The Voice Gender: Vocal Self-Perception versus External Perception

Objective: To verify and compare differences in self-assessment of gender in the voice and in the auditory perceptual assessment conducted by cisgender, transgender, non-binary individuals, and speech therapists specializing in Voice.

Methods: Cross-sectional study. 47 individuals of different genders conducted self-assessment of their voice’s gender expression (using a 100-point visual analog scale ranging from very masculine to very feminine) based on two items: “My voice is” and “My ideal voice should sound like.” Subsequently, samples of automatic speech (number counting) and expressive reading of a poem from these individuals were recorded and underwent Auditory Perceptual Assessment (APA) using the same visual analog scale regarding gender expression in the voice. The APA was conducted by 101 cisgender judges (CJ), 70 transgender and non-binary judges (TNBJ), and 65 speech therapists specialized in Voice (STV). Descriptive and inferential analysis (paired T-test) was conducted, considering p<0.05, to compare the difference between the mean scores of the judges and the speaker's self-assessment.

Results: In the first item "My voice is," there was a difference between the judges' evaluation and the speaker's self-assessment: CJ x Self-assessment (p=0.015), STV x Self-assessment (p=0.010), and TNBJ x Self-assessment (p=<0.001). Regarding the item "My ideal voice should sound like," no differences were evident between the groups, CJ x Self-assessment (p=0.197), STV x Self-assessment (p=0.189), and TNBJ x Self-assessment (p=0.07), indicating that the listener's perception tends to align more with the voice desired by the speaker.

Conclusion: The groups of judges have a different perception of gender expression in the voice when compared to the speaker's self-perception, and this perception tends to align more with the voice desired by the speaker. These differences may suggest a tendency toward self-criticism among individuals when assessing their own voices, highlighting the complexity and subjectivity of individual perceptions about their own vocal expressions in relation to gender. These results point to the complexity of the relationship between self-perception and external perception of gender expression in the voice. Understanding the discrepancies between these two perceptions is crucial for developing more effective strategies in voice therapy and promoting positive self-perception aligned with individuals' expectations and desires.