Social Question

rebbel's avatar

Are there such things as female and male sounds?

Asked by rebbel (35553points) September 21st, 2011

What I am talking about are sounds of daily life things, like the sound a lighter makes, or the zipper of a dress (or jeans).
Today, when I was cycling home, I kept the pedals quiet for a bit and then I heard the high pitched rattle of the gear wheel, which reminded me of the time when my mother still owned the bike and I was sitting on the backseat.
That sound I stamp as a female sound.
A zippo, opening or closing shut could be a male sound (for some people) for example.
Do you have sounds that you specificaly qualify as _female or male sounds?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

18 Answers

Blueroses's avatar

I associate the sound of a hammer hitting something or a power tool with being male. I use these things but when I only hear the sounds, I think “some guy’s building something”

marinelife's avatar

Jackhammer is male.

Blackberry's avatar

The sound of heels clicking along is female.

ucme's avatar

The sound of raindrops hitting a leaf : Female
The sound of a bull elephant farting : Male

WillWorkForChocolate's avatar

I like the mention of power tools as “male” sounds, and heels clacking on the ground as “female”. All I have to add, at the moment, is that I always hear a massive difference between male and female laughter. Sort of like the difference between a “giggle” and a “chuckle”. I very rarely hear a man “giggle”.

Sunny2's avatar

There is a definitely female sound you hear in a group when people are cheering. It’s high pitched (I think a high A) and it was started and repeated by a teenage age group as being the note to be screeched when excited. Each generation adopts it anew until it is now uttered by most age groups under the age of 60.
I hate it.

picante's avatar

Sounds that are male-evocative for me:
Helmets striking shoulder pads
Gunshots
Saws (manual or power)
Engines revving
Tires screeching
Fire alarms
(you men are loud!)

Sounds that are female-evocative for me:
Typing
The sound of the cap coming off a tube of lipstick
Running water
Certainly the click-clack of heels (already mentioned)
The sound of tissue paper being crinkled

rebbel's avatar

Nice answers @all, thanks!
A special thank you to @picante (the helmets and typing and running water)!

CWOTUS's avatar

Sexists.

Blackberry's avatar

@CWOTUS That sound is female…lol.

wundayatta's avatar

Oh man. This question is just asking for trouble. Think bathroom sounds.

A hair dryer?
A tinkle?
Loud, splatty splat sounds?
Showering sounds?
Who knows how many different electronic and non-electronic sounds there are—electric shaver, electric toothbrush, etc, etc.

Ela's avatar

wonders where’s the queef dude is

AshLeigh's avatar

Interesting question.
I think softer sounds are female, and rough/loud sounds are male. :P

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

Low, powerful sounds are masculine sounds——like the bass part in a recorded song or the low strong rumble of thunder.

Light, sweet sounds are feminine——like the soft rustling sound of fallen autumn leaves, the sound of a soft waterfall, or in music, the sound of light bells and chimes.

@CWOTUS——There’s nothing sexist about classifying sounds as either male or female, just like there’s nothing sexist about classifying boy names and girl names. One’s masculine, the other’s feminine.

wundayatta's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES If your vision is as acute as your sense of humor, how am I going to find your shoes in the middle of the night even if the moon is shining?

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@wundayatta Just follow the glint. It doesn’t take much to light up my shiny shoes. Lol.

Thanks for the compliment! :)

Sunny2's avatar

Whistling is male, usually. Except for the 2 finger piercing whistle which a surprising number of women have learned to do. I’m jealous of them. I’d love to able too do that.

martianspringtime's avatar

I don’t usually associate sounds with gender with the exception of voices and I guess the sound of heels (though I wouldn’t be very shocked if I was wrong in my assumptions about either of those things).

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.
Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther