: Mature women are frequently relegated to the background as "scenery" in younger characters' stories or cast in stereotypical roles like the "sad widow" or the "senile/feeble" grandmother.
: Older men are frequently cast as romantic leads with much younger costars, while older women rarely have romantic storylines. Emerging Trends and Positive Examples 2023-Curvy Milf Busty Alza with her big natural...
A major decade-long review (2010–2020) by the Geena Davis Institute found that characters aged 50+ make up less than a quarter of all personas in blockbuster films and top-rated TV. Within that group, men significantly outnumber women: : 80% of 50+ characters are male. Broadcast TV : 75% are male. Streaming : 66% are male. Key Narrative Challenges : Mature women are frequently relegated to the
: Real-life milestones like menopause are almost nonexistent on screen; a 2025 study found that out of 225 films featuring women over 40, only 6% mentioned it at all—and usually as a punchline. Within that group, men significantly outnumber women: :
: Only 1 in 4 films passes this test, which requires a female character over 50 who is essential to the plot and portrayed without ageist tropes.