I thought I’d share this I was sent anonymously from a doctor because I think she makes a really good point about the time period of the piece - “This is a great take. I’m a GP, and I loved the book, but I am hurt by the treatment of women played for laughs and the dehumanised nature of the patients in general. Thanks for writing. It is important to consider that it is a period piece - I hadn’t finished highschool when it is set, and I’ve been a doctor for 9 years now. Things are improving, more women are doctors, and people are better supported generally.”
Emily you’ve described this all so well. That’s exactly how I felt after watching the first episode. Thank you for articulating this.
The thing I found a bit weird is that I read his book, and have read other ones by him, and really enjoyed them, felt that Kay is a heartfelt person. I don’t know if something was lost in translation when making the tv show, or I somehow missed any dehumanisation in the first place.
One sensation I had after watching the first episode (I couldn’t face watching any more) was a familiar sense of being a killjoy and a nag, because the show got so many glowing reviews and I couldn’t understand it. I wanted to express my confusion and hurt but also felt I shouldn’t, because I must have it wrong; my reaction must be wrong. It makes me realise how much these ‘killjoy’ and ‘nag’ stereotypes must have their origin in women being supremely unheard, unseen and disregarded.
Yea, think I'll pass, thanks for watching that first ep for me!
On the pain thing... Medicine seems to take forever to evolve. Do they not think that many women (and people with a uterus) are in pain every month, so probably actually have a better understanding of pain, and how much pain they can personally tolerate, more than the average male? Oh, now that is a neat study idea, I wonder how a Med Student could research that?
Thank you so much for this important piece. I think it's really beautifully balanced, actually.
As you know, I wrote in the stuff article saying how I felt so vindicated, so *seen* as a junior doctor when watching this show. The hours, the bullying, the terror, the immense personal sacrifices. The losing of yourself, for a job. It's madness really. I feel tearful thinking about it, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a career choice. Clearly I'm immediately transported back to that deep burnout, for those feelings to be so visceral instantly. I've had so much engagement on instagram from people who can't comprehend that it's real the way junior doctors are treated, that it's dramatised for effect. It's not.
I think both you and I see our trauma depicted in this show. Except our trauma's are entirely different.
I am sorry I didn't use my stuff piece to explain the other half of my feelings. 150 words isn't enough to do both sides justice, but I could've done (a lot) better. Because the other half is that I don't identify with his dehumanisation of patients, and especially pregnant people, and it's horrifying. That it was written at a time when things were different - when it was socially acceptable to talk this way (anyone else cringe at old Friends episodes, but used to laugh along?). But mainly that its depiction of pregnant people as being a nuisance, as being vessels for birth, as being silly and incapable and not worthy of conversation was never ok, but is thankfully immensely different now (although not always, absolutely).
Thank you for writing this and putting this side of the story so beautifully into words!
I binged it on a plane recently, and really enjoyed it, though wasn't viewing it through this lens. Your review gave me pause. I can see where you are coming from, though I think I may just view it differently because of my different life experiences.
I profoudly enjoyed the book, and found it deeply moving. Honestly, it's phenomenal. It made me both laugh and cry, which is really saying something (I put it up there with Bluey "Sleepytime" and the final episode of "Get Krackin'", if that resonates with anyone!).
I watched the first episode while in hospital with my newborn, alone for the night undergoing treatment for jaundice, feeling pretty miserable. My only thought was that I hoped the other women in the ward weren't watching this...
"But if all the first episode does is cement stereotypes about women and pain," I don't often disagree with you but on this I strongly do. That isn't all the first episode did. Who is it for? People like me .The show and the book is about Adam Kay's experience of the NHS. Having limited experience of working in the NHS myself (and the more extensive experience of four vaginal deliveries) the characterisation of medics and parents is pretty accurate. The show is about the desperation behind the humour. And it's a harsh reality check for all of us who might call for tax cuts. Similar comments were made about Don't Look Up - it's not funny. Maybe it's not meant to be and that's the point.
Jun 22, 2022·edited Jun 22, 2022Liked by Emily Writes
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this, it was very insightful! I had a cord prolapse with my first baby. Our midwife saved our baby’s life. It was a life-changing event that could have ended in the worst, and it makes me feel super icky hearing it as the butt of a joke, let alone all the other experiences that people go through.
