: Older women are frequently relegated to supporting roles as "mothers" or "grandmothers," often lacking their own careers or romantic lives. Common Stereotypes
: Older women are often depicted through a lens of physical or mental frailty, such as in "dementia storylines" that can reinforce passivity. : Older women are frequently relegated to supporting
: Some genres, particularly fantasy, rely on the "witch-queen" trope, which can rearticulate ageist backlashes. Representations of mature women in entertainment and cinema
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 Emerging Positive Shifts Older Women and Cinema: Audiences,
: 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
: 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.
: Older characters are nearly twice as likely to be portrayed as villains (59%) than as heroes (30%) in popular films.