Case in point, according to Forbes, the new “Sex and the City” film which features the women who starred in the series, all of whom are now in their 40s, or in Kim Cattrall’s case, early 50s. This fact alone may doom the film. Their theory? There are already so many women 40+ out there in Entertainment Land, the market may be “saturated” condemning the movie to flophood. I kid you not. Apparently, that “saturation” concept doesn’t apply to old, white, pasty men 40+ or to every other cultural framework being swamped by 20-something little girls.
Nope, there’s only so much room for 40-something women, and you better not have too many. Which, btw, is not a very savvy marketing or programming concept, considering the fact that women now comprise 60% of the consumer base, and we 40-something-plus are the generation in control of society, politics, and the economy. And yes, believe it or not, we don’t mind seeing ourselves portrayed, especially as hot and sexy. Which we are. To hear this backward, parochial 1950s concept regurgitated by a young woman (the Forbes talking head) in 2007 is, to say the least, disheartening.
Unfortunately, to watch this little Forbes segment, they subject you to some commercials. But take a look, just to keep an eye on the new spin.
Give me a 40+ woman any day! Please, Tammy… give me a 40+ woman 🙂
Just another point to make me wish I had come along 50 years before I did.
The same way these office pinheads think that automobiles should be boring to the point of being rental cars, the mindset is also that only a 20 something girl is the ideal “woman”.
Ironically I was just watching an old movie with Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne called “A Guy Named Joe” from 1943 with a strong female character that does something heroic that would be uncharacteristic in a picture today let alone 64 years ago.
The upshot of course is that Miss Dunne was 45 years old at the time and was carrying off a romantic lead role with no problem whatsoever.
Maybe it’s because I’m 46 that I prefer seeing real women as opposed to girls in serious roles, but honestly, I always did.
I was always a Sophia Loren fan and only really started to appreciate Lauren Bacall when she got into her 40s.
Whoever it is that makes decisions on either casting or auto design has definitely been kept out of the world for a while, maybe that’s why both Hollywood and Detroit have had such trouble lately.
I know, what do cars have to do with the topic, but it seems like an across-the-board trend these days.
40 is fine. I like younger women.
Tammy, this topic is so interesting. Maybe it’s interesting because I’m 47 and want to think I’m still lookin’ pretty good! But as I look around, older women are so much younger looking than they were when I was a kid. (Maybe the better way to say it is that they just look great!) I recently (for various reasons) attended a 55 year high school reunion. As I was watching these people dancing (all 73 years old) I was amazed at how great the women looked! It wasn’t long ago that at 73 you were gray haired on the rocking chair (if not wheel chair). Not that there aren’t some like that, but wow, I was amazed. I even told one of them that I hope I look like her when I was her age (beautiful blonde, slender – very attractive!).
Women are getting better and better as they get older. A while ago, out of curiosity I googled, life in 1907. Just wanted to see what every day life was like 100 years ago. The biggest thing that popped out was that the average life span for a woman was 49!!!! (46 for men). WOW, I would be dead in 2 years. So I think it’s awesome to celebrate the beauty of older women. Younger women might have their youthful glow, but they lack the depth, substance, and being “comfortable in their own skin” that most older women have. I for one, can appreciate the beauty of a woman who has experienced a lot of life. And I’m not even gay.
Women today age much better (more slowly) than they did when I was a kid. I think a big part of that feeling is from attitudes. 40 years ago, women were told that aging was inevitable and not to fight it. People pay attention to diet and generally do not do things that damage their skin, like bake in the sun as they used to. Skin care science has also come a long way. My wife is in her late 40’S and looks great. She has always used sunscreen, and skincare products I refer to as her “goop”. Her sister is two years older and looks like I remember 50 year old women looked long ago. She has never taken time to take care of her skin, and the difference is dramatic. I know genetics play a part as well, but just look at all the women in media that are so-called middle aged, and oh so cute.
{sigh}
I used to dream about older women.
Now, they’re all my age.