Hey folks, I’m a freelance voice-over artist and QA reviewer working on training content, usually things like workplace harassment and diversity courses. Recently, I was asked to QA a course on workplace harassment—and noticed the client had removed all references to gender, replacing it with sex. Anywhere the word “gender” appeared, it was just… gone or replaced.
It seems like a subtle thing on the surface, but it’s not. It completely shifts the tone and scope of the training. It feels like a quiet rollback of DEI principles, and honestly, it made my stomach turn. The kicker? I need this job. Turning this down could burn a bridge I can’t afford to lose.
I have a good relationship with the lead on the project (who’s just relaying instructions—they don’t have control over the content decisions), and I want to say something. At the same time, I’m scared that even a polite pushback could cost me.
Has anyone else been in this kind of situation? How do you draw the line when your ethics and survival are at odds? Would really appreciate your thoughts.
First off, sorry you’re in an impossible situation. Some POS at the company is adhering to old views to treat groups like shit for no reason other then their ego. That’s shit.
I would take this as a sign it’s time to start finding other customers. Like you said, you need this job, any comment isn’t going to change the content, and they are doing it because being terrible to marginalized groups is the current shitty “answer” to income inequality.
I’d do the job, and then act upon your morals to search for either other places to work or other jobs. That way you can eventually tell them to pound sand.