In the famous film, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy sets out on a journey to find inner strength to face her problems. On the way, she encounters three characters who feel inadequate and incomplete. There’s the Scarecrow who considers he isn’t intelligent because he doesn’t have a brain – only straw in his head. The Tin Man thinks he’s missing a heart and the Cowardly Lion, well, is simply missing the ability to feel courageous. This small band of down-and-outers join Dorothy on a journey to see the Wonderful Wizard of Oz – a mysterious man who is reputed to be able to solve all problems.
At the end, we all learn that what each character thought they were missing was actually inside them all along. The Wizard (himself nothing but a fool…but actually himself in possession of great wisdom) only needed to give them each a ‘seal of approval’ of some sort. He gave a diploma to the Scarecrow; a testimonial (a token of esteem and affection) to the Tin Man; and a medal of bravery to the Cowardly Lion.
This little acknowledgement of the powers within each one was all they needed to feel complete and worthy. The Wizard does not solve Dorothy’s problem, but Glenda the Good Witch. Glenda shows Dorothy that running away is not the answer and that she had the power within her to control her life, all along. (Along with a few other lessons, to be continued…)
Often, I have people with marvellous voices come to me asking for help. They feel dysphoria regarding their voice, even though their voices are congruent with their gender, are functional and able to meet the demands of their daily lives and with which they are not misgendered, either in person or on the telephone. Now, I am not a wizard, but I do have a magic wand.
My magic wand is Acoustic Analysis. With a basic acoustic analysis of voice samples, I can offer indisputable objective evidence that these voices are as wonderful as I consider them to be. The numerical data can be compared to “normative values” taken from the general population. This comparison serves to, without bias, illustrate how well my clients’ voices perform as compared to the voices of the cis population. One may argue against my opinion, but it’s more difficult to argue against the numbers. Acoustic analysis is the Wizard who provides the “seal of approval” needed by so many people who are not vocally confident.
I think I’ll go as Glenda the Good Witch this Halloween, so I can wave my magic wand.