Fascinating interview on Fresh Air about women's voices and how we are perceived because of they way we speak.  I personally like the idea of not being imprisoned by my voice.  In other words, I like having a choice in how I speak and that I don't just speak a certain way by default or because I don't know any other way.  Vocal training gives us choices.  I know for myself that working on my singing voice has improved my speaking voice and vice versus.  And, maybe it's not about controlling the way other people perceive us, but more that we have some choice in the way we feel about how our own voices.