The Geena Davis Institute has unveiled a new study showing how menopause and aging are portrayed in the 100 top-grossing domestic films from 2009 to 2024 that prominently feature women ages 40 and older on screen.
Key findings in the study called, “Missing in action: Writing a new narrative for women in midlife on the big screen,” showed how menopause is nearly invisible: Of the 225 films prominently featuring a 40-plus female character released between 2009 and 2024, only 6% (or 14 films) mentioned menopause. These mentions were usually side comments. Only one film featured a prominent menopause storyline.
Furthermore, menopause was often used as a comedic device. When featured, it was used as a joke to explain women’s anger or mood swings, and even non-menopausal characters were assumed to be menopausal when they expressed anger.
The study also revealed that 40-plus female characters were appearing in fewer comedies, pointing to a strong link between menopause mentions and comedy.
The findings showed how general aging narratives were more frequent. Yet the narratives between men and women aging were vastly different. Women ages 40 and older on screen were twice as likely as men to have a narrative focused on physical aging (15% vs. 7%). Overall, 23 characters shown engaging in cosmetic treatments, 17 (74%) were women. Male characters’ treatments were minor (i.e., dye for graying hair, nose trimming, botox), while women’s treatments often involved surgery or fantastical interventions to restore youth (i.e., vaginal rejuvenation, brow lifts, liposuction).
Another finding showed the sad widow trope and how Hollywood narratives centered on grief and loneliness. In the 225 films that were analyzed, 19 featured “sad widows,” compared with eight featuring “sad widowers,” suggesting aging is more often framed as a story of loss for women than for men.
Findings showed there was a desire for better representation. Overall, 2 in 3 respondents (67%) agree on the importance of realistic portrayals of menopause on screen (72% men, 63% women). This signals a broad audience appetite for menopause stories that move beyond jokes or silence.
The report concluded that the absence of women over 50 in Hollywood, especially as romantic leads, likely reinforces negative stereotypes about women, aging and sexuality.
The study found that audiences across age, gender, and race want more realistic portrayals of menopause.
Madeline Di Nonno, President & CEO of the Geena Davis Institute said Hollywoood needs to do better. In a statement, Di Nonno said, “Womanhood is more than reproduction. One of the more damaging narratives about menopause is that it ‘feels like the finish line for women, whose value in society is being reduced to motherhood.’”
She went on to say, “Avoid characterizations of menopause that conflate womanhood with fertility, and work to provide a more nuanced and less reductive portrayal of womanhood that treats older women as multidimensional, fully fleshed-out characters. Laugh with menopausal women, not at them.”
The report will be unveiled at the Impact+Profit25 conference hosted by the SIE Society and Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs on Friday afternoon.
Actress Constance Zimmer, a panelist on at the conference commented on how menopause storylines almost never appear unless they’re comedic — and even then, they’re often inaccurate or dismissive. Zimmer called for Hollywood storytellers to be more authentic to female storytelling. In a statement, she said, ‘If we take my beloved character Quinn King for example, an unapologetic, revenge driven, crisis loving bad bitch who was clearly and silently going through perimenopause – i now know – having gone through it myself – that we missed so many layers to her story line. She wasn’t simply filled with rage – she was witnessing her entire life shift from the inside out. Menopause is not the side character – she is the leading lady.”
Dominique Debroux, producer of the documentary, “Wise Women” said, “The Geena Davis Institute’s data exposes these gaps, and the ‘Wise Women’ documentary adds the science showing that women’s contributions have always been far broader, strategic, communal, and essential to our successful evolution.” She went on to say, “The real barrier now is investment. There is no shortage of powerful stories about women’s identity, purpose, and wisdom. What’s missing is the willingness to finance them, somehow overlooking the size of the audience (70 million 50+ women just in the US & Canada). Hollywood needs to support stories that reflect women’s true range, not just their appearance.”
The study will be published here.
“I own a pack of these Hanes, and they’re the undies I reach for when I’m in need of full coverage,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “They’re not the cutest underwear I own, but when I’m feeling particularly bleh, they’re high-waist, soft, and just what I want on my body. They’re the only ones I own that are made of pure 100% cotton—nothing else, and they’re so cheap that I keep a stack of them around.”
