Sensitivity reader explained

A sensitivity reader is someone who reads a literary work, looking for perceived offensive content, stereotypes and bias, creating a report for an author or publisher with suggested changes.^{[1] [2]} The use of sensitivity readers has attracted criticism from some authors and members of the public, particularly with respect to edits to re-editions of previously published works of literature.

Purpose

Proponents state "the literary quality of a work is substantially improved" when reviewed and copy-edited by others from "a specific Nation or community that the author is writing about". Helen Wicks, managing director for children's trade at Bonnier, defended the practice by stating that "we believe sensitivity reads can play an important role in inclusive, forward-thinking publishing."^[3]

Beginnings in US young adult fiction

From 2015, partly in response to the movement for diversity in young adult fiction, sensitivity readings became popular and influential especially in Young Adult Fiction.^{[4] [5]} Cases where sensitivity readers were brought in after pre-publication controversy included those of Laura Moriarty, whose book American Heart had its prestigious Kirkus Reviews star removed prior to publication in 2017,^[6] and Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao.^[7] Kosoko Jackson, a sensitivity reader himself, withdrew his own novel A Place for Wolves over sensitivity concerns in 2019.^[8]

Controversies in fiction and non-fiction

Following the controversy over the book American Dirt in 2020, debate over the use of sensitivity readers intensified including in the UK.^[9] Lionel Shriver^[10] accused sensitivity readers of being censorious, of being "new moral gatekeepers" or of offering a way to "cancel-proof your book".^{[11] [12]} Writer Anthony Horowitz^[13] wrote about his 'clash' with 'very sensitive' sensitivity readers.

In non-fiction, Kate Clanchy broke with her publisher Picador after controversy surrounding her memoir. In 2022 Clanchy wrote an essay expressing her concerns that her sensitivity readers seemed 'to concur that the past should match an idealised present', and to imply that writing, 'should represent the world as it ought to be, not as it is.' Further, Clanchy stated that the readers did not recognise irony and satire and wished 'to eliminate journeys of thought across chapters, ambiguity from paragraphs, and nuance from sentences'.^[14] Clanchy's essay together with others has continued to be discussed internationally in the following years.^{[15] [16] [17]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: . . 13 January 2022 . Writing, Editing, and Publishing Indigenous Stories . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220219234228/https://guides.library.ualberta.ca/c.php?g=708820&p=5049650 . 19 February 2022 . 19 February 2023 . . en . Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
2. News: Hucal . Sarah . 23 February 2023 . Roald Dahl's works and the role of sensitivity readers . en . . . Berlin, Germany . live . 27 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327041214/https://www.dw.com/en/roald-dahls-works-and-the-role-of-sensitivity-readers/a-64796277 . 27 March 2023 . In short, sensitivity readers are hired by publishing houses to read for offensive content, misrepresentation, stereotypes, bias and lack of understanding of minority groups..
3. . . 20 June 2022 . Publishers defend sensitivity readers as vital tool following author criticism . live . . en . The Stage Media Company . London, England . 0006-7539 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627212742/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/publishers-defend-sensitivity-readers-as-vital-tool-following-author-criticism . 27 June 2022 . 19 February 2023 . limited.
4. News: Alter . Alexandra . In an Era of Online Outrage, Do Sensitivity Readers Result in Better Books, or Censorship? . 19 December 2023 . The New York Times . 24 December 2017.
5. News: Benedictus . Leo . Torn apart: the vicious war over young adult books . 19 December 2023 . The Guardian . 15 June 2019.
6. Heller . Nathan . Kirkus Reviews and the Plight of the "Problematic" Book Review . 19 December 2023 . The New Yorker . 23 October 2017.
7. News: Alter . Alexandra . She Pulled Her Debut Book When Critics Found It Racist. Now She Plans to Publish. . 28 December 2023 . The New York Times . 29 April 2019.
8. News: Senior . Jennifer . Opinion Teen Fiction and the Perils of Cancel Culture . 19 December 2023 . The New York Times . 8 March 2019.
9. News: Urwin . Rosamund . Is the rise of sensitivity readers progress or censorship? . 28 December 2023 . 28 December 2023 . en.
10. News: Shriver . Lionel . What if 'sensitivity readers' came for my novels? . 28 December 2023 . www.spiked-online.com . Feb 2023.
11. Dubno . Zoe . 10 July 2021 . The rise of the 'sensitivity reader' . live . . en . . London, England . 0038-6952 . 1766325 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230216202534/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-rise-of-the-sensitivity-reader/ . 16 February 2023 . 19 February 2023 . limited.
12. Rosenfield . Kat . August 2022 . Sensitivity Readers Are the New Literary Gatekeepers . live . . en . . Los Angeles, California, USA . August/September 2022 . 818916200 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230222190900/https://reason.com/2022/07/05/rise-of-the-sensitivity-reader/ . 22 February 2023 . 19 February 2023.
13. News: Horowitz . Anthony . My clash with 'sensitivity readers' . 28 December 2023 . The Spectator . 1 February 2023.
14. Web site: Clanchy . Kate . 2022-02-18 . How sensitivity readers corrupt literature . 2022-12-30 . UnHerd . en-GB.
15. News: Abrams . Rebecca . Sense and sensitivity: why books need to unsettle us . 23 November 2023 . Financial Times . Financial Times . 25 March 2022.
16. News: Adorney . Jonathon . Is Disney's new movie Wish a 'woke' disaster? . Restoring America . Washington Examiner . 17 November 2023 . en.
17. News: Vegard Hagesæther . Per . Publishing's Maligned Helpers . 22 November 2023 . www.aftenposten.no . AftenP.