Spectral characteristics of sibilants have been linked to social factors such as gender or sexual orientation. This paper examines the impact of sibilant spectra on gender perception in prepubertal German-speaking children (ages 6-9) through a longitudinal study. Center of Gravity (CoG) and skewness were measured in the sibilant /z/. Two listening experiments assessed gender perception: one with natural stimuli, the other with voice morphed stimuli to isolate the effect of sibilant spectra.

No overall gender differences in CoG and skewness were found. While sibilant spectra had no effect on gender perception in natural stimuli, significant effects emerged in morphed stimuli. This suggests that while broader acoustic cues may have a stronger effect on gender perception, sibilants also reflect stereotypical gender associations in isolation.