Geena Davis Institute Study Reveals Film Industry's Failure to Represent Women Over 40, Including Menopause and Aging (EXCLUSIVE)

The Geena Davis Institute has released a new study examining how women over 40, including their experiences with menopause and aging, are represented in the 100 highest-grossing domestic films from 2009 to 2024. The study, titled "Missing in Action: Writing a New Narrative for Women in Midlife on the Big Screen", reveals a striking underrepresentation of menopause in major films.

Among the 225 films featuring prominent 40-plus female characters during this period, only 6% (14 films) referenced menopause, mostly in passing. Just a single film explored menopause as a central storyline. When menopause appeared, it was often used as a comedic trope, depicting womens anger or mood swings as humorous, and sometimes even attributing anger in non-menopausal characters to menopause.

The research also identified that women over 40 were appearing less frequently in comedies, suggesting a correlation between menopause portrayals and comedic content. General narratives around aging were more common, yet male and female characters experienced aging differently on screen. Women over 40 were twice as likely as men to have storylines emphasizing physical aging (15% vs. 7%). Cosmetic treatments depicted in films were predominantly for women, often involving surgery or extreme procedures, while male characters treatments were minor.

The study further highlighted the "sad widow" trope. Out of the 225 films analyzed, 19 featured widowed women portrayed as grieving or lonely, compared to only 8 films with widowed men, indicating that aging women are more frequently framed through loss.

Survey responses indicate strong audience interest in realistic portrayals of menopause, with 67% agreeing on its importance, including 72% of men and 63% of women. Experts suggest that the lack of older women in leading or romantic roles reinforces negative stereotypes about aging, sexuality, and societal value.

Geena Davis Institute CEO Madeline Di Nonno emphasized the need for nuanced portrayals of older women, stating that womanhood extends beyond reproduction and that menopause should not be portrayed as an endpoint of value. She urged filmmakers to depict older women as multidimensional characters, highlighting humor alongside authenticity rather than ridicule.

Actress Constance Zimmer also spoke about the scarcity of accurate menopause storylines, noting that comedic portrayals often miss the complexity of womens experiences. Dominique Debroux, producer of the documentary "Wise Women", echoed these findings, calling for greater investment in stories reflecting the full range of older womens lives, identities, and contributions, pointing out the significant audience of women over 50 in North America.

The report will be formally presented at the Impact+Profit25 conference hosted by the SIE Society and Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Author: Natalie Monroe