Acknowledging Ageism: Gender- Based Inequalities In Film | By: Hannah Homer |

Shifting the Narrative

With the film industry making progress towards greater representation, filmmakers hold a crucial role in shaping deeply-rooted societal perspectives that have been perpetrated for centuries. By providing more accurate and nuanced portrayals of older women and affording greater representation of diverse roles and experiences, modern films are challenging long-held stereotypes and redefining society’s view of aging. 

Nuanced vs One-Dimensional Tropes 

As a long-standing practice, classic films focusing on older women within a central role often fall into a few distinct categories: the authoritarian, the recluse, the mother, or the villain. What these categories have in common is that they all display a one-dimensional image intended only to superficially support a storyline, and it is one that often minimizes the abundant and complex lives of older women. 

Even classic films that aim to show the negative effects ageism has on their characters often portray the older women as someone to be pitied rather than celebrated, justifying her fears and sometimes perpetuating the same ageist stereotypes they are fighting against. Even worse than this is the classic horror movie trope to display their bodies in an act of sensationalism, intended as a means of inducing shock or terror. These portrayals only further reinforce ageist predjudges that are perpetrated against women, and can contribute to an inaccurate and harmful representation of older women both in film and in reality. 

In recent years, modern films have been working to challenge these discriminatory stereotypes through depicting complex characters that present older women as multifaceted and unique human beings that stretch far beyond outdated stereotypes. Through these portrayals, they defy the notion that only men can be afforded interesting and complex lives. Instead, they are beginning to break gendered inequalities, challenging the misrepresentations of older women and providing more authentic and rich representations of women in the media. 

Increasing Representation of Older Women in Film 

For decades, it has been customary for younger women to dominate the film industry, with opportunities typically diminishing for actresses as they age while the opposite may be true for male actors. However, modern films have begun to transition towards an era of greater representation for older women, especially in reference to displaying more positive portrayals in recent years. 

Through this representation, the film industry is shifting the cultural landscape and normalizing the utilization of older women in more substantial roles. This shift has led to more prominent and varied depictions with which a wide range of viewers can identify with, broadening the scope of the many possibilities that older women can have. It is also becoming more prominent to showcase alternative forms of beauty that do not center around youth or outdated beauty standards. This inclusivity not only can foster greater self-esteem and introspective recognition in older women, but it can also show younger generations that aging can be celebrated rather than feared. 

The New Era of Film Challenging Ageist Practices 

Through challenging outdated practices of female characters in cinema, modern films are reshaping the narrative around women on screen and in real life. By addressing gender prejudice and offering more authentic representations of older women, it works to serve both younger and older generations. Most importantly, film is beginning to hold a space to celebrate aging as a right and a privilege for both men and women--because otherwise, what future would we be moving towards?