I’ll also add in something similar I’ve observed but rather than voice quality it’s more in body language.
We’ve all heard the phrases “you run like a girl” or “he throws like a girl” that kids toss around while playing ball.
Here’s what I’ve observed with 3rd graders. Unless a child is incredibly gifted with the type of coordination found in top athletes, MOST 8 yr. old boys are just not that graceful. But the most typical description is “bull in a china shop” as they go clumsily careening around.
However, gay boys are the ones who are observed as “throw/run like a girl”. Unfortunately it’s being used as an insult in order to pick on them. But looking at it purely objectively, there is a grain of truth to that.
It’s difficult for me to describe precisely because it’s one of those “you know it when you see it” type of things. There really is a subtle difference between an 8 yr. old who is like a “bull in a china shop” and one who “runs like a girl” and if you are at all observant and come across it, it is recognizable.
I’m not saying that to be negatively judgemental at all. It’s just a personal observation of mine.
There was also a practical side to it as it enabled me to early identify some of the kids likely to become targets for playground bullies and helped me be alert to the little shots who’d be most likely to try to victimize them and tell these little bullies that they’d better knock it off if they didn’t care to have me on their tail. I just had an absolute zero tolerance policy for kids ridiculing others for whatever reason be it too tall, too fat, wears glasses, stutters, runs like a girl, etc. etc.
So, it’s obvious that there are certain traits that are inherent rather than learned behavior if they are showing up that young. But the exact reason just can’t be determined.