and they don’t need you adding to the pile with your “guys” talk.
Take it away, Foluké:
“[We have to deal with] reproductive rights, rape culture, violence against women, LGBTQ rights, and the general reprogramming of most people’s minds. 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.”
Reprogramming. Most people’s minds.
That is a heavy burden.
She wants you to “know that this is one small step away from making a more conscious effort to dismantle the patriarchy.”
Foluké does make one point that’s inarguable: The word “gals” isn’t in common usage in the same way:
“Don’t believe me? Try walking into a room full of cisgender, heterosexual men and triumphantly announce, ‘Hey gals,’ ‘Okay, girls,’ ‘Thanks, Sis!’ I’m sure within ten minutes, if not seconds, at least one person will correct you.”
All of you women who are reading this, take particular note. Sit down for a minute. NowThis has a message for you.
Aw, who am I kidding? There’s no such thing as a woman reader of RedState. That’s why “women’s rights” exclusively just means left-wing causes.
Ain’t none of you guys black either — everybody knows that those who favor smaller government are exclusively white, male, and racist. #Patriarchy #Morons
Anyway, just for kicks, here’s how Foluké wraps it up for the cisgender females in the house:
“You can say that all of this is silly or too PC, but there are always larger societal implications of language — the way we use it and weaponize it. Face it: The way we do and say things matter. So if you do nothing else, repeat after me: I am powerful.”
If you’re powerful, then why are you hurt by people using the word “guys”?
Guess I’m just not looking deep enough. The gospel’s the gospel. Pass it on to some girl you (might?) know.
Actually, I really do agree with Foluké — I’ve never used the term “guys” to refer to a group.
Where I come from, we say “y’all.”
Who knew — the hicks were woke all along.
Think about it, you guys.
-ALEX
See 3 more pieces from me:
What The World Actually NEEDS: A VA School District Honors HS Graduates Pursuing Blue-Collar Trades
At Playboy, #TimesUp: The Woke Rabbit’s New Man In Charge Is A Gay Millennial
Find all my RedState work here.
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