Jun 22, 2022·edited Jun 23, 2022Liked by Emily Writes
I had super high expectations of this one as I actually really loved the book (and the 'sequel'). Adam in the book (and I guess real life since it's a memoir) is much much less of a douchewhale IMO. Yes, it was a brutally honest look into the NHS and how horrid they treat their healthcare workers, which i think is a good thing. I try to see the TV series with that lens on, but I see what you mean about women being the joke in it.
It was interesting to see what Dr Morgan Edwards said about this show in her insta stories, basically it's a good look at a junior doctors life but shame it was in that setting with pregnant and birthing ppl. I haven't watched yet. I read the book years ago and really enjoyed it but I wonder if I looked back at it now would I feel differently? I appreciate your writing so much as you challenge me to think outside my experience and have a lot more empathy. I had pretty good birthing experiences in hospitals but even so had my moments of feeling helpless, powerless and invisible. That research you cited about the gender pain gap is just so infuriating.
Thank you! I had put this on my watch list as I saw a good review but hadn’t heard much else. I am 7 months pregnant so will now take it OFF the watch list permanently.
When I saw the trailer I automatically knew that I would not watch it (mostly due to birth trauma I avoid birth related content), but thanks for confirming it's as terrible and disrespectful as it looks. Such a missed opportunity to show the amazing midwives and doctors that push themselves so hard to deliver care. The real black comedy is how low we pay these highly skilled professionals and the dangerous conditions we expect them to deliver exceptional care within.
To be honest, with two not great vaginal birth and endometriosis, I get what you're saying. However I also used to be a health professional and I've seen this system from the inside.
It's the inability to have enough time to care that is evident in this series for me.
It's the utter exhaustion and responsibility without much help.
I absolutely get what you're saying, and I definitely wasn't happy with the forceps scene either but it is very very accurate for the NHS and our health system.
I don't watch a lot of TV so I had not heard of this show. Needless to say, having been on the receiving end of the bias, I don't think I'll be searching out this particular show to watch.
Bloody hell, its 2022. I experienced plenty of shitty stuff as a junior doctor back in 1977, but this sounds even worse. V unfunny. Revolting in fact, reinforcing dangerous stereotypes and behaviour.
I thought I’d share this I was sent anonymously from a doctor because I think she makes a really good point about the time period of the piece - “This is a great take. I’m a GP, and I loved the book, but I am hurt by the treatment of women played for laughs and the dehumanised nature of the patients in general. Thanks for writing. It is important to consider that it is a period piece - I hadn’t finished highschool when it is set, and I’ve been a doctor for 9 years now. Things are improving, more women are doctors, and people are better supported generally.”
Emily you’ve described this all so well. That’s exactly how I felt after watching the first episode. Thank you for articulating this.
The thing I found a bit weird is that I read his book, and have read other ones by him, and really enjoyed them, felt that Kay is a heartfelt person. I don’t know if something was lost in translation when making the tv show, or I somehow missed any dehumanisation in the first place.
One sensation I had after watching the first episode (I couldn’t face watching any more) was a familiar sense of being a killjoy and a nag, because the show got so many glowing reviews and I couldn’t understand it. I wanted to express my confusion and hurt but also felt I shouldn’t, because I must have it wrong; my reaction must be wrong. It makes me realise how much these ‘killjoy’ and ‘nag’ stereotypes must have their origin in women being supremely unheard, unseen and disregarded.
Yea, think I'll pass, thanks for watching that first ep for me!
On the pain thing... Medicine seems to take forever to evolve. Do they not think that many women (and people with a uterus) are in pain every month, so probably actually have a better understanding of pain, and how much pain they can personally tolerate, more than the average male? Oh, now that is a neat study idea, I wonder how a Med Student could research that?
Thank you so much for this important piece. I think it's really beautifully balanced, actually.
As you know, I wrote in the stuff article saying how I felt so vindicated, so *seen* as a junior doctor when watching this show. The hours, the bullying, the terror, the immense personal sacrifices. The losing of yourself, for a job. It's madness really. I feel tearful thinking about it, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a career choice. Clearly I'm immediately transported back to that deep burnout, for those feelings to be so visceral instantly. I've had so much engagement on instagram from people who can't comprehend that it's real the way junior doctors are treated, that it's dramatised for effect. It's not.
