I'm breaking all the rules, dude...

Less frequently, men will call women dudes and vice versa. But that comes with some rules, according to self-reporting from students in a 2002 language and gender class included in the paper. "Men report that they use dude with women with whom they are close friends, but not with women with whom they are intimate," according to the study. His students also reported that they were least likely to use the word with parents, bosses and professors.

[ Dude -- professor studies 'dude' ]

I've used it for men, women, children, my Dad, boss. And I'm glad to hear it's staying, because I don't think I could stop myself.