On broadcast and streaming, female characters drop from 46% of speaking roles in their 30s to just 15% in their 40s.
Only 6% of films featuring women over 40 mention menopause. When it is mentioned, it is usually portrayed as a joke or linked to "meno-rage" tropes rather than a realistic life stage. milf mature lingerie
Women aged 60 and older are almost entirely erased, making up only 2% of major female characters in top-grossing 2025 films, compared to 8% for men in the same age bracket. On broadcast and streaming, female characters drop from
Writing a new narrative for women in midlife on the big screen Women aged 60 and older are almost entirely
New 2025 research from the Geena Davis Institute highlights how Hollywood handles midlife:
Female representation in film and television hits a significant drop-off precisely as actors enter their 40s.
Only 1 in 4 films passes this test, which requires a female character over 50 who is essential to the plot and not reduced to ageist stereotypes. 📈 Economic Power vs. Media Inclusion