Do you think Dude is a gender neutral term?

[smahala1991]

Updates

+1 y

Non gender specific

[SirRexington]

That is the beauty of language. The terms "dude" and "guy" are no longer gender specific. Boundaries were broken and that's a good thing. But people still complain that they are gendered and sexist language casually imbedded in our speech. It's not.

There are people who work 2 jobs and can't afford an apartment. There are cancer patients that pay hundreds of thousands in medical bills. There are people drinking contaminated water. And yet, dumb mother fuckers ate complaining about "manholes", "guy" being used as a new identifier and whether the Joker causes mass shootings? Really? Really?

People have dumb fucking priorities.

[SkipStop]

It has become universal. No gender attached to it. Check out this video. It relates to your question but about the word "Guys"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0zEFsWKGBw

[Asia2Europe]

Well I would argue YES to be honest... I use the word dude to both my male and female friends... my best friend (she's female) usually use the word "dude" as a sort of greeting... its just something we have been doing since we were young.

However some people may argue that for girls , one should use the word "dudette" but I dont know... it doesn't have a good ring to it like "dude" has. But in about mid 1970s dude started being popularly used as a unisex term for both males and females and I know many people can attest to that being true even in the 21st century.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Although 'dudette' is the female version of dude, it's rarely ever mentioned. Dude sounds better anyway. I use dude on anyone just like I'd use 'bro' or 'buddy' & I don't mind if those are used on me.

[weasley8]

I use the term to refer to anyone and anything, regardless of gender, or sentience, or lack thereof.

[smahala1991]

Its also a very relaxed term

[ThisDudeHere]

I'll just keep using it only in a male context for my own convenience. Otherwise my username becomes a bit weirder for me.

[OlderAndWiser]

No.

Dude = a male of equal station in life
Dudette = a female of equal station in life

[leahzrc]

if you think girls are going to say dudette instead of dude, then you're tripping lol

[OlderAndWiser]

@leahzrc It was a joke! :)

[leahzrc]

im tripping

[Whatthefluff]

I agree. "Dude" has become so universal as to lack any meaning at all

[HiImInsecure]

I've always used 'dude' to refer to literally anyone I'm casually speaking with, including my guy friends, girl friends, and boyfriends. It's always been just the same as calling a group of people "guys" regardless of their gender to me.

[newbyateverything]

at my school it's gender nonspecific. though usually we use other less flattering terms in the limited time we have together now that i think about it.

[WalterBlack]

It CAN be a gender neutral term.

If I say, "I saw a dude walking a German Shepard today" then dude refers to a male.

If I say, "Dude, I just surfed a gnarly wave", then dude is gender neutral.

[WalterBlack]

Like the word "dude", the word "fuck" also has many uses.

Uses Of The Word Fuck

Adam Sandler

Perhaps one of the most interesting words in the English language today is the word 'Fuck'.
Out of all the English words that begin with the letter F, 'Fuck' is the only word referred to as 'The F word.'
It's the one magical word that just by its sound can describe pain, pleasure, hate and love.
'Fuck,' as most words in the English language, is derived from German.
The word 'Flicken' which means 'To strike'.
In English, 'Fuck' falls into many grammatical categories.
As a transitive verb for instance, "John fucked Shirley," as an intransitive verb, "Shirley fucks."
It's meaning is not always sexual.
It can be used as an adjective such as, "John's doing all the fucking work."
As part of an adverb, "Shirley talks too fucking much."
As an adverb enhancing an adjective, "Shirley is fucking beautiful."
As the object of an adverb, "Shirley is fucking beautifully."
As a noun, "I don't give a fuck."
As part of a word, "Abso-fucking-lutly" or "In-fucking-credible."
And as almost every work in a sentence, "Fuck the fucking fuckers."
As you may realise, there are very few words with the versatility of 'Fuck.'
As in these examples describing situations such as, Fraud: "I got fucked at the used car lot."
Dismay: "Aww, fuck it," trouble: "I guess I'm really fucked now."
Aggression: "Don't fuck with me buddy."
Difficulty: "I don't understand this fucking question."
Inquiry: "Who the fuck was that."
Dissatisfaction: "I don't like what the fuck is going on here."
Incompetence: "He's a fuck off."
Dismissal: "Why don't you go outside and play hide and go fuck yourself?"
I'm sure you can think of many more examples.
With all of these multipurpose applications, how can anyone be offended when you use this word?
We say use this unique, flexible word more often in your daily speech.
It will identify the quality of your character immediately, so say it loudly and proudly, FUCK YOU!

[WalterBlack]

Asking if "dude" is a gender neutral term is like asking if "fuck" only refers to sex.

[DizzyDesii]

Gender neutral sound weird as hell. Unisex ig I don't know. But anyways i call everyone dude regardless of what they are

[DizzyDesii]

I also call everyone "bra"

[sejla]

It is now. It sort of bugs me but we used to say you guys when we were talking about other girls or women so it's basically the same.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

It kinda is and isn't. I call girls "dude" sometimes, but it's more done in a teasing way like "dude, what are you doing?" to punctuate the fact I'm being facetious. In "polite" conversation I wouldn't refer to girls as dudes. The closest term I can think of that can be more gender neutral is "mate", which I guess is like the UK equivalent of how a Californian might use "dude".

[Cdubs27]

I used to share this opinion. But I had this exact conversation a couple years ago with a person and they changed my mind.
Lets pretend you're talking to a transgender woman and you call her dude. You might be using it in an endearing gender neutral way, but that doesn't mean that's how it will be interpreted. You were just trying to use a term of endearment, but ultimately you ended up destroying their day.

