Ageism in Hollywood is getting old

Women in Hollywood are subjected to some pretty terrible stuff, but did you know that “Hollywood death” for a female celebrity happens around 35-years-old? Sure, they may still find work playing lesser parts or playing the mother to the lead, but we will not see these women on the cover of any magazines.

Thanks to a great video posted on Feministing (which I highly recommend that you watch) we are finally shedding some light on this issue: Ageism in Hollywood. Some of the funniest women in Hollywood sit down in this video to discuss what it means to get older in Hollywood.

At 48-years-old, Julia Louis-Dreyfus said, “Well [age is] not an issue for me, but I think that it is an issue for the entertainment business.” Amy Poehler, age 37, said, “I was eight years older than Rachel McAdams when I played her mother in Mean Girls. Eight years older.”

We need to put an end to this. Each year, it seems like the stars get younger and younger. Miley Cyrus is just 16-years-old. A little over a year ago she posed topless in Vanity Fair at age 15. I think that it is about time that we ask ourselves, as a society, why we have allowed this to happen. When did 15 become the new 30? When did 35 become the new 60? Down with ageism in Hollywood! Let's let the teenagers grow into adulthood before throwing them to the wolves of Hollywood, and let the adults play the sought-after roles that they have worked so hard to earn.

Feel free to contact campusteam@feminist.org with any questions or comments!