In my entire life, I have never heard of any kind of pet being a guy thing or "girl thing."

That's ridiculous. Some people just like animals more than others, and I've had friends (both guys and girls) who love animals...and others who just weren't really into pets. It depends on the person's personality, not their gender. You get whatever kind of pet that you think you would enjoy the most, you are able to take care of, and what fits your personality.
I'm a guy, and I've had two parakeets. My first one died, unfortunately. But my 2nd one, Chipper, is doing great. And everyone who has seen him (again, both guys and girls) think he's awesome. If you want a parakeet, that's great. They can be very friendly, affectionate, and playful. But the real question you should ask yourself is if you're sure you want a bird as a pet. They are great pets, but they're not like other animals. You can't just pick it up and pet it as soon as you get it home, like you can with other small animals (hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pig, etc). You have to tame the bird first, before it will let you pet it or pick it up. And you have to be really gentle and patient. There are other things that are really different about birds than other animals. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get a bird...I'm just saying just be sure that's the kind of pet you really want. Maybe do a little reading first. When you get a pet, you're making a
commitment to love that animal and take care of it, you know?
Don't get a bird just because you want it to talk. That should be the very LAST reason to get it. You should get it because you want a friendly little companion that will be fun to have and take care of. Even a species of bird that is capable of talking just might not ever talk. And that's fine. It might chirp, whistle, and make all kinds of funny little chattering noises. Some birds just never learn how to talk, it just depends on their personality. You have to accept that.
If you decide you are sure that you want a bird, then yeah, a parakeet is a great choice. They're very easy to tame, they're friendly, and they're a lot easier to take care of than other birds.