: Female characters begin to disappear in substantial numbers after age 40; major roles drop from roughly 42% in their 30s to just 15% in their 40s on broadcast programs.
The industry often leans on a "narrative of decline," portraying older women in limited, often negative, ways. Older Women and Cinema: Audiences, Stories, and Stars
: While women over 50 make up approximately 20% of the population, they are portrayed on television only about 8% of the time.