Voice quality, pitch, and gender discrimination

Pearce, J., Setter, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7334-5702 and Arvaniti, A. (2025) Voice quality, pitch, and gender discrimination. In: Setter, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7334-5702, Dovchin, S. and Ramjattan, V. A. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Language and Prejudice. Oxford Handbooks. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 9780192869203

Abstract/Summary

This chapter explores the relationship between the voice and gender discrimination in popular culture and academic research, focusing on voice quality, uptalk, and pitch. After considering the historical backdrop where cisgender, male voices were taken as default in research and pointing to media examples where the voice operates as a site for gender bias, this chapter considers the extent to which research in phonetics and adjacent fields reinforces popular misconceptions, and how useful it is for combatting voice-related gender prejudice. Pointing to promising examples of research on women’s voices as well as gay, gender non-conforming and transgender voices, the chapter concludes by presenting recommendations for future research, and suggesting that this research be communicated to wider audiences to inform professional practices and begin wider discussions to combat the voice being invoked to excuse gender bias and discrimination.

Item Type	Book or Report Section
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/119225
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Literature and Languages > English Language and Applied Linguistics
Publisher	Oxford University Press
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