Sensitivity Readers and Racism in YA (Edited for Addition) - Comments

Thank you for writing this!

@ pocahontas.
I do! She's really great and always ends up discussing things I wouldn't have noticed in books.

I will say that I haven't read it, but I've read excerpts and I'm just not for it. Especially since the author didn't apologize.
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@ colour me perfect.
You're welcome! I felt it needed to be written after reading another blog that had some...misconceptions about sensitivity readers. I love that you want to get a reader because I think it's really important, especially when writing about something you don't know and having more privilege (I have a lot of CISHET, White, Able-Bodied, Christian privilege).

No problem. <3 I only know because of Twitter otherwise I wouldn't know it existed either. I hope it becomes common too, but it sucks how much the idea is being torn down in the name of "freedom of speech" and censorship on various media outlets. Sigh.

I like the last sentence you wrote! "However unintended", I think that's important because a lot people don't intend to offend or harm people, but it still happens and should be apologized for.

Here is a great link for more about sensitivity readers (including pricing). And here is a database of reader and their various areas of expertise for sensitivity reading. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mM70yfB4KgoETAqZg8tG174vChgdxOWW74xPME_gRaw/edit#gid=0

Thank you so much for this blog. I am ashamed that I didn't know such a thing existed, though I am absolutely certain of its necessity. I'm hoping to publish a book at the end of the year, and (should my wildest dreams come true & this actually happen!) I will, without a doubt, do my best to find an appropriate sensitivity reader, even if I have to fund it myself, because it's SO important to me that I not misrepresent facts or situations because I am writing about experiences and prejudices that I don't face myself. I'm aware of my privileges, and offending someone (or groups of someones) through my own ignorance goes against everything I believe in.
Honestly, thank you for this, I needed to know this, and I honestly hope that it becomes a common practice among fiction writers, especially those exploring situations that they don't themselves experience. Novels are an escape, and should not be a place of prejudice, however unintended.

Yeeeeees, you follow Debbie? I LOVE her. (And that thread of hers is A+) Glad to hear another Native's perspective on that book. Definitely won't be supporting it!

Yakoke for this blog.

@ mccree.
Ah, I figured they did it with Pocahontas when you mentioned that. The movie is problematic but I won't get into that. It is good from a business perspective. Like financially, if a book is found to be harmful and people care, it's not going to sale well. Yeah, it's so easy for people to dismiss it just because of the term, it's actually really cruel to think people will.

I'm pretty sure Disney did it with Pocahontas (albeit, the movie was still problematic, but people were hired anyway). Even if you didn't care about being discriminatory or other people's feelings, it's good from a business perspective because if you face backlash you'll lose money and readers. So, everyone wins. I do agree that 'sensitivity readers' is a weird way to word the job since it'll be easy for conservatives and the like to make fun of or throw it back in people's faces, but the actual occupation is great and needed.

@ divine;
No, I agree, the term is on the er side, so I feel that's why people may dismiss the need for sensitivity readers. Something Consultants would be good.

I'm not saying they're not important. Just feel like there could be a better way to title their job.

@ little me;
The issues can be easy to miss if you don't follow people on Twitter. Especially since we're conditioned to just naturally be racist/ableist/etc. without thinking. I'm glad you've learned from me. And others. I have a lot to learn still. Ha, yes, The Continent was pushed back, I think it's due to release this month though, I'm not sure.

@ mccree.
It has been a thing for a while. I didn't know Disney did this before except with Moana. Hiring a sensitivity reader definitely isn't different. I don't understand why no one would if they could. Why knowingly hurt someone with your writing if you could stop it? Sigh.

@ divine;
Quite a few people don't like the term, but it doesn't change how important and useful these readers are.

Am I the only one that feels weird about the term sensitivity readers?

The thing is, I thought this was a thing for a while. From what I recall, Disney tend to hire people from differently cultures to monitor their movies, and they've been doing this for years. Hiring a sensitivity reader is really no different and I don't understand why people are making such a big fuss. If you have the opportunity to get feedback on your work, why not take it? Especially when it's people's feelings and oppression in your hands.

Honestly I was never aware of all these issues in books until I started following you on Twitter and some other people in the community as well. So thank you for educating me. I remember our conversation about The Continent but up until now I still haven't found the book. Well now I guess it's because it's being pushed back.

@ Alsoldey
I appreciate that! And feel free to message me if you ever need help.

@ Moses's Puppy Hina
That's good! I'm glad you learned something. I learn stuff on Twitter everyday and I'm always so thankful for it. Especially if I'm not aware of a certain thing about subjects. You're welcome!

@ DarkestStorm
I totally understand, either way you're still being protected.

I definitely learned something new tonight/this morning. Thank you for posting this blog. It helped me understand the whole racism problem going on with the book and the idea and purpose behind sensitivity readers. Thank you.

@ Alsoldey
That's complicated, I'm half white, a quarter native american and a quarter puerto rican, so physically yes, but I can look quite white and culturally, only on the Native side somewhat. I have a lot of white privilege.

@ DarkestStorm
Just out of curiosity are you a PoC too?

@ Alsoldey
Thank you, love! And I, you.

You are precious and I am going to defend you, tooth and nail.