16/02/2026
It’s a large part of Kiwi culture to call anyone guy, no matter their gender. I sow seeds of something else wherever I go, and sometimes it is received, and often times it is shrugged away. “That’s just a term.” “That’s just how we say it.” “It’s a language thing.”
Well… No.
Language crafts culture, one word at a time. The way we use language creates a resonance or dissonance field. What is it that you are creating?
Calling a female-bodied human a guy (man) creates dissonance. I have a new suggestion for you.
Read my latest article, in which I explore how “harmless” phrases quietly shape women’s realities, and how we can use the technology of language to shift from self-doubt to empowered creation.
https://open.substack.com/pub/julianeumann/p/on-language
Your perceptions? Comment below! 👇