{"id":2181,"date":"2022-04-21T14:26:34","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T14:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/undergraduate-students-publishing\/?p=2181"},"modified":"2022-09-29T01:59:23","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T01:59:23","slug":"the-saga-of-sensitivity-readers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orgs.emerson.edu\/undergraduate-students-publishing\/2022\/04\/21\/the-saga-of-sensitivity-readers\/","title":{"rendered":"The Saga of Sensitivity Readers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Emma Shacochis \/\/ Blog Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not every author who includes diverse characters in their stories is going to be doing so from an #OwnVoices perspective, but they still may hope to properly portray their characters. In these cases, authors will often turn to sensitivity readers, proofreaders and editors whose experiences are similar to those of an author’s characters and can offer better insight as to how they might be more-accurately depicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young adult writer Becky Albertalli was shocked to find that readers felt alienated from her book Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda<\/em> due to an offhand comment from its narrator<\/a> that was perceived as minimizing the struggles of queer women. Not wanting to make the mistake again, but still hoping to include a diverse cast of characters in her books, she\u2019s committed herself to hiring sensitivity readers for her following stories and their characters that she can\u2019t relate to directly. (In 2020, Albertalli came out as bisexual<\/a> in response to the mounting backlash regarding her frequent depictions of queer characters in literature. While not directly related to sensitivity reading, this is another case where an author’s identity in relation to their protagonists can often be valued more than their writing itself. Is it better to force writers to discuss their personal life for readers’ comfort than it is to assume that they worked with professionals who helped them create accurate depictions of marginalized identities?)<\/p>\n\n\n

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 <\/span>Beck Albertalli, who at the time of her interview characterized herself as, \u201cwhite, chubby, Jewish, anxious.” She has since come out as bisexual.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The way you feel about sensitivity readers might depend on what kind of book you\u2019re trying to write. There are plenty of authors as of late who are interested in their characters being well-rounded and not falling into stereotypes, who therefore seek out sensitivity readers on their own for input:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey there, Malaysian Twitter! I'm currently looking for a Malaysian Indian sensitivity reader (paid opportunity – reading one article probably around 1000 words). Super urgent, need by today. If anyone knows one, pls direct me to them!<\/p>— Masalah Chai (@masalahchai) October 12, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>