Why do people always think I am a child on the phone?!?

Question

I am 25 years old!

In response to Lori, I think it might be my enunciation, but it certainly isn't my vocabulary, I'm a very academic person. I think part of the reason that I find this so frustrating is that I want to be taken seriously. I think your voice can really hold you back in that respect. This is particularly an issue for the careers of women -although a man with a high voice is probably discriminated against as well.

Answer 1

Join the crowd--I am almost 50, I still have people who call that don't know me and will ask to talk to my mommy or daddy.
I tell them that they are not available but my husband is.
They get pretty embarrassed and will usually end the call quickly.
About all you can do is try answering in a deeper voice making it sound firmer.
It used to bother me too, now I just be myself and let them be the ones to get embarrassed when they realize I am a lot older than I sound--

Answer 2

You might have a young voice. Slow down and try to deepen it a little. If that doesn't work, it's their loss for not taking you seriously! I hate being told that my voice is "sexy". I do everything I can to not sound that way but I always got that. I was a receptionist and now, I don't work outside the home. I have had someone reach my home phone by accident and tell me I have a sexy voice. I am a happily married woman, for 16 + years, and 42. Will this ever go away?! Nothing you can do I guess.

Answer 3

That has to be very frustrating. I have always had a deep voice so even as a little child people mistook me for someone older on the phone. They would ask my Mom who answered the phone and could not believe it was a child.
Lately I have little to no voice when I answer the phone because my medication makes me lose my voice. Even when I am perfectly well, I sound like I have a bad cold and am ill. That is embarrassing. I am always telling people I am fine, I don't have a cold, I am not contagious.
I think I would gladly trade for your younger sounding voice.

Answer 4

If your voice is high and childlike in tone, this could account for the mistake. It could also be your language. Do you use adolescent speech? Do you say, "like", or "um" often when you talk? Do you end your statements in the form of a question?

Sometimes, when I know I am speaking to an adult, I could swear I am talking to a child because of the speech they use. Increasing your vocabulary, enunciating properly, and avoiding adolescent affectation will identify you as an adult, even if you have a high voice.

Answer 5

It's most likely just because you have a young sounding voice. My mom works in a call center and she's constantly asked how old she is. They are always surprised when she tells them that she has children that are in their 20's.

Answer 6

I get the same thing i have a youthful voice myself. I just laugh it off and be glad i don't have a creepy serial killer kinda voice lol. I'm always told i should do voices for childrens cartoons.

Answer 7

Probably because your voice is high pitched. So is mine...I am 30 and people still ask to speak to my mommy when they call. Put yourself on the do not call list!!!

Answer 8

I'm guessing it's your voice. I have a friend who sounds like a kid when she talks. She acturaly finds it amusing.

Answer 9

Well, people think I'm a man,sometimes, on the phone.

Answer 10

I get that too and I am 37. people call and say "can I speak to your mother?" it doesn't bother me, I actually find it amusing