mankind

humanity, humankind, people, human beings, humans, human society/nature/species/creatures/populations, the human race/family, civilization, society, individuals, one, creatures, creation, all creation/generations, mortals, body, somebody, someone, anyone, souls, living souls, all living souls, society, all of us, ourselves, everyone, early peoples, we, us, mortality, flesh, folks, persons, the public, the general public, the world, community, the larger community, nation, state, realm, commonweal, commonwealth, republic, body politic, population, residents, inhabitants, adults. "Mankind" is not a generic. It's all very well and good to claim (as some people do), "When I say 'mankind,' I mean everyone." It doesn't matter what you say. It matters what people hear. And they hear "male people." With so many versatile alternatives, you will only improve your writing by avoiding the inaccurate "mankind." See also Man/man (pseudogeneric).