Schwartz and Glamour senior editor Jessica Radloff own them too. “I have really sensitive skin, and these cotton briefs are not just super comfortable, but they also don’t irritate the way other materials often do,” says Radloff. Schwartz notes that the band is quite thick, though, so if you prefer a pair that you can forget you’re wearing, this might not be the set for you. On the plus side, “they don’t shift around much while I sleep, and because of the high band, I do feel like I’m wearing tummy-control underwear,” she says. Plus, they’re made of organic cotton, which is free of dyes and chemicals that irritate the skin.
Christmas is coming up fast, and it can be hard to come up with unique and personal gifts for all of the people in our lives. To take some of the pressure off, we’ll give you a few good gift ideas for women that are elegant and won’t cost every penny you have.
Elegant gifts can often be associated with hefty price tags, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Especially when you are trying to come up with gift ideas for women, so many of the good options in terms of perfumes, accessories and experiences can have steep price tags. But if you shop smart, you can still treat the important women in your life to finery and elegance, but without needing to sell any organs to do it. While most people can be satisfied just that you are thinking of them and have put thought into a gift, thinking of elegant gift ideas for women, and going that extra mile can be worth it.
With Christmas right around the corner, let’s have a closer look at some elegant yet affordable gift ideas for women. These ideas won’t break the bank, but they will make the women in your life feel seen and special, which they deserve.
Things that smell nice are lovely gifts to receive, and perfume is one of the classic gift ideas for women that can rarely backfire or go badly. The only problem is, all of the high-end fragrances can get ridiculously expensive, and you don’t want to get something tawdry and cheap. Thankfully, in the modern perfume scene, there are very convincing dupes that do a reasonable job of emulating the scents of well-known, exquisite brands. For example, finding a dupe perfume for Baccarat 540 is as easy as clicking on the right link or typing the right phrase into Google.
Perfume dupes take an expensive perfume as inspiration and try to riff on the same notes and scents that it contains. They then give a reasonable approximation of that style, for a price that is several orders of magnitude lower. This is a great gift, because you can even pick up a couple of contrasting or complementary dupes and gift them over a year of special occasions. Having a range of elegant scents to choose from will make any woman feel like a queen, as she should.
A simple truth that resounds through many aspects of life is: Less is more. This can certainly be true of jewelry. Simple, minimalist pieces can draw the eye and look truly elegant and refined without making a huge fuss about it. If you know the right metals to match their skin tone, jewelry is another one of the classic gift ideas for women that can rarely go wrong.
Focusing on simplicity and minimalism should mean that you won’t need to be the lost scion of a branch of European royalty to afford something nice. Some classic options can include things like:
With simple and elegant jewelry pieces, many outfits can be improved with a simple touch of subtlety.
Instead of opting for silk, satin and imitation silks can give a very similar, almost identical, feeling while costing nowhere near the same price. Incorporating some of these elegant accessories into a list of gift ideas for women could provide a nice range of options for you to pick from. Things such as the following are items any woman is likely to appreciate as a gift:
Any of these items in silk is likely to be exorbitantly expensive, but satin or other silk-like options can be just as nice. These items can make great gifts because they have a touch of practicality about them as well. If you want the women in your life to think of you every time they use a scarf to keep warm or a sleep mask to have a nice nap, these are great gifts.
Nothing can help someone unwind so much as being pampered and treated at a spa, but you don’t need to gift an actual spa day; giving them a range of self-care items can be just as appreciated. Giving them a combination of any of the following gifts will allow them to treat themselves to some self-care:
There is a huge range of stores that provide all these sorts of items, so if you are looking for gift ideas for women, those stores can be an easy one-stop shop to pick up everything you need to give them a spa day in a box.
Hopefully, there are some good gift ideas for women in this article that you can make use of to stop the holiday season from being overwhelming. As we said earlier, the key component to any gift that will make anyone happy is that you have spent time and effort thinking about them.
All of these gift ideas will work much better if they are tailored to whoever you are giving them to. Knowing the right metals to match their skin tone, knowing their favorite scents for perfume or scented candles and soaps, these are the details that say to the women in your life that you pay attention to them and that you care, and they are what will make these gifts stand out and be remembered.
Actor R Madhavan recently recalled that a few years ago, when Indian men travelled abroad, white women would often be cautious around them, assuming they were trying to flirt. He added that this perception has completely changed now.
Madhavan spoke about how the perception of male characters on screen has evolved during his appearance on BookMyShow’s Unscripted show on YouTube. He was joined by his De De Pyaar De 2 co-stars Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh and Meezan Jafri for the candid conversation.
