Final answer:
Yes. Female voices are generally higher in pitch or shriller due to the higher fundamental frequency of their vocalizations, which is related to the physiological differences in vocal cords and larynx size between the genders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The perception that a female voice is shriller than a male voice is related to the differences in frequency ranges of their vocalizations. Typically, female voices have a higher fundamental frequency compared to male voices. Frequencies, which are measured in the number of sound waves per unit time, determine the pitch of the sounds we hear. A higher frequency results in a higher pitch, which can be described as 'shrill' or piercing in quality.
In terms of physiology, this difference is often due to the size of the vocal cords and the space within the larynx, where women generally have shorter, thinner vocal cords, leading to the production of higher-frequency sounds. The conversational speech region has been observed to have a gender component, where female voices are usually characterized by higher frequencies, which could make understanding these voices difficult for someone with a certain extent of hearing impairment.