Ageism In Movies

From the start of filming industry to present day, Ageism, or known as age inequality, has been roaming around. Women especially were discriminated more than men in the film industry. Out of the 127 nominees for the 2015 Oscars, only 25 were female (Walker). The rate of age inequality is still increasing, it's time to step up. "Ageism is prevalent in our industry and it's like a silent killer, like cancer, and it gets worse every year."(Richman).
Women over 30s or 40s are usually the target of age discrimination. (Walker). When Zoe Saldana was thirty-six, she was rejected by the director for being "too old". (Bertodano) . According to an interview of Zoe Saldana, “By the time you’re 28 you’re expired, you’re playing mommy roles.” (Saldana). Age inequality was significantly shown in many romance movies. The gap of age differences was immense. Aging stars are still being paired with actresses who could be their daughter, in films from "Pretty Woman" to "The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. (The Wrap).
Age inequality and gender inequality are linked together in the film industry. The woman on screen tends to be younger than the man. Men over 40 accounted for 53% of characters
whereas women that age represented 30%. (Lang). The older actress's role on screen tends to be beyond their age. According to an interview of Oscar winner Meryl Streep, she was offered the role of a "witch" three times as soon she hits forty. Aging women are pressured on. Woman are 70% more likely to experience depression than man.
Actor/Actress are pressured on the "look" in the film industry.
In Hollywood, the subject of women, age, and cosmetic surgery continue to be highly sensitive. (Rasche 4). "If an actress wants to continue to work, her efforts to look young as she ages are best kept to herself."(Rasche 5). According to plastic surgeon Dr. Renato Calabria, a surgeon who performed cosmetic surgery most of the Hollywood actors/actresses, 40% of actors have performed plastic surgery. The percent increases as the age increases. According to plastic surgeon Dr. Renato Calabria, close to 100 percent of actors have performed cosmetic surgery, facelifts being almost required at that age. (Calabria). About half of actors who's age is around 30s use fillers, and among actors over 40, it's closer to 95 percent.
(Gornstein).
Freedom and equality are the principles that are highly valued in the American Society. Discrimination violates these principles. Actors in the filming industry are pressurized against ageism and has not got any better. Aging actors are constantly worrying about their career and performing surgery and causes "unnatural" appearances. Aging actors are taunted with the walls of judgments and discrimination.