Should more women taking the wedding speech spotlight

More women should be taking the spotlight at big events, according to new research from learning and development company Good Shout.

However, according to a new poll, conducted in partnership with YouGov, the very prospect fills two thirds of women (67%) with dread. Of those women in the UK who would refuse to give speeches at a wedding, 50% said that it was the "cringe factor" that held them back, i.e. being too self-conscious or feeling too awkward or uncomfortable in the situation. The research, conducted amongst just over 2,000 adults in the UK, aimed to find out if women were shunning tradition when it came to speaking at momentous events like weddings, and taking the mic for themselves.

However, it seems that there's still a way to go, with 87% of wedding attendees in the UK having seen a man give a speech in the last 5 years, but only 48% of people having seen a woman doing the same. The main drivers of the "dread" that women feel were: The cringe factor, i.e. feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable (50%) Lacking the confidence (48%) Nerves or stage fright (43%) Worries about saying the wrong thing (25%) Too emotional to get the words out (20%) Of those women who didn't want to give a speech at their own wedding, or the wedding of a loved one, key reasons cited were 'wanting to stick with tradition' or simply to 'enjoy the day' without the stress of talking in front of people.

Francesca O'Connor, director at Good Shout says, "Everyday in our job, we encounter brilliant women from all walks of life and levels of seniority dogged with fear when it comes to public speaking, despite the fact there's so many powerful female role models in the public eye. The appetite is clearly there to see more women giving speeches, in all settings, so it's time to lean into the cringe. With the right prep and practise, your speech could be a beautiful moment that an audience never forgets."

Whilst recent research from Speechly found that speeches given by women at weddings has increased by 420% in the last few years, new research shows that it's still almost half of those given by men. As such, Good Shout has created a one-day speechwriting and delivery course called 'Unforgettable' designed to help women write and perform the perfect speech, and yes, make sure it is unforgettable.

About Good Shout...
Good Shout was established to help people find and experiment with their voice, so they can communicate with more clarity and confidence. Every voice deserves to be heard. So our training products are designed to make you want to shout louder and communicate better, in a way that adds value to the world. We have social learning products that turn you into an effective and unique spokesperson for your company; or improve your presentation, speechwriting and panel skills; or pull out your creativity; or make you more effective at writing; or improve your relationships at work or (our favourite) find and celebrate your own personal style.