Sociologist Susan Sontag famously termed this the "double standard of aging," noting that while men were viewed as gaining character and wisdom as they aged, women were viewed as simply losing their youth and, by extension, their social capital. 🔄 2. Catalysts for Change in the 21st Century

While white actresses have seen a surge in complex roles, women of color, LGBTQ+ women, and disabled women over 50 still face severe underrepresentation and stereotyping.

Frustrated by the lack of complex roles, prominent actresses took matters into their own hands. By forming their own production companies, they greenlit projects centered on complex, mature female protagonists.