“Hey guys” somehow became everyone.
We use it for groups of men. Groups of women. Groups of everyone.
But when a space is predominantly girls, the alternative often becomes “girlies,” “girls,” or “gals.”
It sounds cute. It sounds friendly.
But it also assumes everyone in the room identifies as a girl.
And that's the weird part.
One gendered word is treated as universal, while another is treated as specific.
One gendered word is treated as universal, while another is treated as specific.