Britney Spears, the Kardashians, Julia Fox (that viral “Uncut Gems” moment) and Paris Hilton (à la her catchphrase, “That’s hot”) have popularized “vocal fry” — the long and deep enunciation of certain syllables so they vibrate at the back of the throat.
Unfortunately for them, a study recently published in the Journal of Voice, a peer-reviewed medical publication, found women with vocal fry were perceived as less attractive and intelligent than those without.
The research from the University of Florida also determined that while both men and women speak in a creaky voice, the perception of men did not change with the use of vocal fry.
The study aimed to determine if and how a husky drawl affects the speaker’s likability, intelligence, attractiveness, and potential salary attainment.
A group of 29 participants was asked to rate men and women on these attributes after hearing recordings of them speaking with and without vocal fry.
In the latest example of gender bias, the study found that low-talking female speakers rated more negatively across the board — and significantly lower than men in terms of intelligence and attractiveness.
To wit, Hilton stunned fans when she admitted in her 2020 documentary, “This is Paris,” that her on-screen voice was simply part of a “dumb blonde” character she invented to entice the media.
As Alanis Morissette might say, isn’t it ironic that the use of vocal fry makes women seem less attractive — when it has been adopted as a seductive tone by sexy female celebrities?
These women have been able to make millions (and even billions) by slackening their vocal cords, but the average woman who lowers her voice faces potentially negative social perceptions from her peers, according to the study.