Madhavan recalled that a few years ago, when Indian men travelled abroad, gori ladkiyan (white women) would often be cautious around them, assuming they wanted to flirt with. He added that this perception has completely changed now. In fact, he joked that white women today are more likely to approach Indian men, believing they’re entrepreneurs.
“Sari gori ladkiyan aise dekhti thi jaise unko line marne aaye hain (When we used to go abroad and go to a bar, all the white women would look at us like we were there to hit on them). Now, it is such that when an Indian enters a space, four white women walk towards us thinking we are some entrepreneur and they want to say hello. I have not seen that Indian in the movies yet,” he said, adding that he wants to see this version of Indian men in the movies.
Speaking about his desire to collaborate with new directors, Madhavan said that with years of experience behind him, he now wants to blend his learnings with a filmmaker’s fresh and refined storytelling approach. “The thing that is getting in my way right now is the filmyness of the industry in terms of the way they think. They all are making stories to please their mentors,” he said.
Madhavan will soon be seen in Anshul Sharma’s De De Pyaar De 2, the sequel to Akiv Ali’s 2019 film De De Pyaar De. The sequel also stars Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, Gautami Kapoor, and Meezaan Jafri. The sequel appears to pick up where the first film left off. De De Pyaar De 2 is produced by T-Series Films and Luv Films. It will be released in theatres on 14 November.
He will also be seen in Dhurandhar. Some days back, Ranveer Singh unveiled the first poster featuring actor R Madhavan from Dhurandhar. Taking to Instagram, Ranveer shared the poster and called Madhavan’s character “Charioteer of Karma.” Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar also stars Ranveer, Arjun, Akshaye Khanna, and Sanjay Dutt. The movie is jointly produced by Aditya Dhar, Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar. Dhurandhar is slated to release in cinemas on December 5, 2025, followed by a premiere on Netflix.
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Skims announced the completion of a $225 million capital raise, valuing the company at $5 billion. The financing round was led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives with participation from BDT & MSD Partners’ affiliated …
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Like all relationships, some end horribly, others are over as quickly as they began and some manage to go the distance, like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Ahead, Refinery29 spoke to five women about their own cuffing season relationships — how they went, how they ended (or didn’t), and how they felt about it.
Actress Saiyami Kher – who made her Bollywood debuted opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s 2016 romantic fantasy Mirzya, is currently on cloud 9 as her film Ghoomer has re-released in theatres. During an exclusive telephonic conversation, the actress opened up about the theatrical re-release of the R Balki sports drama co-starring Abhishek Bachchan as well the Indian women’s cricket team winning the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, hosting a special screening of Ghoomer for the women in blue and more. Read on to know all she shared.
When asked if Ghoomer producers or she will be hosting a special screening for the Indian Women’s Cricket team given their historic win at the recently held ICC Women’s World Cup, Saiyami Kher replied, “I totally agree. And we would have loved to do it. But most of the girls have already seen the film when it was released two years ago. Because I reached out to the girls then, and most of them have already seen it. So right now, I think they should be allowed to just celebrate, soaking in what they’ve done. And of course, the ones who haven’t watched them, we’re more than happy to host even just a private screening for them. But right now, they need to just celebrate what they’ve done.”
Talking about being in the stadium when the women lifted the trophy and her first reaction to them winning, the ‘Ghoomer’ actress shared, “Yes, I was. Well, I wouldn’t miss it for anything because it’s historic, and I was very happy to be a part of the history, and I didn’t miss the men’s 2011 World Cup, which happened in Mumbai, so why should I miss the women’s World Cup, which happened at the DY Patil.”
She continued, “I was supposed to be traveling to Italy with my parents but I made sure that the semi-final, final days I come back. However, on semi-finals day, I was shooting; but I wouldn’t have missed the finals for anything. It was so very special to see this happen. I actually took my dad and went to watch the game because we both watched the 2011 world cup together so just wanted to keep that superstition going (we won that world cup in 2011 so…). And the girls lifted the trophy so…”
Talking about interacting with them award ceremony, Saiyami shared, “It was genuinely very special because after we won, the stadium erupted and there was Maa Tujhe Salaam playing and there was Chake De playing and like full grown men were weeping and crying and the chants were like super loud like the men’s World Cup. I went and kind of spoke to the girls down after the post-match presentation and it was just incredible to be a part and be around there when they won.”
On the professional front, Saiyami Kher – who was last seen on the big screen as SI Vijaya Lakshmi in Sunny Deol’s Jaat, is currently filming Haiwaan, scheduled to release in 2026.
