Critics of uptalk insist that women should alter their voice and tone to ultimately sound more similar to men. No matter how much our society boasts gender equality, women are now being told that we must speak like men in order to be taken seriously.
Uptalk is not a form of insecurity, but is instead an unconscious way of speaking. Women would not purposefully speak in a way that appears incredible and self-doubting. But who is to say that uptalk appears uncertain? Why are we letting men tell us that we sound uninformed and unconfident because of the way we speak? In that case, we should make the same assumption of all other individuals that speak differently than men. Furthermore, what distinguishes male uptalk as acceptable but female uptalk as unsure? The criticism of uptalk appears to be an extension of sexism. Women are being told that their feminine qualities are not acceptable and that they should reflect those of men. What happens, though, when women stop using uptalk? What else will be critiqued? Will women be criticized for being too masculine, definitive or domineering? Women should not be judged based on the tone of the voice, but rather by the quality of their statements. Ladies: speak like you mean it. Whether “You mean it.” or “You mean it?” should not matter. As long as women are confident in themselves and what they have to say, feminine qualities that come across in their speech should not affect how they are perceived. The most common first thought: 'Hmmm, I'd rather not.' But, weaknesses and struggles give us strength. So let's give it some thought...
I have always known that I wanted to work in the business world, so when I was applying to colleges, checking the “Business Marketing” box next to “Major” seemed like a natural decision. There was just one small problem with that choice — I have a weakness in math. During my sophomore year of high school I received an A+ in Algebra 2, and during my freshman year at James Madison University I even achieved an A- in Business Statistics. Things were going fine and I loved business. Then I enrolled in my first accounting class. The class was Financial Accounting and from the beginning I could tell it was going to be a challenge. Although explaining every detail of my accounting career is really fascinating and a lot of fun, I will only include the abridged version – for brevity. Over the course of three years I took Financial Accounting twice, Managerial Accounting twice and Managerial Science twice. One might be wondering how this is possible, but I found a way to work around the regulations of JMU’s Business School. Every few months, while taking and re-taking these courses, I would have a breakdown and swear I was going to switch my major. I would then realize that a business degree was my goal; that I have put sweat, tears, and years into the major and I was not a quitter. It took me three years to realize that when it came to accounting, I am a quitter, and that is just fine with me. My experience in accounting is something I would not trade for the world. I worked harder than I ever have before while learning a few things along the way. Most importantly, I learned that I could, in fact, pursue a career in business without a business degree. I am currently a less-stressed student, happily majoring in Communications and still pursuing my dreams. |