I response to the comment that "our ancestors must have had rigorous training in voice" because old airs are so demanding, I have two thoughts to offer:

1. Some of these airs were no doubt written first for musical instruments such as the harp, flute or violin which have a much broader range than the usual human voice. Then someone decided to use them as a melody for a later poem. (Danny Boy comes to mind.)

2. Children and women sing (and talk) by bringing only the edges of their vocal folds together. When a man's voice "changes", he starts to sing by bringing the sides of the vocal folds together. However, if he keeps in practice, he can still use his childhood method and can sing very high. Some men can sing notes which are both very high and very pure. (I think this is called "countertenor.") My husband, who is just an ordinary church choir member, can sing from the bottom of the bass up to D above middle C well in the alto range, and could probably go higher.

It used to be an accepted style for a man to sing part of a song in his mature voice and part in his very high voice. I once heard a man do "Molly Malone" that way.

So ladies, don't think your voice lacks talent or beauty if you can't do what the guys can do!