If you feel like your “tone” and level of emotion are being policed, #tunein because this is the #advancingwomenpodcast episode for you!

Scrutiny of women’s speaking patterns is the latest frontier in an endless barrage of judgment and undermining women face. It is yet another way to blame women. An attempt to shift the emphasis to fixing women versus doing the hard work of fixing #genderbias

Tone policing (when someone focuses on how something is said, rather than what is actually being said) often involves critiquing the emotional tone, volume, or manner of speaking, rather than addressing the substance of the message itself. This can be a way to dismiss or silence someone, especially when their words challenge the status quo or express frustration, anger, or vulnerability.

In essence, it shifts the conversation away from the content of the message to the way it's delivered, often in a way that reinforces power imbalances.

We need to recognize tone policing and comments about upspeak and vocal fry for what they truly are…not a peeve that needs to be professionally developed away but rather, an attempt to silence women. At its core, this policing is about power and status, and who is allowed to have it. Tune in to see how we can learn to recognize and interrupt these bias patterns and put the kibosh on this new version of the tired “fix the women” narrative.

As always, it’s not your fault, but it is your problem, so don’t miss this episode to learn more about tone policing, upspeak, and vocal fry and how to put the kibosh on this new “fix the women” narrative.

Business Inside Men Use Upspeak and Vocal Fry Too https://www.businessinsider.com/men-use-upspeak-and-vocal-fry-too-2015-8

NPR From Upspeak To Vocal Fry: Are We 'Policing' Young Women's Voices? https://www.npr.org/2015/07/23/425608745/from-upspeak-to-vocal-fry-are-we-policing-young-womens-voices

The Conversation https://theconversation.com/keep-an-eye-on-vocal-fry-its-all-about-power-status-and-gender-45883#:~:text=Vocal%20fry%20is%20a%20distinct,of%20belonging%20in%20that%20tribe

Time https://time.com/5006345/what-is-vocal-fry/

Upworthy https://www.upworthy.com/what-is-vocal-fry-and-why-doesnt-anyone-care-when-men-talk-like-that

Examples of male vocal fry

https://the-toast.net/2015/07/22/examples-of-male-vocal-fry/