THE AGING WOMAN IN POPULAR FILM - UNDERREPRESENTED, UNATTRACTIVE, UNFRIENDLY, AND UNINTELLIGENT

Authors
BAZZINI DG MCINTOSH WD SMITH SM COOK S HARRIS C
Citation
Dg. Bazzini et al., THE AGING WOMAN IN POPULAR FILM - UNDERREPRESENTED, UNATTRACTIVE, UNFRIENDLY, AND UNINTELLIGENT, Sex roles, 36(7-8), 1997, pp. 531-543
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Social","Women s Studies","Psychology, Developmental
Journal title
Sex roles → ACNP
ISSN journal
03600025
Volume
36
Issue
7-8
Year of publication
1997
Pages
531 - 543
Database
ISI
SICI code
0360-0025(1997)36:7-8<531:TAWIPF>2.0.ZU;2-K
Abstract
The present study examined 100 top-grossing motion pictures spanning f rom the 1940s through the 1980s (20 movies from each decade). Eight hu ndred and twenty-nine characters were rated on attractiveness, charact er goodness, intelligence, friendliness, socioeconomic status, romanti c activity, and movie outcome. It was hypothesized that ageist and sex ist stereotypes would interact such that (a) older female characters w ould be more underrepresented, and (b) more negatively portrayed, than their male contemporaries. Both hypotheses were supported. Implicatio ns regarding double standards for age, and the media's propagation of beauty-related standards for females were discussed.