American feminity and high-pitched voices

[Terxpahseyton]

Here is one of the cultural thingies that really struck me when I lived in the US of A: The way American girls talk. Or rather, can talk, depending on personality and occasion. But commonly enough so to constitute a solid cultural phenomena.

I am talking about the unnaturally high-pitched girly voice. A prime example is the sentence "OMG so cute". But there seems to be no end to ways / occasions it can be used.

Why do they do that? Without a doubt it has something to do with the American idea of femininity. I associate this voice with many things. Cheerfulness. Innocence. "Girlyness". Simple-Mindedness. Youngness. Childhood.
What it comes down to is - so my theory - an idea of femininity which is not identical but associated with girls being kinda like silly children and the general "women-are-appliances"-thing. You know, nice to look at, but very very simple-minded.

Not necessarily for moral / anti-sexist reasons - I can't stand this voice or idea of femininity. I almost always had to cringe inside of my head when a women used this voice. Few instances aside where it seems to fit kinda well I find it terribly annoying.
Am I the only one? Poll coming

 

[Phrossack]

What makes you think this is a thing, though? Have you lived here for a while? Most girls I hear don't seem to do this.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Yepp - is it more a southern thing? I lived in the state with the way to many S's and Texas

 

[Tahuti]

Link to video.

 

[warpus]

Where I live (southwestern Ontario, Canada, close to Detroit and Buffalo), uptalk is only done by girls of a younger age.. So for example, highschool girls and some college girls. Once a girl reaches a certain maturity age, she stops talking like that... or at least she's expected to, because it comes across as not really that professional.

I've met a couple women in their late 20s and 30s who talk a bit like that in some respects, but not many. When I enounter it, I am forced to assume that they haven't fully grown up yet, and that they still hang out with a bunch of younger girls, hit up the clubs every couple nights, talk like valley girls, hang out at the mall, and so on... or that they're going through some sort of a midlife crisis.

Not that I really judge people as I'm walking through life, but that's just my initial reaction when I encounter somebody talking like that.

Where does it originate from? I dunno, that's just how highschool girls are supposed to talk if they're popular. If they're past their highschool age and they still talk like that, there's a problem. Not that I'd be one to judge, but that's just what I think.

 

[NovaKart]

Terx, it sounds like you spent your time in America hanging out with bimbos.

Is it really sexist to talk a certain way?

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Terx, it sounds like you spent your time in America hanging out with bimbos.

Well I was in high school and as warpus says that may have had a grave impact. Though my host mom would use this voice too on occasion.
Anyway I am not arguing that a normal American woman talks like that as much as I am arguing that it is a special phenomena not found everywhere nation-wise.

Is it really sexist to talk a certain way?

It can IMO have a sexist background, sure.

 

[Borachio]

Aren't they highlighting their femininity by using a higher-pitched voice than normal for them, and of course higher than the average male voice?

It's the same thing as walking in a slightly different way. Or wearing makeup.

Isn't it called hypersexualization, or something?

I personally find a slightly deeper female voice sexier.

 

[cybrxkhan]

I'm fine with a slightly higher female voice used in moderation, and if it comes about in natural circumstances (a bit subjective here, I know). Most important is that it doesn't sound forced (again, subjective, but eh).

Of course, if you think the average American women is bad, wait until you go to Asia (especially Japan) - heck, some Asian-American girls are like that too - and they try to smother you with their kawaii-ness. It can get really ridiculous at times.

Anyways, some women just naturally talk like this. I know a few female friends who tend to speak in higher pitch voices, and I don't think any less of them. My mother talks like a little girl all the time and it's annoying, conversely, though more so because she's nagging me like any good mother should.

 

[NovaKart]

Well I was in high school and as warpus says that may have had a grave impact. Though my host mom would use this voice too on occasion.
Anyway I am not arguing that a normal American woman talks like that as much as I am arguing that it is a special phenomena not found everywhere nation-wise.

It can IMO have a sexist background, sure.

I think it's feminist overkill to declare a tone of speech sexist.

 

[Goodfella]

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people do it when talking to their dogs.

 

[Borachio]

Who's a lovely boy, den? Yes! You are! Yes! You are! Lovely boy! Who wants a bone, den? Want a bone? Want a bone?

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I think it's feminist overkill to declare a tone of speech sexist.

I find my argument as presented in the OP convincing. And I am far from being your typical feminist.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people do it when talking to their dogs.

It happens
Though in my defense voice tones are an effective way to communicate with a dog.

 

[NovaKart]

I find my argument as presented in the OP convincing. And I am far from being your typical feminist.

It happens
Though in my defense voice tones are an effective way to communicate with a dog.

It looks like you're associating innocent women with appliances. What's wrong with being cheerful and innocent? Does it always mean someone is stupid?

 

[nc-1701]

I think it's feminist overkill to declare a tone of speech sexist.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people do it when talking to their dogs.

Both of these...

I don't feel comfortable calling it sexist necessarily, but it maybe can be in the right context. What it is, is really annoying and childish.

 

[warpus]

Though in my defense voice tones are an effective way to communicate with a dog.

That's the best way that I've figured out to get my roommate's dog's attention.. I can call her name all I want sometimes, and she won't give a crap.. but as soon as I start making strange high pitched sounds, she turns her head sideways and stares at me. It's only a matter of time after that that she'll do exactly what I want her to. (which is usually to come over for a petting).

 

[Goodfella]

It happens
Though in my defense voice tones are an effective way to communicate with a dog.

It depends on how much you're doing it. Changing your voice to get your dog to do something is one thing but speaking in a silly cartoon voice while squealing at your dog in front of all your neighbors is another.

 

[Borachio]

I just love working a dog up into an excited lather. I don't care how I do it. Nor whose dog it is.

 

[Mango Elephant]

I find my argument as presented in the OP convincing. And I am far from being your typical feminist.

Forgive me if I don't understand how a higher pitched voice means you're an appliance.

 

[LucyDuke]

Why do they do that?

They're children.


I also speak stupidly to my dogs so they know I'm speaking to them. Which is because that's how I've always spoken to them, but hey, what do you want.