Language variation and change
Speaker: Dr Matthew Hunt (University of Southampton)
Title: What does fear sound like? Voice pitch and sexual orientation in perceptions of domestic abuse victims
Abstract: Women are disproportionately affected by domestic abuse, especially those in same-gender relationships who face a higher risk of violence (Messinger, 2011) and are often seen as less credible victims (Poorman et al, 2003). Masculine-presenting lesbian victims are particularly liable to be blamed for their own abuse (Little & Terrance, 2010). This study explored how voice pitch, a resource for expressing gender and sexual orientation (Cuddy, 2019), influences perceptions of female domestic abuse victims. In a controlled experiment, 300 participants listened to an audio recording of a scripted domestic abuse allegation. The study used a 2x3 between-subjects design: Pronouns (Male, Female), signifying the abuser's gender, and Pitch (Baseline, High, Low), achieved by digital manipulation. Participants evaluated the voice on semantic differential scales. Results, analyzed with cumulative link models, revealed a significant interaction between Pronouns and Pitch on the "scared" scale, suggesting that gender expression (via voice pitch) and sexual orientation can meaningfully intersect to shape perceptions of domestic abuse victims. I discuss these results in the context of sociolinguistic research on stored stereotypes (Levon, 2014), and in the wider context of domestic violence policing, drawing attention to the particular relevance of perceived ‘fear’ in victimless prosecutions.
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Language variation and change
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