This very interesting comment has been made on my post where I wrote about my difficulties with Tech Guys:
You do realise just how sexist dixons group and pcworld are being, don’t you.
tech ‘guys’!?
I’m a woman and I am a technician. I am not a guy!
As a woman and a journalist with clout, can you not join the many women who are already picking up on this and state that it is out of order.
I do take her point, and I certainly do know of other women technicians. However, I am making an assumption that the name was chosen because of its informal and friendly overtones (even if, in my experience, they didn’t live up to it this).
I have no idea how many women are employed by Tech Guys. It would sound too naff to change their name to Tech Guys and Gals. Do you have any suggestions? Perhaps something simple, like Tech Solutions.
If this is something you feel strongly about, you can follow her lead by protesting to the companies. I shall not as I don’t feel riled about it. But it would be interesting to know the outcome.
It’s definitely sexist. Being untechnically mided, I do feel resentment at having to ask an IT man to sort out my computer. Maybe IT girls would be a more appropriate label?
On a techy note, do you realise that your ‘blogger’ link is directing to the site below ?
http://www.elleseymour.com/ A ‘property’ site, something to do with horses ? Maybe you are diversifying ? I wouldn’t blame you.
I noticed this while surfing the lovely Winchester Whisperer’s delightful site. Although I am surprised that she is upset at the term ‘guys’, which seems to be used as a catch-all term for boys and girls these days..
I mean, I bet if someone comes into her office and says ‘Hey guys, there are cream cakes by the photocopier because it’s my birthday’ she doesn’t ignore it as she is a female ?
Perhaps she doesn’t like the ‘Americanism’ of it all. Perhaps we should come up with a UK alternative. Being British, and middle-aged, perhaps we could designate ourself the ‘Tetchy Gang’ ??
Actually, wasn’t there an advert, it may have been for a fragrance called ‘Babe’, where there was a voice-over which said ‘You’re one of the guys, but you’re a real gal’ followed by a jingle with the lyrics ‘You’re fabulous babe ! Fabulous Babe..’
Bring back the seventies..
http://www.songsbyboblarimer.com/othersongs.html
Sorry, folks, but the lyrics say ‘You’re one of the boys, but you’re a real girl..’
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHowever, I am making an assumption that the name was chosen because of its informal and friendly overtones (even if, in my experience, they didn’t live up to it this). I have no idea how many women are employed by Tech Guys. … […]
Tetchy Guy, yes, you are right in comment 2, I’ve walked in a room and said “hi guys” when addressing both sexes, it’s easy and laid back.
I liked your comment about Babe too. You are a mine of information.
I agree with you about WW, btw, she is immensely clever, and I look forward to meeting her next month.
The TechTeam would sound snappy and appropriate.
Captain Picard, good suggestion, simple and to the point.
I can’t see any issue with it at all, as “guys” is used as an informal term to refer to a group of people of all sexes.
I think the real issue is why someone feels so alienated by this. Next this sort of person is going to want MANchester renamed PERSONchester!
I think girls is much more patronising than guys, which is a term I use in teaching all the time to ask for responses from mixed gender groups.
Although ThunderDragon has a point about why someone would feel alienated, PC World should recognise that some people could be upset by the term. JLP’s suggestion of TechTeam is much better (if it was available to copyright).
The truth of the matter is this company was probably started by a couple of “guys” in their garage or basement so that’s what they called it. As it grew it might well have some female technicians but it would have name recognition so why change. A name change for a company is a very expensive proposition. Not commenting on the sexist angle because I don’t have too much issue with it in this instance.
If you’ve got nothing serious to worry about in your life, then yes, this is blatant sexism and should be rooted out immediately.
For the rest of us, it really doesn’t matter.
Womble, you’ve got it in one. On a scale of one to ten of all the important issues in the world right now, this would be at the bottom of the list.I think we agree it is sexist, but we can live with it as it is not overtly sexist and is a word used to address women too.
I have an issue with someone complaining about the name someone gave to their own company.
I could see her point if they came in a named HER company this and she had no say-so.
What’s with the world today where every ‘group’ has a beef with everything that everyone does. Is there no self-ownership or awareness left?
I’m with “Tetchy Guy”: The term “guys” is often used informally to greet both sexes. I can’t see anything to object to in this name.
I don’t take her point. “Guys” is as sex-free as you get yet – I think.
I’d think that TechTeam was trademarked decades ago.
I think TECH PRATTS would be the most suitable name for them.