Cinema has long maintained a stark gender disparity regarding age. Studies from the Geena Davis Institute indicate that female characters aged 50+ make up only of characters in that age bracket, significantly fewer than their male counterparts.
When mature women are depicted, they often fall into two harmful categories: milf tanned legs
A trope rooted in myths (witches, evil stepmothers) that is only recently being subverted by the female gaze. The Shift: Power and Production Cinema has long maintained a stark gender disparity
Portrayals where an older woman’s value is only reclaimed through a romantic affair that mirrors youthful attributes. The Shift: Power and Production Portrayals where an
Characters defined by degenerative disabilities or being a "burden" to their family.
Despite these barriers, 2021 and 2022 marked a significant "ripple" of change as mature women swept major awards. Writing the Older Woman: Stereotypes and Tropes.