Characters over 40 are twice as likely as their male counterparts to have storylines centered on physical aging or the "sad widow" trope.
After years of steady progress, 2025 saw a "backsliding" in gender-balanced hiring:
A 2025 study revealed that while millions of women navigate midlife, menopause was mentioned in only 6% of films featuring a female lead over 40. 2. Industry Regression (2025–2026)
Recent findings from the and the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report highlight a stark contrast between high-profile wins and general industry trends:
Characters over 40 are twice as likely as their male counterparts to have storylines centered on physical aging or the "sad widow" trope.
After years of steady progress, 2025 saw a "backsliding" in gender-balanced hiring:
A 2025 study revealed that while millions of women navigate midlife, menopause was mentioned in only 6% of films featuring a female lead over 40. 2. Industry Regression (2025–2026)
Recent findings from the and the UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report highlight a stark contrast between high-profile wins and general industry trends: