A quick Google search will bring up numerous newspaper and magazine articles along with several scientific studies that investigate the effect of men’s speaking voices on listeners. In general, these writings attest those men with lower average pitch are more successful in all aspects of life, because they are perceived to be stronger, more virile, more authoritative and more attractive overall. This perception gives men with lower speaking voices an advantage in everything from partner selection and procreation to career progression.

There are some potential pitfalls for men who cultivate a very low speaking voice. As described in a blog post on the male voice, sometimes limiting the upward pitch results in a monotonous voice. Besides being just boring (in my opinion), according to Hodges-Simeon, et al (2010) these types of voices may be perceived as unfriendly, emotionless, intimidating or even aggressive. In their journal article, they write “…variation might be the vocal equivalent of a smile…” I really like that analogy.

I often listen to male presenters with a range of emotional responses from ennui to annoyance. Sometimes, even though I may be interested in what the speaker has to say, I cannot bring myself to listen to their voice for the duration of the presentation because I find the voice so distasteful.

Amazingly, I happened to overhear the presenters of NFL This Week, which my husband watches to keep up with American Football. I was stopped in my tracks, not because I follow football of any sort (I do not), but because of the appealing and emotive voices of the two male presenters, Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora.

Few would argue that these men do not exemplify masculinity, even though neither of them spoke in a low, rumbling voice. Both spoke with an incredibly free-sounding mid-range voice with plenty of rise and fall of the pitch to create the expression of enthusiasm, emphasis and ultimately, friendliness. I liked them immediately.

Isn’t that what men want in a voice?