Despite a perceived "silver tsunami" of older talent, the actual numbers show a significant gender gap as actors age:
: Portrayals frequently emphasize physical frailty, senility, or being "homebound". Older women are four times more likely to be portrayed as senile than older men.
When mature women are cast, their roles often fall into narrow, recurring archetypes identified by researchers at the Geena Davis Institute :
Advocacy groups and researchers suggest several interventions to improve the "Ageless Test" pass rate—currently only features a non-stereotyped, essential female character over 50: Beyond the Stereotypes: The Reality of Aging Women in Films