Stacey Copeland, a media producer and Ph.D. candidate at Simon Fraser University, dives into the challenges faced by women in broadcasting. She discusses her audio documentary, 'This is the Sound of My Voice', which highlights the sonic sexism women encounter in a male-dominated industry. Copeland explores how societal norms shape perceptions of women's voices, the journey toward authenticity in media, and the importance of representation. This insightful conversation sheds light on the intersection of gender, voice, and identity in the world of audio.
Stacey Copeland's work explores the complexities and biases faced by women broadcasters in a male-dominated media landscape.
The evolution of societal perceptions of women's voices emphasizes the shift towards valuing authenticity over traditional, gendered voice expectations.
Deep dives
Exploration of Gendered Voices in Radio
The podcast delves into the complexities surrounding women's voices in the male-dominated fields of radio and podcasting. It highlights Stacey Copeland's research, focusing on ten women broadcasters in Toronto and their experiences with their voices in a political climate that often undermines female perspectives. The discussion revolves around how the historical scrutiny of women's voices has evolved, particularly during significant events like the Trump elections. Copeland questions whether the ridicule of women's voices persists and how that relates to the broader societal perceptions of gendered voice traits.
Audience and Accessibility in Audio Documentary
Copeland discusses her approach to addressing dual audiences for her community radio piece, recognizing the need to balance academic rigor with accessibility. Initially intended for a thesis committee, she sought to engage a broader audience through a commissioned documentary. By pondering the language used, she aimed to make complex ideas more relatable for general listeners. This strategic consideration emphasizes the importance of connecting scholarly work to the public through engaging narratives in radio and podcasting.
Authenticity versus Ideal Radio Voices
The conversation examines the shifting ideals of radio voices, moving away from a preference for deep, masculine tones towards more authentic and relatable presentations. Broadcasters share insights on how their identities as women intersect with public perceptions of their voices, revealing challenges like the pressure to conform to traditional gender norms. Copeland highlights a growing recognition that authenticity can often outweigh conventional expectations of a desirable radio voice. This evolution suggests a gradual transformation in the industry's acceptance of diverse vocal expressions.
The Impact of Technology and Bias
The podcast addresses the overarching themes of bias against women's voices and the potential impact of audio technology on these perceptions. Participants reflect on how engineering design might favor deeper, traditionally masculine voices, thereby marginalizing women’s higher-pitched tones. Such systemic biases lead to broader stereotypes where women’s voices are often critiqued more harshly than their male counterparts. By challenging these entrenched standards, the discussion opens up pathways for a more inclusive representation of voices in radio and broadcasting.
In part two of our three-part series “Voices,” we feature an exciting new voice in the world of sound studies, Stacey Copeland.
In part one last month, we examined the role voices play in professional sports and unpacked some of the understandings of ability and masculinity that inform the sound of the quarterback’s voice in the NFL. Copeland’s audio documentary, “This is the Sound of My Voice,” examines another group of professionals—women broadcasters and podcasters, who struggle with sonic sexism from male colleagues, audiences, and sometimes, even themselves.
The documentary was originally presented on radio in three parts, but Stacey graciously edited a shorter version for this episode of Phantom Power.
Stacey Copeland is a media producer and Joseph-Armand Bombardier (CGS) Ph.D. candidate at Simon Fraser University’s School of Communication in Vancouver, Canada. She received her Master of Arts from the Ryerson York joint Communication and Culture graduate program where she studied with a focus on radio production, sound studies, media culture and gender studies. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Universitywith a minor in English and a specialization in audio production for radio, music and film. It was during her Master’s work that Copeland co-founded FemRadio, a Toronto, Canada based feminist community radio collective. Currently, she is the supervising producer at Amplify Podcast Network, a collaborative project dedicated to reimagining the sound of scholarship.