Business email: info@contrapoints.com
My voice has become the source of intense frustration and despair. My body—whatever, bodies are things. But my voice is my soul.
Show this thread
-
The number one thing people say is "you sound like a valley girl." Also: "basic white bitch." Also: "stereotype/cliché/caricature of a woman." Also: "you sound like you're trying to hard."
Show this thread
The thing is, I sort of don't agree. At least, I don't think I sound like a valley girl. I am doing a very feminine sing-songy cadence. It's an efficient way to have my voice recognized as feminine though my pitch isn't up there yet.
-
-
But enough people criticize my current voice (and this isn't just pepes and TERFs either, whose opinions are discarded instantly) that I think I'm probably doing something wrong.
Show this thread -
But I don't know what to do. Because the only alternative I have now is to speak in a more masculine voice. I know trans women who do that and people say: "you sound like a dude, you're not even trying."
Show this thread -
I know people will say: "Don't do things to please other people, just do what makes you happy!" But often what makes us happy is inextricably tied up with what other people think.
Show this thread -
I guess what I need to do is try out different voices, record myself, listen to myself, tweak, alter, rehearse, repeat. For months. Until I have a voice I'm so confident that any criticism can be brushed off.
Show this thread -
I know how to create a voice. I've done it before. My "natural male speaking voice" is something I invented in my early twenties, when I decided Americans sound dumb. So I practiced suppressing any regional American inflections/vowel sounds.
Show this thread -
This time around I will not capitulate to prejudice. American's aren't dumber than anyone else. Women aren't dumber than anyone else. Whatever people think, I want to sound like an American woman, because that's what I am.
Show this thread -
If I were confident in my voice, none of this would matter. But my intense insecurity about it makes the criticisms really stick. I just don't want to speak at all at this point. But I can't do that, speaking is my job.
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
I feel similar about my beard. People make fun of it being patchy. But fuck it, it gets me gendered correctly without a haircut!
-
I just want to wear pink and have luscious locks without having to correct strangers.
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
just keep triggering the kekzis for us ;)
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.