I think both you and I see our trauma depicted in this show. Except our trauma's are entirely different.
I am sorry I didn't use my stuff piece to explain the other half of my feelings. 150 words isn't enough to do both sides justice, but I could've done (a lot) better. Because the other half is that I don't identify with his dehumanisation of patients, and especially pregnant people, and it's horrifying. That it was written at a time when things were different - when it was socially acceptable to talk this way (anyone else cringe at old Friends episodes, but used to laugh along?). But mainly that its depiction of pregnant people as being a nuisance, as being vessels for birth, as being silly and incapable and not worthy of conversation was never ok, but is thankfully immensely different now (although not always, absolutely).
Thank you for writing this and putting this side of the story so beautifully into words!
I binged it on a plane recently, and really enjoyed it, though wasn't viewing it through this lens. Your review gave me pause. I can see where you are coming from, though I think I may just view it differently because of my different life experiences.
I profoudly enjoyed the book, and found it deeply moving. Honestly, it's phenomenal. It made me both laugh and cry, which is really saying something (I put it up there with Bluey "Sleepytime" and the final episode of "Get Krackin'", if that resonates with anyone!).
I watched the first episode while in hospital with my newborn, alone for the night undergoing treatment for jaundice, feeling pretty miserable. My only thought was that I hoped the other women in the ward weren't watching this...
"But if all the first episode does is cement stereotypes about women and pain," I don't often disagree with you but on this I strongly do. That isn't all the first episode did. Who is it for? People like me .The show and the book is about Adam Kay's experience of the NHS. Having limited experience of working in the NHS myself (and the more extensive experience of four vaginal deliveries) the characterisation of medics and parents is pretty accurate. The show is about the desperation behind the humour. And it's a harsh reality check for all of us who might call for tax cuts. Similar comments were made about Don't Look Up - it's not funny. Maybe it's not meant to be and that's the point.
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this, it was very insightful! I had a cord prolapse with my first baby. Our midwife saved our baby’s life. It was a life-changing event that could have ended in the worst, and it makes me feel super icky hearing it as the butt of a joke, let alone all the other experiences that people go through.
I had super high expectations of this one as I actually really loved the book (and the 'sequel'). Adam in the book (and I guess real life since it's a memoir) is much much less of a douchewhale IMO. Yes, it was a brutally honest look into the NHS and how horrid they treat their healthcare workers, which i think is a good thing. I try to see the TV series with that lens on, but I see what you mean about women being the joke in it.
It was interesting to see what Dr Morgan Edwards said about this show in her insta stories, basically it's a good look at a junior doctors life but shame it was in that setting with pregnant and birthing ppl. I haven't watched yet. I read the book years ago and really enjoyed it but I wonder if I looked back at it now would I feel differently? I appreciate your writing so much as you challenge me to think outside my experience and have a lot more empathy. I had pretty good birthing experiences in hospitals but even so had my moments of feeling helpless, powerless and invisible. That research you cited about the gender pain gap is just so infuriating.
Thank you! I had put this on my watch list as I saw a good review but hadn’t heard much else. I am 7 months pregnant so will now take it OFF the watch list permanently.
So painfully accurate 😔
When I saw the trailer I automatically knew that I would not watch it (mostly due to birth trauma I avoid birth related content), but thanks for confirming it's as terrible and disrespectful as it looks. Such a missed opportunity to show the amazing midwives and doctors that push themselves so hard to deliver care. The real black comedy is how low we pay these highly skilled professionals and the dangerous conditions we expect them to deliver exceptional care within.
To be honest, with two not great vaginal birth and endometriosis, I get what you're saying. However I also used to be a health professional and I've seen this system from the inside.
It's the inability to have enough time to care that is evident in this series for me.
It's the utter exhaustion and responsibility without much help.
I absolutely get what you're saying, and I definitely wasn't happy with the forceps scene either but it is very very accurate for the NHS and our health system.
I don't watch a lot of TV so I had not heard of this show. Needless to say, having been on the receiving end of the bias, I don't think I'll be searching out this particular show to watch.
Bloody hell, its 2022. I experienced plenty of shitty stuff as a junior doctor back in 1977, but this sounds even worse. V unfunny. Revolting in fact, reinforcing dangerous stereotypes and behaviour.