[Gods_Gift]

There are many terms like this which start out gender specific but shift to being more neutral. Sometimes it happens the other way. Dude for me is still male specific. But 'guys' seems to have become inclusive of women. I've even found myself thinking it in situations where all or most references are female.

Talking about extending usage to inanimate objects, I've seen 'lads' used like this in the works of Robert Rankin. I think it's an Irish tendency.

[Just_a_human]

Yes, I agree. I view "bro" and "man" to be non gender specific as well, depending on how it's used.

[EpicDweeb]

Dude is a referential term which may be used to direct your attention to an individual be they sentient or otherwise... So in a word, yes.

[PondyPand]

Its evolved into that, yes, depending on where and who you are speaking to. I personally do not use it that way though.

[ridingthelightning]

I call everyone dude. Not all the girls appreciate it tho. Around my parts it is a more masculine word

[WhiteShoulder]

I call girls dude if I'm friends with them. And vice versa. Same for guys.

[Stingray444]

Bruh, everyone is dude! 😂
Tho, some may get the wrong idea 😶

[ShadezMcgee]

Dude has been a term used for both men and women. Just like "guys" has been for both as well.

[idkhfjdkdkskkd]

it definitely is,,, i call all my friends dude bruh pal or buddy

[Jjpayne]

It can be now a days for sure but a dudeutte was a term used back in the day

[JosephBlack]

That would depend on the intent of the user. If it is intended to be gender-specific, then it is such. Conversely, if it is used more generally, then it is non-specific.

[MementoMori_]

Originally it was only about a guy. But now it's used for both guys and girls.

[backdoorman]

Dude is supposed to be a gender specific term that refers to a guy, but it is often not used that way today.

[SexyAshh]

Yeah i say it all the time in sentences with my girlfriends

[Moonchild714]

Dude is just a Noun for Anyone or Anything. I dropped my pen four times today and said to my pen "Dude what the F*×+ is wrong with you today?"

[DDpsy]

I have used it for girls and if they didn't like it... well those dudes can fuck off.

[cloud9vortex1234]

No, I like to know certain words have meaning and are not loosely used. So California uses dude that much?

[Mommy95]

I think it is I call girls dude guys dude and my dog dude so yea

[ImagineSketchy]

Dude... Is definitely gender neutral like guys, but not guy. They have dudette, but most don't care to say that.

[nomazi]

Yep
Dudette is the female version (which I sometimes call my male friends), but Dude is commonly used for both genders

[spartan55]

I don't personally, but it appears to be heading that way.

[spartan55]

Let me amend my stance. Girl to girl, and guy to guy: YES. Guy to girl: No

[ManOnFire]

Yep. I have used dude for both men and women and most women don't take offense to it.

[VIVANT]

Yes just as much as gurl is 😊

Hey dude

Hey gurl

Same 🤷‍♀️😊

[roxy_362]

Well, gurl with "u" has a special meaning though!.. ;-)

[VIVANT]

@roxy_362

Yes that’s my point - it’s slang 😊

[VIVANT]

And you can use it towards anyone

[roxy_362]

The special meaning to which I was referring is a very "focused" one. From the Urban Dictionary:

" Gurl:
A transvestite or drag queen who enjoys flaunting it and having a good time.

It is spelt 'gurl' rather than 'girl' because it is not a real girl, but similar enough to imitate.

Usually used in writing for context rather than spoken.
Ex: Bill and Jake were two gurls who enjoyed partying all night at the transvestite bar. "

All these said, I should be honest and give it to you that the more general meanings to which you were referring were also defined there. I did not know that. Now I do!.. :-)

[jas1616]

I dont know what gender neutral means but I call girls dude all the time

[ashley1996]

I think so lol. I call everyone dude 😂

[Ms_Facesitter]

I don't but I have a friend who'd say 'dude' to everyone

[FakeName123]

It probably isn't. I still use it as such and call guys and girls dude.

[winterfox10]

It's really not, but plenty of women use it like it is.

[_SOARER_]

I call both men and women bitches
doesn't make it gender neutral

[JKingOff]

No.. If it was we wouldn't have invented the turn dudet.

[13IsALuckyNumber]

Gender neutral term in my opinion. Fun fact: Witch is a gender neutral term.

[updog45]

No I dont. As much as women want it to be, it irks me when they say dude, or even call me dude.

[SydneySentinel]

I use dude for both genders.

[the_sinner]

Nowadays I hear some of my girl friends addressing their female friends as "bro" LOL. So I think Dude might be a gender neutral term.

[Loredey]

I call my friend, who is a girl, also dude😄

[OddBeMe]

Historically yes. But like everything times, dude. Peace out, broham.

[Snakeyes7]

I think it wasn’t in the past but no one really cares any more I guess

[mrkdvsn]

In my opinion, "Dude" is a silly term (that I never use) that strictly applies to males.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I think Dude is used for all genders. LMAO

[Superior-Solomon]

Yeah usually nobody cares.

[xyz94]

Yes, it's used to refer to people in general.

[ninaneedshelp]

The answer is obvious

[SupremeIncelman]

No, men just use it too frequently that it comes out during conversation with women out of habit.

[tartaarsaus]

I call men and women “dude” quite often

[TacosRAwesome]

Yes it is. Same as Man in the Aw Man context.

[bangyourhead]

I have used 'dude' for both boys and girls.

[NorthwestRider]

I call my fiancée dude often so yeah

[Walrus_au]

I think mostly it is used as pretty gender neutral

[Therisinghero12]

Yeah dude, dude unifies everything.

[Anonymous]

I don't use the word dude often but I call everyone man, lol