It's all there in their tone.
The position you hold in people's lives is reflected in their tone.
It's not just the sound aspect, but how their words are characterised when it concerns you.
Respect, disdain, regard, disregard, are packed in the tone.
That's why we don't accord everybody the same tone.
We know whom and whom not to use certain tones for.
Likewise, it's why naturally, we switch tones accordingly.
Therefore you should pay careful attention to the type of tone used on you. It's the underlying message about you that you sometimes dismiss.
Study how they talk to you during those engagements, in that relationship, even down to your chats.
Is their tone habitually dismissive, crass, polite, dignifying?
Because the 'tone' is directly proportional to the amount of value placed on your person.
It cannot be masked.