Lights, Camera, Equality: TV’s Role in Social Change

Have you ever considered how your favourite TV show influences the way you see gender roles?

Kadie Philp sits down with Dr. Andrea Braithwaite, a senior teaching professor at Ontario Tech University, to explore how television has shaped—and been shaped by—women’s roles in society.

From the pioneering influence of I Love Lucy to the feminist power of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the cultural impact of Schitt’s Creek, they discuss how television has both reinforced and challenged gender norms.

They also examine how technological shifts—like the rise of streaming services—have changed the way stories about women are told, and how Canadian TV plays a unique role in pushing the conversation forward.

Plus, they tackle the ongoing fight for pay equity in Hollywood and the power of storytelling in driving real-world social change.

Listen For:
5:06 How the ’60s and ’70s saw women taking on new roles on screen
14:21 Golden Girls – the show that tackled feminism, aging, and sexuality head-on
18:06 Shonda Rhimes & Normalizing Diversity
34:11 The ongoing struggle for fair wages for women in Hollywood

GUEST: Andrea Braithwaite, Ph.D
Bluesky | Website | Email | Canadian Game Studies Association

Links Mentioned:
GDC 2024 State of the Game Industry Report | ESA 2024 Essential Facts About the US Video Game Industry Report | ESA Canada Reports

Ontario Pay Equity Office
Website | Level the Paying Field Website