Sensitivity reader
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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A sensitivity reader is someone who reads a literary work scanning for perceived offensive content, stereotypes and bias, creating a report for an author or publisher with suggested changes.
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." Critics accuse sensitivity readers of being "new moral gatekeepers", offering a way to "cancel-proof your book".
The use of sensitivity readers have attracted controversy from authors and the public. Anthony Horowitz and Kate Clanchy have both criticized the impact of sensitivity readers on their books, the latter ultimately breaking with publisher Picador after controversy surrounding her memoir. In February 2022, new and altered editions of Roald Dahl's books sparked widespread media coverage and criticism. Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, stated they were "alarmed" at the news, calling the move "a purported effort to scrub the books of that which might offend someone", while Salman Rushdie referred to the move as "absurd censorship".
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