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This article is for writers who are writing about issues outside their own direct experience. Some examples of this would be: a cis person who has created a transgender or gender diverse character in their story. Someone who has written a character whose ethnicity is different to theirs into their novel. A writer who is not Deaf who has a Deaf character in their story. A man who has written a non-fiction book that includes women’s issues, or vice versa. 

But of course, anybody is welcome to read this article.

Firstly: what is sensitivity editing, and why do I refer to a “sensitivity reader” as a “sensitivity editor”? Find out here.

Why I believe sensitivity editing is important

Like many writers and editors, I want to see more inclusivity of minority voices in the publishing industry, less inaccuracy in depicting people from other cultures, and fewer cases of White people within the publishing industry appropriating (otherwise called “stealing”) others’ knowledges and stories.

My experience in hiring sensitivity editors

I am a White writer and editor. Over the years I have:

• hired sensitivity editors for my own written work
• referred writer clients (memoirs, poems and novels) to sensitivity editors
• hired contractors to conduct sensitivity edits of clients’ manuscripts that have  involved these issues/topics: First Nations Darwin NT; First Nations Australia-wide; transgender; neurodiverse (ADHD and  AuDHD); and young adult. 
• In December 2024 I participated in the True Tracks: Indigenous Copyright and IP for editors workshop by Terri Janke & Company, where I learned in more detail how to be a responsible, inclusive editor and writer.

Why hire a sensitivity editor to check your manuscript?

If you hire a sensitivity editor to check any content you have written that is about something you haven’t directly experienced or known, they can make sure that the content is:

• accurate – in terms of the language used, information presented, spelling of non-English language words, capitalisation, descriptions
• not racist, “othering”, or stereotypical – that is, not offensive or promoting hate
• not appropriating someone else’s story or words (verbal or written) without their permission
• not appropriating someone’s culture or knowledge system; that is, the sensitivity editor will comment on whether the writer has the authority to write about that particular topic in that way.

Part of the sensitivity editor’s role is to advise the writer whether there is any content they do not have the authority to comment on – that is, whether the writer needs to ask  another sensitivity editor needs to review that content.

Legal reasons for hiring a sensitivity editor

International laws protecting First Nations rights

In 2009 Australia became a signatory to The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (2007). *

*  See the Australian Parliament’s take on Australia’s responsibilities as signatory to UNDRIP: Parliament of Australia… UNDRIP Report – Foreword. 

If you are in Australia and you publish a manuscript that includes text or images that, from a First Nations point of view, is inaccurate, racist, offensive, appropriates the stories or knowledge owned by a First Nations individual or group, or that constitute a First Nations group or individuals’ words or images or stories without their permission, you are potentially contravening UNDRIP.

That is, you could be breaking international law.

If you intend to publish content that covers any issues involving First Nations people, culture or knowledge systems, we recommend you:

• hire an appropriate First Nations sensitivity editor to check the content is not offensive or inaccurate and does not appropriate or steal First Nations peoples’ information or stories, then
• take their advice. This may mean making editorial changes to the manuscript such as adding disclaimers or footnotes, or deleting content that the sensitivity editor believes is inappropriate, appropriation, or offensive.

Laws protecting other minority groups

I’m not a lawyer so I won’t attempt to tell you which state and federal laws apply to writers or editors publishing content that may be misleading or stereotypical or discriminatory and that some people may find offensive.

But what I do konw is that a person who publishes a book about topics outside their direct experience and knowledge can inadvertently publish content that is inaccurate, misleading or offensive, and end up in ethical and legal trouble.

A sensitivity editor with the authority to speak about those issues will advise you whether your manuscript contains anything offensive, inaccurate or misleading, and give you some options for addressing any problems. By taking their advice, you can make sure you don’t publish inappropriate or offensive content.*

* Note: however, an editor or sensitivity editor is not a lawyer and cannot identify, or advise on, legal risks around defamation or breach of copyright. Only a defamation lawyer or copyright lawyer can provide that advice.  

FYI: I will be collaborating with the sensitivity editor contractors on my team to write more articles about sensitivity editing so – stay tuned!