Written by: Laura Janzen / Transgender Voice / June 24, 2020 / 10 minutes read

Many transgender individuals experience incongruence between their gender identity and the sex they were assigned at birth. This incongruence can lead to gender dysphoria which can be psychologically distressing for those who experience it. (1) One factor which may contribute to this incongruence is voice-related gender dysphoria. 

At Well Said we are dedicated to helping our transgender and gender non-conforming clients find their authentic, congruent voice. We offer voice and communication coaching for male-to-female (MTF), female-to-male (FTM) and non-binary individuals. Voice training is more commonly sought after in MTF transgender individuals because hormone therapy will not alter their voice, whereas FTM androgen therapy does have the side effect of deepening the voice (6). Therefore, the remainder of this article will focus on male-to-female voice therapy, also known as voice feminization.

Voice feminization for transgender women is a complex process that involves a combination of techniques and strategies to facilitate voice, speech and communication behaviours that are in alignment with the individual’s gender identity. Some of the areas that may be targeted in transgender voice therapy include: pitch, resonance, intonation/inflection patterns, articulation, vocabulary, body language and many more. 

Deeper pitches are more often associated with a masculine voice (Cismale speaking range between 100-140Hz), higher pitches are typical of a more feminine voice (Cisfemale range between 180-220Hz), and there is also the androgynous range in between (Gender neutral range between 145-175Hz) (6). In voice feminization, we typically aim to elevate the pitch above the cismale speaking range. However, simply elevating pitch without taking into account all the other parameters of communication can lead to an unnatural and unsustainable voice. Pitch is therefore not the only factor at play in how a voice is gendered by the listener. On the contrary, emerging research is pointing towards resonance as an equally important factor in successful voice feminization therapy and voice satisfaction in transgender women (2,6). 

Resonance is a term which describes how sound is filtered as it travels through the vocal tract. The shape and length of the cavities through which the sound waves travel can vastly change how a voice will be perceived. Cismale vocal tracts are longer and wider than that of cisfemale vocal tracts, meaning higher resonance is associated with a more feminine sound. Through voice feminization training, clients can learn to shorten the vocal tract and modify the oral cavity length and volume in order to achieve a brighter resonance and create a more feminine sound. 

The typical pattern of speech observed in women involves upward gliding inflections and more variety in pitch overall. Women also tend to elongate vowels which creates a more “legato” style of speaking. Male voices have less variety in pitch and use more hard attacks when articulating which creates a flatter and more “staccato” speech pattern (3).  Female speakers also articulate their sounds more precisely than male speakers (5). For example, a feminine speaker would be more likely to pronounce the second /t/ sound in ‘ToronTo’ whereas a male speaker would be more likely to say ‘Torono’ without pronouncing the second /t/. 

The content of a message is equally as important as the delivery. Men and women use language differently to communicate their ideas and emotions. Women are more colourful and descriptive in their language, whereas men are more simple and direct (7). For example, in terms of adjectives, a woman would be more likely to say “That was a beautiful meal!” where as a man would be more likely to say, “That was a good meal”. Women have also been found to use the word “so” more often than men in order to emphasize something, i.e. “That dog is SO cute!”, where as male speakers would be more likely to use adverbs such as “very” or “really”. (7)

There is more to communication than our speech and language. Certain body positions and facial expressions are more associated with a feminine speaker. Women tend to have more curves in their body language (crossing legs, cocking a hip to one side) whereas men are more straight and rigid. Hand gestures when communicating can also have masculine or feminine associations which can contribute to how a speaker will be gendered.

Although there is much evidence in the research supporting successful voice feminization through speech therapy alone, transgender individuals may choose to pursue voice feminization surgery. If this is the route you would like to take, a speech language pathologist can provide support and education surrounding the risks and possible outcomes as well as providing pre and post surgery exercises to ensure the best possible results.

If you are experiencing voice-related gender dysphoria, and you are looking to discover your congruent voice, a speech-language pathologist can help guide you through this process. Book an initial consultation to discuss your voice and communication goals and learn how we can work together to find a voice that aligns with your authentic self and gender identity.