Representations of mature women in entertainment and cinema often face a "double jeopardy" of . While recent years have shown progress, older women remain significantly underrepresented compared to their male counterparts. Representation Trends
: Women over 50 make up less than 25% of all characters in major films and TV shows.
: This term describes the age discrimination that causes many actresses to fade from the screen after age 35, often only returning in lead roles between ages 65 and 74. Representations of mature women in entertainment and cinema
: Older women are often depicted through a lens of physical or mental frailty, such as in "dementia storylines" that can reinforce passivity.
: Male characters over 50 outnumber females by a vast margin: 80% to 20% in films and 75% to 25% in broadcast TV. : This term describes the age discrimination that
: Older women are much less likely to have romantic storylines than younger characters or older men. Emerging Positive Shifts Older Women and Cinema: Audiences, Stories, and Stars
: Older characters are nearly twice as likely to be portrayed as villains (59%) than as heroes (30%) in popular films. : Older women are much less likely to
: Older women are frequently relegated to supporting roles as "mothers" or "grandmothers," often lacking their own careers or romantic lives. Common Stereotypes