‘Sensitivity readers’ turn their attention to fairy tale classics like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty

6 March 2023, 08:29 | Updated: 6 March 2023, 08:48

Beautiful princesses, handsome princes and the idea of 'love at first sight' are all being deemed problematic
Beautiful princesses, handsome princes and the idea of 'love at first sight' are all being deemed problematic. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

'Sensitivity readers' have been deployed to examine the back catalogue of Ladybird books, that includes classic tales like Cinderella and Snow White.

The publisher has enlisted their use to identify passages in works in its back catalogue that contain offensive content that readers could find offensive.

Themes like handsome princes falling for beautiful princesses in classic tales like Snow White and Cinderella could prove problematic, according to the Sunday Telegraph, as they promote physical attractiveness and heteronormative romance.

Characters presuming other people’s pronouns and discussing social class could also be problematic, as could lack of diversity among protagonists.

Read more Harry and Meghan 'can use Frogmore Cottage if they attend King Charles' coronation'

Read more: Snow to hit the UK today on the coldest day of 2023 so far as temperatures plummet to -10C

Ladybird has not announced whether passages will be altered if they are deemed offensive or outdated and has not commented on the work to review texts.

Sensitivity readers told the Telegraph that there is a greater duty to avoid harmful tropes in fairy tales as they can have a negative effect on children by teaching them to privilege certain values or appearances.

Virginia Mendez, an author and sensitivity expert not involved with the review of Ladybird books, told the Telegraph: “There are many things that we see less and less in newly published books, simply because they are no longer the norm. In some cases, things are just easily avoided.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Long Row, Nottingham.

16-year-old boy arrested after teenager, 17, stabbed in front of shoppers in Nottingham Primark

Pope is 'still in critical condition'

Pope 'still in critical condition' and participated in Holy Mass with carers amid 'complex clinical picture'

Peter Reynolds, 79 and his wife Barbie, 75 have been arrested by the Taliban.

Retired British couple who run education programmes for mothers arrested by Taliban in Afghanistan

Palestinian children and journalists disperse as Israeli tanks enter the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, on February 23, 2025.

Israel deploys tanks to Occupied West Bank for first time in two decades as Palestinians 'won't be allowed' to return

The first exit polls show the far-right AfD party will win more than 19% of the vote in Germany, as the conservatives fall short of a majority.

Far-right AfD party wins record 19.2% of the vote in German elections as conservatives set for victory, exit poll shows

Jenny Hall

Body found in search for missing 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall

Long Row, Nottingham.

Boy, 17, stabbed in Nottingham Primark

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt told LBC that we must invest more in defence to secure peace in Ukraine.

'We have got to wake up' and spend more on defence, says ex-defence secretary Penny Mordaunt

Zelenskyy willing to step down as Ukraine's President 'immediately' if it 'brings peace or Nato membership'

Zelenskyy willing to step down as Ukraine's president 'immediately' if it 'brings peace or Nato membership'

UK Weather, London - 9 February 2020. Storm Ciara brings gale force winds and heavy rain to the London’s West End Theatreland district. Credit: Thamesfleet/Alamy Live News

Fresh amber alert as Met Office issues 'danger to life' warning with UK facing heavy rain and 70mph winds

Homeless asylum seeker starved to death while 'dangling from a London skylight for six days'

Homeless asylum seeker starved to death while 'dangling from skylight for six days'

Destruction in Kryvyi Rih, via The State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk

Russia launches 'aerial terror' on Ukraine, with the biggest drone attack of the war so far

Krystena Murray, 38, with her baby boy.

Woman sues IVF clinic after being forced to give up baby that wasn't hers, in embryo mix up

Exclusive
Trump a 'useful idiot' to Putin claims ex-security advisor John Bolton, with threats of a 'third term' being taken serious

Trump a 'useful idiot' to Putin claims ex-security advisor John Bolton, with threats of a 'third term' being taken seriously

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during Scottish Labour Party Conference

Keir Starmer slams Reform UK's 'dangerous right-wing politics' as he accuses Farage of 'fawning over Putin'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned a bad peace deal could be a 'disaster for everyone', as he urged the US to stand by Ukraine on Sunday.

Starmer says UK won’t cave to 'threats and tyranny' as PM warns bad Ukraine deal would be a 'disaster for everyone'