The word “guy” has traditionally been used to refer to men and boys. However, in recent years there has been debate over whether “guy” can also be used in reference to women and girls. This article will examine the history of the word “guy”, look at how its meaning has evolved over time, and discuss the arguments for and against using “guy” as a gender-neutral term.
The origins and traditional meaning of “guy”
The word “guy” dates back to the 17th century when it was used to refer to an oddly dressed person. It came from the name “Guy Fawkes”, who was part of a group that unsuccessfully tried to blow up the British Parliament in 1605. The group wore strange outfits to avoid being recognized, so “guy” became associated with peculiarly dressed individuals.
By the 19th century, “guy” had evolved to mean a grotesque effigy like those burned on Guy Fawkes Night. Eventually it came to be used as slang for any man or boy. This traditional meaning of referring specifically to males continued into the 20th century.
The term has also had some negative connotations – from the effigies burned on Guy Fawkes Night to its use to mean a strange or contemptible man. So the word has not always been one of endearment.
The gender-neutral debate
In recent decades, the use of “guy” has expanded in casual speech. Many people now use “guy” to refer to both men and women in informal contexts. This has sparked debate over whether the term has become gender neutral.
Those advocating for “guy” as gender neutral point to several arguments:
- The meaning of words evolves over time. “Guy” may be shifting from a male term to a gender-inclusive one.
- Many other gendered terms like “dude” and “man” are now commonly used for both men and women colloquially.
- “Guy” is increasingly used in a gender-neutral way, especially by younger generations.
- Using “guy” for both men and women promotes gender equality by not distinguishing based on gender.
However, others argue that “guy” should remain a masculine term:
- “Guy” has a long history of referring specifically to males that shouldn’t be erased.
- It remains more common to use “guy” for men and many still see it as primarily masculine.
- Using traditionally masculine words like “guy” for women too can reinforce the idea that masculine is the default.
- Gender-neutral alternatives like “person”, “people” or “folks” should be used when gender is unknown or mixed.
Research insights
Research provides some insights into current and evolving usage of “guy”:
| Study | Key Findings |
|---|---|
| 2019 study in the journal Gender and Language | – College students reported using “guy” in a gender-neutral way about a third of the time. – But “guy” was still seen as predominantly referring to men by both male and female students. |
| 2021 Dictionary.com analysis | – Found a 317% increase in searches for whether “guy” can refer to women. -Suggests growing interest in gender-inclusive language. |
| 2022 Harris Poll survey | – 61% of Americans reported using “guy” to refer to men only. – 39% said they use “guy” for both men and women. |
This research shows “guy” is increasingly used in a gender-neutral way, especially by younger people. But it remains seen as primarily referring to men by a majority of speakers.
Guidelines from style manuals
Many style guides take a cautious view and advise against using “guy” for women:
- AP Stylebook states “guy” should only be used to refer to men.
- Washington Post Style Guide advises using “guy” only for males.
- BuzzFeed Style Guide recommends avoiding gendered terms like “guy” and using gender-neutral alternatives.
- MLA Style Manual does not take a stance but suggests considering audience expectations.
So most formal writing guidelines still consider “guy” to be masculine only. But they acknowledge language evolves and sometimes accepts new gender-inclusive meanings.
Regional differences
There appear to be some regional and generational differences in how “guy” is used:
- Younger Americans are more likely to use “guy” in a gender-neutral way.
- Usage is more common in Western U.S. states like California.
- Northeastern speakers tend to use “guy” in a more traditional masculine sense.
- British English speakers mostly still see “guy” as male only.
So the gender-neutral meaning appears to be an emerging usage, especially among younger Americans in the West. Older generations and British speakers are more inclined to stick to the masculine definition.
Conclusion
The evidence suggests “guy” is gradually gaining acceptance as a gender-inclusive term, at least in informal American English. But it remains more common and widely accepted to use “guy” only for men at this point in time.
Whether “guy” can refer to both men and women often depends on the age, region, and gender of the speaker. There are also differences between casual speech and formal writing. Most formal style guides advise against using “guy” for women for now.
The meaning of words does change over decades and centuries. So “guy” may continue evolving into a gender-neutral term, especially in informal use. But for now it appears safest to use “guy” only for male references in most contexts.
The debate around “guy” reflects larger issues of gender equality and shifting social attitudes. Language itself may not determine gender roles in society, but it does reflect them. The evolution of words like “guy” shows English speaking cultures grappling with ideas of gender identity and inclusiveness through the lens of language.
How “guy” is used going forward, especially across generations, will provide insights into how views on gender are progressing. The rapid pace of change shows even core concepts of language remain flexible and open to reinterpretation over time. But for now, many careful writers will avoid using “guy” to refer to girls and women, instead choosing gender-neutral terms when gender is unspecified.