Emotional Female

Brave. Honest. Impossibly compelling.

Jamila Rizvi

Emotional Female is an astonishing peek into the realities of being a woman in the ruthless world of surgery. It exposes the nature of the industry, and reveals the vigorous disposition of its patriarchal structure. Those who do not 'look the part' often face the inevitability of invisibility. Kadota refused that status and has written a powerful tale that lets her avoid this destiny. She is now visible. And we should all be looking.

Jessie Tu, Sydney Morning Herald

There is a powerful sense of immediacy to Kadota’s writing. We share her thrill at participating in her first surgery, the gratitude of her patients, the confrontation of her first death certification and the chilling moment where she considers self-harm just so she can get some rest ... It is a privilege to review this book. Emotional Female is a brave memoir where the author doesn’t hold back from sharing her most vulnerable moments. If this doesn’t end up in my top three reads of this year I will be surprised.

Amanda Rayner, Readings

This is a gripping memoir. Kadota details her experiences with an honesty and self-awareness that allows the reader to contemplate the issues at the centre of the narrative ... The narrative is rich with imagery, and the sense of pressure and anxiety experienced by Kadota comes alive on the page ... She thoughtfully intersects her experiences as a woman of colour with her experience as a junior doctor ... Emotional Female is a book that sweeps through you; dsepite the specificity of its topic, it's message is universal, and the question at its centre is how much should we demand from people as the cost of success.

Zoya Patel, Canberra Times

This is an honest and unflinching memoir that is a personal exploration of how zeal, intelligence, passion and skill counts for nothing when faced with a broken medical system. It explores how bullying, racism and sexism can flourish unchecked and how promising surgeons are treated as disposable. Essential reading!

Shanulisa Prasad, Booktopia

The pressure building over time only intensifies the acute emotional punch as Kadota measures the human cost of her once dream career.

Amy Dale, Law Society Journal

Is it the book of the year? We’d back that. This brilliant read is an absolute must for anyone this year and tales the toxic culture of bullying and overwork that junior doctors can experience in the workplace as part of their training (hint: it’s not pretty) ... a true account of burnout and finding resilience to rebuild yourself after suffering physical, emotional and existential breakdowns. We take out hats off to Yumiko for sharing her story.

Urban List

A searing indictment of the sexism, racism and institutional exploitation present in the Australian medical profession ... [Kadota's] greatest writing strength [is] meticulous and unapologetic attention to the details of events others may deem isolated ... We need to celebrate the emotional intelligence and courage of women of colour in every industry and profession, especially when they are brave enough to call out unacceptable sexist, racist and exploitative behaviour just as Kadota has so powerfully done.

Ferdous Bahar, Kill Your Darlings

[Kadota's] honest account of what she went through in Victorian and NSW medical schools and hospitals has already sparked reviews by the hightest surgical and medical authorities. In the past, they have shown great reluctance to change. Perhaps this time. Kadota's account is compelling.

Herald Sun