Historically, women over 40 have faced a sharp decline in visibility compared to their male counterparts.

: Only one in four films features a female character over 50 who is essential to the plot and not reduced to a stereotype.

: Older women are frequently relegated to roles depicting them as senile, feeble, or "cronish". They are four times more likely than men to be portrayed as senile on screen.

: Women comprise only about 25% of characters over age 40 in film.

: Cultural narratives often strip aging women of agency and desire, treating their bodies with "reverent disdain" or ridicule. The "Silvering Screen" Shift

Recent years have seen a "ripple of change" as mature actresses sweep major awards and lead high-profile projects. Beyond the Stereotypes: The Reality of Aging Women in Films