Mature women in cinema face what researchers call "double jeopardy"—the intersection of systemic sexism and ageism. Older Women and Cinema: Audiences, Stories, and Stars
The following is an overview based on contemporary research regarding the representation and career trajectories of mature women in the entertainment industry.
: Older female characters are frequently reduced to tropes such as the "shrew," the "passive victim," or the "cronish witch-queen". They are four times more likely than men to be portrayed as "senile" or physically feeble.
: Women over 50 make up only about 25% of characters in that age bracket, compared to 75-80% for men.