> I don't think anyone is arguing that "guys" would be accepted usage to refer to a group that's entirely female gendered, only that it's acceptable for address

> I don't think anyone is arguing that "guys" would be accepted usage to refer to a group that's entirely female gendered, only that it's acceptable for addressing mixed company. This really depends where you are in the world. It's true that my female friends don't use "guys" to refer to friend groups that are entirely female. The word they do use is "lads". Which, to UK people would sound even weirder than claiming "guys" is gender neutral, yet it often is here.