Reply #55: Language has power... [View All]

[Blasphemer]

And language has definitely traditionally been a tool of oppression. "Guys" is used as slang for men but also to address gender-mixed groups in the same way that "men" or "man" can be used to refer to human beings in general. "Girls" or "Gals" is not used in the same way unless it is mocking the masculinity of a particular man or group of men. That said, "guys" is also used for little boys in the same way that "girls" is used for little girls. "Gals" is not popular slang for women in the same way that "guys" is for men. A show about men of the same age range would probably be called "2 Broke Guys" and the popular slang equivalent is "2 Broke Girls" and not "2 Broke Gals". I don't think that "2 Broke Girls" is the best example but since language is something that is continually evolving, it's important to examine how we use language, how it reflects the society that creates it and how language shapes culture.