Gender Advocacy in Canadian Film and Television: Are Women Finally Breaking Through?

Abstract

Women remain seriously underrepresented in Canadian film and television, but there have been some promising advances over the past few years, building on decades of advocacy work by women in the industry. These positive developments are the result of many crucial factors coming together at the right time, in a climate conducive to change. The authors are activists and film and television professionals who have been involved with the industry for four decades, and in this chapter, they explore what these factors are, how they interconnect and what can be done to ensure they continue so gender equality in the Canadian industry will further develop and evolve. The authors focus on the role of public funding in the development of gender equality in Canadian film and television, the history of gender equality activism in the industry, the vital role of comprehensive gender participation data and analysis, the importance of building alliances between women’s groups and the larger industry, and the importance of working not just from the grassroots but also directly with government policymakers and regulatory bodies to achieve sustainable and systemic gender equality. We also examine the role of the overall political climate in creating change, and the significance of the international movements that support this change, such as the resurgence of the international feminist movement, #metoo and leadership and research on gender equality by women activists around the world.