For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to Bollywood Bubble.
With nearly 10 years of experience, Grinell Esther Jacinto is the Desk Head of Bollywood Bubble. Her interests lie in everything that is kaleshi and she loves to dig deeper into the lives of B-town actors. She has a problem though – she loves horror films but will have chills the minute the theatres lights dims. She’s previously worked with Koimoi, UrbanAsian and SpotboyE.
Actress Renuka Shahane, known for her grace and candid nature, recently opened up about the harsh beauty standards that actresses face in the film industry. In an exclusive conversation on Zoom’s Spotlight Sessions, the Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! actress shared her thoughts on how society constantly judges women, especially after they become mothers.
Speaking about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Renuka addressed how the former Miss World was body-shamed after giving birth to her daughter Aaradhya in 2011. Aishwarya, who continues to represent India globally at Cannes, was often criticized for her looks and weight during her post-pregnancy appearances. Renuka expressed her disappointment at such behavior, saying, “Should we not celebrate her consistent achievements over the years? She has been the brand ambassador of a major company for years, representing us internationally. Instead of appreciating her, people focus on what she wears or how she looks. Please don’t do that. If you don’t have anything nice to say, just stay quiet.”
The actress further discussed the increasing pressure that female stars face in today’s digital age. She mentioned how social media has created an environment of constant judgment, making it difficult for actors to live peacefully. “With the advent of social media, it’s become a whole new world. There’s too much pressure and criticism. It is very tough for actors, especially women. After becoming a mother, there’s this unrealistic expectation that you must look the same as before—slim and flawless,” she said.
Renuka’s words serve as a reminder that women in the entertainment industry are often scrutinized unfairly and that achievements should be celebrated over appearances.
For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to Bollywood Bubble.
Manisha has established a reputation for insightful and engaging storytelling with over six years of expertise in the industry. With a deep passion for cinema, she brings a unique perspective to her coverage, making it a trusted voice in the entertainment world.
Accepting the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award, Curtis opened with a tribute to her fellow screen star, paraphrasing Fonda’s famous line from last year’s SAG Award acceptance speech: “By the way, ‘woke’ just means you give a damn about other people.” Curtis also paid homage to her late mother whose big-hearted efforts inspired her own. “This award is about caring for other people,” Curtis told Vogue. “I grew up watching my friend Dolores [Narr Nemiro], along with my mother and the other ladies of S.H.A.R.E., an organization that raises money for children, perform this big show every year. I wanted to bring Dolores as my date tonight and say thank you to her and the ladies of S.H.A.R.E. My mother would be so happy that Dolores and I are standing here together.”
At the front of the room, comedy tag team Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann were proudly in situ. Their daughter Maude Apatow, fresh from the premiere of her directorial debut Poetic License, was honored with the Max Mara Face of the Future award at the ceremony. “I’m just very grateful to be here,” Apatow told Vogue, in the middle of fan-girling over Jamie Lee Curtis. “I love making movies, I love women, and I love the women that I’ve worked with throughout my career—so I’m happy to be in any room full of women.”
Following dinner, the ceremony incorporated two panels. Crystal Award for Advocacy in TV honorees Mara Brock Akil and Regina King discussed receiving Judy Blume’s blessing to reimagine her young adult novel Forever and retell it as a coming-of-age story of two Black teens.
Crystal Award for Advocacy in Film honorees Tessa Thompson, Dede Gardner, and Gabrielle Nadig also explored the creation of Hedda. “I think what’s most important is for women to communicate, and to be in communal spaces,” Thompson had mused earlier in the night. “But I also think it’s important to make those experiences outside of beautiful honors like this—to be talking to each other, to be advocating for each other. All of the silent work people don’t see photographed, things you don’t dress up for.”
The night didn’t conclude without a suitably hilarious acceptance speech from funnywoman Kristen Wiig. Kaia Gerber, Wiig’s Palm Royale co-star, was on hand to present her with WIF’s inaugural Icon Award. “What a gift to have someone like Kristen show us that devastation and laughter are so closely woven together,” Gerber told the audience.
As guests made their final rounds at the end of the night, the feeling of possibility and positivity permeated the air. In particular, a note from Curtis about her upcoming film, Ella McCay. “The last line of the narration of the movie is telling. ‘There is no opposite word for trauma, but hope comes close.’ And today, I feel hope. I think we all do.”