After undertaking an extensive review of industry statistics from unions and representing workers in front and behind the camera, the first CUES report found that women are highly under-represented at nearly all levels of production in Canada's film and television industry.
Three years later, with the numbers remaining stagnant, a follow-up report dealt with the statistic to determine why this inequity might happen. This second study found that the key to understanding the issue of gender inequality is the analysis, not just of discrimination against women, but of systemic advantage for men. Within the Canadian film and television industry this means that women have to work harder and perform at a consistently higher standard.
For example, a project's financial risk assessment is not gender neutral even though there was no evidence to support gender discrimination as a useful risk management tool in film and TV production. Stereotypes prevail. Male directors are seen as visionary and creative and female directors as demanding and difficult. A rigid hierarchical work model still drives the operations of independent film and television production in Canada.