Aging & Social Change: Fourteenth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Social beliefs are reflected in media portrayals of older adults, and this in turn, intersects with the presentation of gender. This study examines ageism when an older person is the main character, a novel approach to studying ageism in cinema, during a twenty-year time frame. Films were identified by employing Google searches of “films with an older adult(s) as the main character” and list was compiled. Searches continued until saturation was achieved, and then each film was examined to determine if it met inclusion criteria. Forty-six characters were analyzed from 28 US and UK films utilizing an author-created screening tool based on five ageism scales. Analysis reveals that ageist content remained about the same and was moderate across this timeframe. Results also indicate that positive stereotypes were found more often, particularly for female leads, while male leads more often embodied negative depictions. This suggests some shift from the stereotype of an older woman who is warm and positive with others. Nonetheless, if prevailing narratives - however benign or malevolent – are not consistently challenged, wider society will be resistant to change, too. As many countries experience an aging of the population, pressure from the “silver economy” may challenge ageist presentations in film, including the double standard of aging, and create a shift in representation. Given that we all likely want to be a part of this demographic, greater social pressure for content that presents a balanced and more nuanced picture of older adulthood will be needed.