Level the Paying Field

Reel Justice: How Women in Films Fought Back

Can a movie change the world—or at least your workplace?   Kadie Philp dives into the legacy of the “9 to 5” movement and how Hollywood films have shaped, reflected, and sometimes challenged gender roles in the workforce.   From office revolutions in the 1970s to Barbie’s 2023 existential crisis, Kadie explores how female characters—whether breaking glass ceilings or stuck under them—have fought for dignity, equity, and representation.     Listen For: 0:55 Birth of the 9 to 5 Movement  5:19 Working Girl and the One-Woman-Only Ladder 7:31 Lara Croft and the Rise of the Female Action Hero 10:33 Beyond Elle Woods: Telling Stories of Women of Colour 13:08 The Money Gap: Who’s Really Getting Paid? 14:14 Cultivation Theory: Why Representation Shapes Reality 15:16 Barbie Breaks the System     Ontario Pay Equity Office Website [https://payequity.gov.on.ca/home-2022/] | Level the Paying Field Website [https://levelthepayingfield.ca/]

Beyond the Gallery Wall: Advocating for Gender Equity in the Arts

When you walk into an art gallery, whose stories are being told—and whose are left out?   Kadie Philp sits down with artist and mother Alexa Mazzarello to explore the persistent gender disparities in the art world, from pay inequity to the underrepresentation of female artists in major collections and leadership roles.   They discuss the long legacy of feminist artists challenging the status quo, the unique struggles of mother artists, and how collectives like the 44.4 Mother Artist Collective are pushing for change.   Alexa also shares her personal experience navigating the art world as a mother and how her project Failure to Progress sheds light on gendered biases in healthcare.   This conversation is a powerful reminder of why representation in art matters—and what’s at stake when women’s voices are left out of the picture.     Listen For: 1:30 The difficulty of quantifying underrepresentation in the art world 4:59 Making History, Not Just Art 9:56 How the 44.4 Mother Artist Collective empowers women artists 26:03 Family-Friendly Art Spaces – The Mothra Residency     GUEST: Alexa Mazzarello Website [https://www.alexamazzarello.com/] | Alexa Mazzarello Studio [https://www.alexamazzarello.studio/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alexamazzarello/?hl=en] | Studio Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alexamazzarellostudio/?hl=en]   Ontario Pay Equity Office Website [https://payequity.gov.on.ca/home-2022/] | Level the Paying Field Website [https://levelthepayingfield.ca/]

Level Up: Women’s Role in the Gaming Industry

When you picture a gamer, who comes to mind? If a woman wasn’t your first thought, it’s time to rethink the stereotype.   Women now make up nearly half of all gamers in Canada, and their growing presence is reshaping the industry—not just as players, but as developers, designers, and decision-makers.   Kadie Philp talks with Dr. Andrea Braithwaite, senior teaching professor at Ontario Tech University and Vice President of the Canadian Game Studies Association, to explore the evolution of female representation in video games, the barriers women still face in the industry, and what needs to change for true gender equity.   From the early Girls’ Games Movement of the ‘90s to today’s fight for fair pay and leadership roles, they discuss how gaming has progressed—and where it still has a long way to go.   Listen For: 10:59 Women in Game Development: Still a Boys' Club? 20:28 Women Are Playing—So Why Don’t We See Them? 26:44 Gender Discrimination Lawsuits: Did They Change Anything? 31:22 Pay Transparency in Gaming     GUEST: Andrea Braithwaite, Ph.D Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ahbraithwaite.bsky.social] | Website [https://andreabraithwaite.ca/] | Email | Canadian Game Studies Association [https://gamestudies.ca/]     Links Mentioned: GDC 2024 State of the Game Industry Report [https://reg.gdconf.com/state-of-game-industry-2024?_mc=edit_gdcsf_gdcsf_le_x_17_x_2024&kcode=BLG_GDC]  ESA 2024 Essential Facts About the US Video Game Industry Report [https://www.theesa.com/resources/essential-facts-about-the-us-video-game-industry/2024-data/] ESA Canada Reports [https://theesa.ca/news/]     Ontario Pay Equity Office Website [https://payequity.gov.on.ca/home-2022/] | Level the Paying Field Website [https://levelthepayingfield.ca/]

Breaking Barriers: Haley Daniels on Gender Equity in Sports

What does it take to break barriers in sports?   Kadie Philp is joined by Olympian and trailblazer Haley Daniels to share her fight for gender equity in women's canoeing—both in getting it recognized as an Olympic sport and in securing equal funding and representation.   From facing blatant discrimination to proving that women’s sports are just as marketable and competitive, Haley's journey is a reflection of how equity in sports mirrors broader societal struggles and why true change requires everyone’s support.     They unpack the systemic challenges female athletes still face today, including the persistent gender pay gap, lack of sponsorship, and media biases.   Haley also highlights the progress being made—like the rise of sold-out women’s sporting events and increased allyship from male athletes.     Listen For: 5:05 The financial fight: Funding disparities in women’s sports 10:03 The media bias: How female athletes are still judged on appearance 14:14 The gender divide: Why sports are uniquely difficult to equalize 18:50 The professional gap: Why female athletes shouldn’t have to work two jobs   GUEST: Haley Daniels Website [https://www.haleydaniels.ca/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/haley.h.daniels] | X [https://x.com/HaleyDanski] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleydaniels/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/haleydanski]     Ontario Pay Equity Office Website [https://payequity.gov.on.ca/home-2022/] | Level the Paying Field Website [https://levelthepayingfield.ca/]

Punk, Pop, and Pay Gaps: Gender in the Music Industry

Music has always been more than just entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for protest, a megaphone for the unheard, and a force for social change.   Kadie Philp sits down with Dr. Norma Coates, associate professor at Western University, to explore the intersection of music, gender, and activism.   From the defiant blues singers of the 1920s to modern icons like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, they discuss how women in music have consistently challenged injustice, reshaped cultural narratives, and fought for economic and social equality.     Listen For: 10:24 Women in Punk: Screaming Against the Status Quo 19:47 MTV, Madonna, and the Sexualization of Female Artists 28:27 The Spice Girls, Britney Spears, and “Girl Power” in the 2000s 37:35 Race, Gender, and the Music Industry’s Ongoing Gaps     GUEST: Norma Coates, Ph.D LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/norma-coates-82568851/]   Ontario Pay Equity Office Website [https://payequity.gov.on.ca/home-2022/] | Level the Paying Field Website [https://levelthepayingfield.ca/]