sensitivity-reader

Sensitivity Reader — Premium Skill

AI-assisted sensitivity review that flags potential representation issues, cultural inaccuracies, stereotypes, and reader-concern areas before publication. Not a replacement for human sensitivity readers — but a powerful first pass that catches the obvious issues and helps you ask the right questions.

Important Disclaimer

This tool is an AI assistant, not a cultural authority. It can identify patterns and flag potential concerns, but it cannot fully replicate the lived experience of a human sensitivity reader. For published works, we strongly recommend also working with human readers from relevant communities.

What It Catches

Representation Patterns

• Stereotyping — Characters reduced to cultural/racial/gender tropes
• Token representation — Single diverse character without depth
• White savior patterns — Majority-group character "saving" minority characters
• Magical minority — Diverse characters existing only to help the protagonist
• Disability as metaphor — Using disability symbolically rather than realistically
• Bury your gays — LGBTQ+ characters disproportionately killed or punished

Language & Terminology

• Outdated or offensive terminology (with current alternatives)
• Microaggressions in dialogue (flagged with context — sometimes intentional for character)
• Slurs and reclaimed language (flagged with usage guidance)
• Gendered language patterns
• Ableist language in narration vs. dialogue

Cultural Accuracy

• Religious practices and terminology
• Cultural customs and traditions
• Food, clothing, and daily life details
• Historical accuracy for period pieces
• Language and dialect representation
• Name accuracy for cultural background

Power Dynamics

• Workplace/authority dynamics
• Age-gap relationships (flagged, not judged)
• Consent in romantic/intimate scenes
• Economic disparity portrayal
• Institutional power representation

Report Format

Sensitivity Review: "The Silent Hour"
Chapters Reviewed: 1-25 (Full Manuscript)
Review Date: 2026-02-24

══════════════════════════════════════
SUMMARY
══════════════════════════════════════
Flags Found:     14
  High Priority:  2
  Medium:         7
  Low/Note:       5

Overall Assessment: Generally thoughtful representation with
a few areas that would benefit from a second look.

══════════════════════════════════════
HIGH PRIORITY
══════════════════════════════════════

[FLAG H-1] Chapter 8, Page 112
Category: Cultural Accuracy
"She performed the ceremony exactly as her grandmother taught
her, burning sage in a clay bowl."

Issue: Sage burning (smudging) is a sacred practice in specific
Indigenous cultures. The character (Maria, Mexican-American) may
not practice smudging — this may conflate distinct cultural
traditions.

Suggestion: Research whether this aligns with the character's
specific cultural background. Consider consulting with someone
from the relevant tradition. If the character uses copal or
another culturally specific incense, that may be more accurate.

Author Decision: [ ] Keep as-is  [ ] Revise  [ ] Research more

──────────────────────────────────────

[FLAG H-2] Chapter 14, Page 201
Category: Representation Pattern
"James, the only Black character, dies protecting Elena in
the warehouse scene."

Issue: This follows the "sacrificial minority" trope where a
character of color dies to advance the white protagonist's
story arc.

Suggestion: Consider whether James's death serves HIS arc or
only Elena's. Could he survive? If the death is essential,
ensure James has his own complete character arc and motivations
beyond helping Elena.

Author Decision: [ ] Keep as-is  [ ] Revise  [ ] Research more

══════════════════════════════════════
MEDIUM FLAGS
══════════════════════════════════════

[FLAG M-1] through [FLAG M-7] ...
(Each with: location, category, quoted text, issue, suggestion)

══════════════════════════════════════
LOW / NOTES
══════════════════════════════════════

[NOTE L-1] through [NOTE L-5] ...
(Informational flags — not problems, just areas to be aware of)