We must not be naive. The progress, while exhilarating, is fragile. The pay gap persists; older actresses still make significantly less than their male peers. "Age compression" in casting remains rampant—40-year-old actresses are often cast as mothers to 50-year-old men. And for women of color, the intersection of ageism and racism means opportunities are even scarcer. Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, and Octavia Spencer have spoken candidly about having to fight for every single role, despite Oscar nominations and box office success.
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However, despite these positive developments, there is still much work to be done. The entertainment industry remains plagued by ageism, with women over 40 facing significant barriers to employment and representation. According to a 2020 report by the Sundance Institute, women over 40 make up only 23% of leading roles in film, while men over 40 account for 63%. This disparity is even more pronounced for women of color, who face intersecting barriers of racism and ageism. We must not be naive