Should women imitate men in public speaking?

The distinction of gender roles within public speaking has led to certain topics being classified as masculine or feminine. As a result, a speaker's profile is sought, conditioned by gender, when addressing a particular topic. This characteristic in the profession of public speaking generates inequalities and disadvantages for both sexes, which makes it difficult for the speaker to address a specialized audience with very marked tastes.

Some experienced female speakers have decided to imitate the male profile when faced with the need to address technological, industrial or other topics of this nature. As an example of this, we have the case of Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of the technology company Theranos, who clearly imitated the image of Steve Jobs. Such was the obsession of this controversial businesswoman that she molded her voice to make it deeper and sound like that of a man.

We will be discussing this type of practice in this session. In this way we will state our opinion on whether or not women should imitate men in public speaking.

Authenticity vs. imitation: The case of Elizabeth Holmes and her strategy of imitation in order to reach an audience categorized as male, has generated a great deal of debate as to whether a female speaker addressing these types of topics should imitate the profile of a man. While Elizabeth achieved outstanding results by delivering highly emotional speeches that engaged the audience in a surprising way, it is questionable to assume that this was due exclusively to the fact that she characterized herself as a man. If we believe that the success factor of this businesswoman lies in the adaptation of her image, then we should accept that any man would have done better than her.

The advantages of imitating a man are very complex to perceive. What made this woman a great speaker is precisely her communication skills. Image and voice are secondary aspects that complement the speaker but do not define him or her. Authenticity, on the other hand, is a very significant value for every speaker. Just as there is an Elizabeth, we also have thousands of women who have earned a great reputation for their authenticity and ability to communicate with the masses. The most important thing is that you define yourself by your own skills and that your image forms a distinctive personal brand that is easily perceived by your audience.

When we achieve our own style we add value to our work. People do not come to listen to us just because of what we have to say, but because they empathize with us and like our communicative style. This has been the key for most successful speakers, knowing how to distinguish themselves from the rest and achieve greater loyalty from their audience.

Break down prejudices by leveraging your strengths: Every speaker has strengths and weaknesses. An essential task in creating a powerful image in front of an audience is to identify your strengths and work on developing them further. While some speakers have excellent public speaking skills, others are characterized by their charisma or humor. Learn to know yourself and discover which are the aspects that, if you manage to enhance them, would end up stamping on you a distinctive and authentic seal. Instead of imitating a male speaker, dedicate your efforts to separate yourself from gender roles. Once you get to be distinguished by your personal brand, the fact of being a man or a woman will cease to matter.