After being criticized in the past for being so white and so male, the Oscars are being scrutinized yet again for under and misrepresenting Hollywood’s seniors.
According to a new study from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and wellness company Humana Inc., out of the 25 films that received Best Picture nominations from 2014 to 2016, less than 12 per cent of the 1,256 speaking or named characters were 60 years of age or older.
The research notes that this evidence is astounding, seeing that seniors represent “18.5 per cent of the U.S. population.” Additionally, the study shows that in six of the 14 films that featured a leading or supporting aging character, there were examples of stereotyping, including comments of “mentally feeble, sick old ladies” and “…just sit here and let Alzheimer’s run its course.”
Related: New Study Says Women Are Underrepresented At Oscars, Men Make Up 80 Per Cent Of Nominees
“The outcry over the lack of diversity at Hollywood’s premiere award show has failed to recognize the value of senior voices on screen,” says USC Annenberg professor Stacy L. Smith. “While 2016 Best Picture-nominated films are more diverse when it comes to gender and some racial and ethnic groups, ageism is still an accepted form of exclusion in cinematic storytelling.”