The thing is, people (women and men) were talking in a similar way in the '80s — I was there. In CA. This has been a long time in coming, and I don't believe it was every especially isolated to females. Also, the phenomenon of "vocal fry" (that sort of gravelly sound made by younger people, usually near the end of a sentence)—that's not new, either. I happen to like it, and I remember listening pleasantly to girls who talked that way in the '90s, and possibly before.
My parents are in their early 50s and their speech is peppered with uptalk. The both grew up in the San Fernando Valley (the origin of the "valley girl" sterotype). This is by no means a new thing.
If anything, it's a developing regional dialect like South American English, Cockney, Scouse, Australian English, or any other spin of our language. Small minded people will always look down on those who don't speak just like them, but the rest of us appreciate the fascinating variety.
Looks like my job in this thread is to drop in Language Log links. Here's some information on vocal fry (another phenomenon perennially trotted out as coming back or expanding):
Vocal fry is nails on a chalkboard for me. It's the vocal equivalent of slouching. It seems disrespectful to others to not say words without the required air support.
