Ageism in the entertainment industry is a huge problem that disproportionately affects women. The pressure to maintain a 'young' appearance and the belief that women's value is linked to their physical attractiveness has resulted in the marginalization of older female performers.
Women are often seen as less valuable in the industry once they reach a certain age, while male performers can continue to work well into their golden years.
This double standard is pervasive in Hollywood and has resulted in fewer opportunities for older female performers, lower pay, and a lack of representation in the industry.
The issue of ageism is one that must be addressed if the entertainment industry is to become more inclusive and diverse.
Jennifer Lopez has said she was discouraged from being open about turning 50 and said there was concern she would be seen as ‘over’.
The actress who celebrated her landmark birthday in 2019 with a lavish party at Gloria Estefan’s house in Miami, said people were concerned she would be perceived as past her prime.
Asked by GQ magazine if anybody told her she should not be so frank about her age, she said: “Yes, everybody. All the men. No, that’s not true. It was the women.
“They were like, ‘Do we want to put this out there?’ I just didn’t see it. I’m like, ‘Everybody knows how old I am — what’s the big deal?’
“In this industry, by the time you’re 30, they’re already like, ‘She’s done’.
“I can’t tell you how many times I felt like people were like, ‘She’s done, she’s over’. But it’s such a beautiful time in women’s lives.
“Artists, women especially, get so much better as they grow and mature. You can see it! Meryl Streep’s career took off after she was 40. Tina Turner, after she was 40. Cher.
“It’s not that (those women) weren’t who they were before that. But as they got older, they blossomed in a way they hadn’t before, right?
“They came into their own power, and they started realising, like, ‘I am the scarce asset, I am the prize. I have something beautiful to offer to the world that’s only mine’. And I feel the same thing!
“There is no reason to ever be ashamed of where you’re at. Not when you’re doing your best. Not when you’re in your best moment.
“There’s always gonna be people to tell you no. Or ‘You can’t’. Or ‘You shouldn’t’. It’s gonna happen. No matter what anybody says, you just have to still be like, ‘I’m still doing this. I’m still gonna succeed. I’m still gonna do my best’. Defy the odds. Why not?”