Anne Carson's 'The Gender of Sound' reissued, exploring voice, protest, and gendered silencing
In 2023, Silver Press reissued Anne Carson's essay 'The Gender of Sound,' which delves into how sound production and reception are influenced by gender, positing that patriarchal societies aim to dominate women's voices. Carson draws on Ancient Greek customs such as ololyga and aischrologia, along with Aristotle's 'Physiognomics,' which associated women's higher vocal tones with malevolence. She also examines notable Euro-American instances, including Ernest Hemingway's criticism of Gertrude Stein's voice and Margaret Thatcher's training in public speaking. Utilizing Carson's insights, writer Akshi Singh evaluates two recent protests: a topless demonstration by trans women outside the Scottish parliament in September 2023 and Laila Soueif's ongoing hunger strike since September 2024 for her son, Alaa Abd’el Fattah, in Egypt.
Key facts
- Anne Carson's essay 'The Gender of Sound' was first published in 1992 and reissued in 2024 by Silver Press.
- Carson argues patriarchal culture has historically aimed to control the female mouth, citing examples from Ancient Greece like the ololyga cry and aischrologia.
- Aristotle's 'Physiognomics' used the high pitch of women's voices as evidence of their evil nature.
- The essay references Ernest Hemingway's intolerance of Gertrude Stein's voice and Margaret Thatcher's elocution lessons.
- A topless protest by trans women occurred outside the Scottish parliament last month, with participants wearing black tape over their mouths.
- Mathematician Laila Soueif began a hunger strike in September 2024 to demand freedom for her son Alaa Abd’el Fattah, jailed in Egypt.
- Soueif is currently in St Thomas' hospital in London, using her body's reserves to continue her protest.
- Writer Akshi Singh, based in Glasgow and London, connects Carson's theories to these contemporary protests about voice and silencing.
Entities
Artists
- Anne Carson
- Gertrude Stein
- Ernest Hemingway
- Margaret Thatcher
- Sophocles
- Aristotle
- Akshi Singh
- Laila Soueif
- Alaa Abd’el Fattah
Institutions
- Silver Press
- Scottish parliament
- Supreme Court
- St Thomas' hospital
Locations
- Ancient Greece
- Glasgow
- London
- United Kingdom
- Egypt
- Scotland