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Listener Accuracy in Identifying the Sexual Orientation of Male and Female Speakers

Carahaly, Lynn N.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391614986

Abstract Details

2000, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Speech and Hearing Science.
Researchers have limited knowledge about speech and language characteristics of gay males and how they differ from those of their heterosexual counterparts. Even less is known about speech and language characteristics of lesbians. Although some research has attempted to correlate commonly held stereotypes with sexual orientation of women (Moonwomon, 1986), no research has ever determined that listeners are accurate in identifying the sexual orientation of a female speaker. Before researchers examine what speech/language cues are distinct to lesbians as compared to heterosexual females; it needs to be established that listeners can auditorily distinguish lesbian speakers from straight (female) speakers with reasonable accuracy. This study involved 80 listeners (male and female; gay/lesbian and straight) identifying the sexual orientation of 40 pre-recorded speakers (ten gay males, ten straight males, ten lesbians, ten straight females). Each speaker subject was recorded (and presented) twice, once while interacting with a straight conversational partner (CP) and once while interacting with a gay CP. Conversational partners remained gender specific; male speakers only interacted with male CPs while females only interacted with female CPs. The purpose of the study was to determine: (1) if listeners are accurate in identifying a speaker’s self-identified sexual orientation; (2) presence of a gaydar phenomenon; specifically, are gay/lesbian listeners more accurate in identifying gay/lesbian speakers than are straight listeners; and (3) if listeners are accurate in identifying the sexual orientation of a speaker regardless of any code/register/style switching that may occur as a function of the sexual orientation of the experimenter. Results of the study indicated that listeners were 70.7% accurate in identifying the sexual orientation of a speaker. Overall, gay/lesbian listeners were not better than straight listeners at accurately identifying the sexual orientation of a speaker (regardless of gender). Listener’s ability in identifying the sexual orientation of male speakers was not significantly better than their ability to accurately identify the sexual orientation of female speakers. Gay/lesbians were more accurate in identifying sexual orientation of women (particularly in identifying lesbians). There was also a significant difference in accuracy as a function of the sexual orientation of the CP. Specifically, listeners were more accurate in identifying the sexual orientation of gay males, straight males, and straight females when they were interacting with a gay CP. Results of this study support previous research findings (Guadio, 1994) that gay males can be accurately identified at better than chance levels. Accurate identification of lesbian speakers is dependent on the sexual orientation of the listeners. While straight listeners may not be able to distinguish lesbian speakers from straight speakers with reasonable accuracy, gay/lesbian listeners can.
Robert A. Fox (Advisor)
Jan Weisenberger (Committee Member)
65 p.
Sociolinguistics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Carahaly, L. N. (2000). Listener Accuracy in Identifying the Sexual Orientation of Male and Female Speakers [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391614986

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Carahaly, Lynn. Listener Accuracy in Identifying the Sexual Orientation of Male and Female Speakers. 2000. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391614986.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Carahaly, Lynn. "Listener Accuracy in Identifying the Sexual Orientation of Male and Female Speakers." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2000. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391614986

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1391614986
1,005
© 2000, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.