“Studies have shown that lower pitched voices are perceived as more competent.” This was a primary topic of discussion on NPR’s recent segment entitled “Talking While Female.” For purely biological reasons, women are disadvantaged when it comes to their ability to command authority simply because their voice boxes are smaller than men’s. Partly, according to Rindy Anderson, professor of biology at Florida Atlantic University, this is a function of women generally being shorter and less hormonal than the opposite sex. This poses a problem for intellectual women the world over who fail to garner the respect they deserve from their contemporaries and from men in power who naturally have lower voices. It is no great mystery that men are often placed in positions of power more easily than women, and while, no doubt, the complexity of this issue goes well beyond the parameters simply of vocal pitch, the reality of the differences that exist in vocal tones among men and women may be a considerable factor of why this discrepancy exists. In the realm of women in politics, studies have shown that, when compared side by side, political ads done by women who speak in lower tones are more successful than ads done by women who speak in higher, more cheery tones. This evidence has even led women to purposefully speak lower and more “masculine” in such situations in order to gain support for their campaigns. Consequently, in an attempt to sound more competent, many women feel forced to speak in their lowest register, a phenomenon known as “vocal fry,” which studies have shown both men and women consider untrustworthy tonally. Not to mention, it is very difficult and in fact damaging to the vocal chords for a woman to maintain speaking in her lowest register at all times and in all situations. What can we do to resolve this dilemma? For one, I personally believe that we as a society should start focusing more on the ideals and values of women and ignore how their speaking voices sound; whether a woman’s voice is perceived as “competent” or “incompetent” is in the end truthfully irrelevant if they have good ideals. Whether we like it or not, the voices we were born with are the voices we have to offer to the world, and we should be proud of the way we sound and feel free to express ourselves openly without criticisms or judgment.

https://bitchmedia.org/post/women-are-making-headway-in-the-male-dominated-world-of-podcasts