As Caitlyn Jenner transitions to appearing outwardly female to match how she’s always felt inside, she’s showing us just how strange it is that women are treated. For example, before she came out, her every outfit change was not pored over, but now, each outfit, each accessory, is eagerly discussed as if any outing is a strut along a catwalk.
Now she’s seeking to ‘feminise’ her voice with the help of Kim Kardashian.
A teaser from* I Am Cait* shows the tutorial:
She explained how this way of speaking can ‘dilute many young women’s advocacy powers and thus their written authority.’ Meaning they’ll annoy teachers, lecturers or potential employers, and won’t be treated seriously by those who are otherwise more than happy to listen to women.
We’re not American, so we don’t hear people doing the Valley Girl voice much. But while there are still men who’ll use vocal fry – Noam Chomsky, the philosopher, linguist and political commentator is one who pretty much always does – or just put on a voice so deep you have to wonder if they’re just talking in burps, we can’t see why a girl’s voice should hold her back.
Maybe, for all of the ‘whateverrrrr’-ness of their tone, these girls are actually just optimists, and just assume that girls should be in a position where they’re respected so much they can growl their way through a conversation and still be understood and taken seriously.
As for Caitlyn – her transition is a process, and we’ll see to be honest, most 65-year-old women’s voices are pretty deep anyway, but if you can see any in the public eye, see how seriously they’re taken…
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophwilkinson
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.