: Focusing on Hollywood romantic comedies from 2000 to 2021, this paper identifies that while the number of older female characters has risen, their diversity remains poor. Most are white, middle-class, and able-bodied, with frequent use of tropes like the "Golden Ager" or "The Shrew".
: This work positions itself at the intersection of gender and popular culture, specifically analyzing how mature femininity is portrayed in Anglophone cinema and television through the lens of "ageing femininities". Notable Trends Identified milfs wants boys
Several recent papers and research reports offer a detailed look into the representation of mature women in entertainment, highlighting a persistent "invisible" barrier as female characters age. Key Research & Papers : Focusing on Hollywood romantic comedies from 2000
: This comprehensive analysis of films and TV from 2010 to 2020 found that only one in four characters aged 50+ are women. The study highlights that older women are often depicted in negative roles, such as villains, and are far less likely to have romantic storylines compared to their male counterparts. Notable Trends Identified Several recent papers and research