I was listening to CBC radio this morning, and one of the women interviewed about a polygamous sect (which has a branch here in BC, Canada) said that the women listen to Warren Jeffs' sermons constantly while working, etc., and a lot of the cult members have picked up on Jeffs' speech mannerisms, and have ended up with an 'accent' due to this.

I just read an article about their dress styles, and it's a similar situation there--the men dress fairly normally, while the women's appearance, down to their hair style, is completely prescribed. I hadn't noticed they all spoke the same way, but it doesn't surprise me.

I'm reminded of an old ask metafilter post, about how Dr. Drew links girlish-sounding women's voices with childhood sexual abuse. Does that sound about right?

By the way, does anyone else get a weird Handmaiden's Tale vibe off the whole situation? The way the women speak is part of it; also, the rigid, proscribed clothing worn by the mothers.

I read a fascinating article about Warren Jeffs and his unprecedented influence over the FLDS. It speaks to a much different story than the one described by the families in the Datteline piece. (but now I can't find it, go fig)

Yeah, I definitely get that vibe, muddgirl.

Weirdly enough, I was reading Under the Banner of Heaven when this whole thing blew up.

By the way, does anyone else get a weird Handmaiden's Tale vibe off the whole situation?

Yes. The women are so obviously "property." It squicks me out no end.

the women listen to Warren Jeffs' sermons constantly while working, etc., and a lot of the cult members have picked up on Jeffs' speech mannerisms, and have ended up with an 'accent' due to this.

They probably don't talk to anyone outside the cult, either. Probably don't have radio or TV.

Social isolation produces more distinctive accents.

It's Not A Compound.