There are signs of progress, particularly in television and independent cinema:
: Portrayals frequently emphasize physical frailty, senility, or being "homebound". Older women are four times more likely to be portrayed as senile than older men. milf and pizza boy
: Modern viewers are increasingly demanding "richer, more realistic portrayals" of women navigating midlife with agency and ambition. There are signs of progress, particularly in television
: High-profile wins by actresses like Jean Smart (70), Frances McDormand (64), and Youn Yuh-jung (74) in 2021 signaled a shift toward valuing complex performances from older women. : High-profile wins by actresses like Jean Smart
When mature women are cast, their roles often fall into narrow, recurring archetypes identified by researchers at the Geena Davis Institute :
: In a study of top-grossing films from 2019, 0% of leads aged 50+ were female, compared to several male leads in the same age group. 2. Prevalent Stereotypes and Themes
: Most older female characters are portrayed as white, middle-class, able-bodied, and heterosexual; ethnic and sexual minorities in this age group are nearly invisible. 3. Emerging Opportunities and Shifts