Sensitivity Readers: A Designer’s Best Friend
Sensitivity Readers: A Designer’s Best Friend
Sensitivity readers are editors who bring authenticity and a critical eye to games
Jessica Marcrum
This article is part of the Indie Game Developer Network's blog series. The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the IGDN or its members.
Have you ever played a game or watched a show where someone performs your job and it’s just complete nonsense? Not that they trim things down to make it accessible for an audience, but actually “this would never happen in reality” absurd? Now imagine this happens every time you play a game and see someone who looks like you, or has your diagnosis, or lives in your part of the world. (For some of you, this is more an exercise in remembering than imagining). It’s not just your job they’re getting wrong, it’s vital aspects of your lived experience. This is where sensitivity readers come in. Having worked professionally as a sensitivity reader for MCDM and Penguin Random House, as well as having hired sensitivity readers of my own, I’m here to answer some frequently asked questions and clear up some common misconceptions regarding sensitivity readers.
What is a sensitivity reader?
A sensitivity or authenticity reader is someone with a lived experience of something being represented in your product. Acting as an editor, they review your product with a critical eye and note instances of unconscious bias, microaggressions, or tropes the designer may be unaware of and/or unintentionally exploiting. This is different from an expert reader, which is someone with a degree in a field specific to your product (ex. having an archaeologist or archaeology professor review your Indiana Jones tie-in game for accuracy).
For example, as a bisexual woman who is an abuse survivor, I provide sensitivity readings for bisexuality and trauma. As a licensed mental health professional, I provide expert readings for mental health and recovery.
Common topics for sensitivity reading include but are not limited to race, mental or physical health, religion, frequently exploited professions and living situations (ex. homelessness, sex work, or incarceration). Authenticity readers are often also requested for locations or specific cultural groups within those locations.
When do I bring in a sensitivity reader?
Short answer: whenever you are writing about an experience you haven’t lived but others have. Longer answer: We all have unconscious bias. Getting eyes on our work as early in the development process as possible is critical. Far too often, accessibility is pushed to the end of the design process. It is seen as a bonus feature “if we can afford it” instead of being built into the budget. Many sensitivity readers lament their notes were tossed out entirely as the developer would have to make large structural product changes to implement them. This could be avoided entirely if they were consulted early in the process and then brought in again to read a draft.
But my game is fantasy! I don’t need this!
Like it or not, our favorite fantastical tropes are based in the real experiences of humans and how human societies function. Tolkien based the orcs on the Mongols and the dwarves on Jews. Does this mean your orcs or orc-like creatures are based on Mongols? Absolutely not! You’re making something totally new! However, your players and readers will bring their own perceptions and experiences to your game. That unfortunately includes some very fraught history. So for example, if you write a race of goblin people who are obsessed with money, have hooked noses, and use a shofar, first of all, hi Joanne! Thanks for reading this! Trans rights are human rights! And secondly, you might want to get a sensitivity reader for Judaism and Jewish-coded characters immediately.
A sensitivity reader reviewed this, so it’s all good, right?
Any sensitivity reader worth your money will tell you that they are just one person with one view. Two readers may respond to your product in completely different ways—what is a big deal to one person is not worth mentioning to another. Additionally, as mentioned earlier in this article, often developers completely ignore advice from sensitivity readers and then slap our names on their products as a badge of absolution. Lastly, no one person can read for every topic. Just because a game has a sensitivity reader for chronic illness does not mean it has been read for anything else. A sensitivity reader is not carte blanche for your work.
Sensitivity readers ruined Roald Dahl and Dr. Seuss!
No, they didn’t. Capitalists changed some wording in some old books and took others off the market in order to maximize their profits. You know who else changed some of the wording in Roald Dahl books? Roald Dahl. Check on the original oompa-loompas. They’re likely not the ones you grew up with and he changed them because even an antisemite like Dahl recognized he was being a massive racist. This is not far first time a publisher has done this (gestures pointedly in the direction of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”).
Sensitivity readers work for free/early access games, right?
Sensitivity reading is some of the hardest editing a person can do. Not only because they are reading work in a developmental stage with a critical and careful eye, but because they are preparing to relive some of the most painful experiences of their life. It is a task we take on to prevent other survivors being unexpectedly triggered or having their experience turned into a joke or presented in an incomprehensible way.
Even applying to be a sensitivity reader can be daunting. A reader must consider how many aspects of their life—how much of their marginalization—they are comfortable potentially triggering for money. There is also the question of exposure: whether we want people or companies to know we are disabled, have done sex work, been incarcerated, survived abuse, etc. A lot of what we read for is personal, secret, and painful. Would we be comfortable with that being exposed in a hack or leak?
This is a very long way of saying that a sensitivity reader’s job is very hard, and they should be compensated accordingly. Include them in your budget.
How do I find a sensitivity reader?
By the time this article is published, Twitter may have exploded, but in general, social media is a great place to put out a call. There are also companies like Salt and Sage Books and Maple Intersectionality Consulting who do great work. A typical ask is something like “I’m looking to hire Asian/SEA sensitivity readers and disabled readers for an upcoming cyberpunk ttrpg. Trans readers especially welcome! Please apply at [link]!” Not only does this signify that you are paying readers, but includes the type of product and the type of reader you’re looking for.
What’s the tl;dr?
Sensitivity readers do vital, painful work. Budget them into your product and bring them in as early as possible. Your game will be better because of them.
This IGDN blog article is brought to you by Jessica Marcrum of Unseelie Studios. If you want to get in touch with the contributor she can be reached at @Miss_Jess03 on Twitter or visit her website at www.jessicamarcrumwrites.com.