Study slams TV’s treatment of older women
Research conducted in the UK and Australia reveal ageism and sexism in the media.
A new study had found that found that older women are under‑represented on British television, reflecting earlier research indicating ageism in the Australian media.
The British findings come from an independent review commissioned by the BBC, which examined how accurately the broadcaster reflects the lives and experiences of people across the United Kingdom.
The review, led by former British Academy of Film and Television Arts chair, Anne Morrison, and media consultant, Chris Banatvala, concluded that the BBC is still widely perceived as middle‑class and London‑centric, particularly among viewers from lower socio‑economic backgrounds and those living outside southern England.
The study also highlighted a persistent gender and age imbalance, particularly affecting older women.
Data covering almost 1,500 BBC presenters found that men significantly outnumber women in older age groups.
Across BBC content, there are nearly four times as many male presenters over 60 as female, with the disparity even more pronounced among those over 70.
The review’s authors reported evidence that older men are often perceived as gaining authority and credibility with age, while older women face pressure to look younger or withdraw from on‑screen roles altogether.
“There’s evidence that, as they age, women tend to move from television to audio,” the authors said. “We were told that, as they get older, men in the media are portrayed as gaining gravitas and wisdom associated with authority. It works differently for women.
“It was argued that, if they stayed on television, older women had either to try to keep looking younger or to opt out altogether from being judged on their looks and develop idiosyncratic personas.”
Although the review found no evidence of deliberate discrimination, it concluded that structural and cultural factors continue to limit the visibility of older women on British television.
The BBC has since committed to improving how it measures class, age, and geographical background in commissioning and on‑air roles.
In 2024, an Australian Human Rights Commission study found that older Australians, particularly older women, are frequently marginalised or stereotyped in television and news coverage, with ageing often framed negatively or treated as a social burden.
The report also identified gendered ageism, noting that stories about older women are more likely to focus on appearance than expertise or authority.
Other Australian media studies show that women remain under‑represented as authoritative voices on television and in news programming, despite making up roughly half the population.
Men continue to dominate on‑screen expert and presenter roles, particularly in senior and high‑profile positions.
Related reading: BBC, The Guardian, Women in Media, Human Rights Australia, NSA
Photo: BBC Antiques Roadshow host Fiona Bruce at Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire. Image used under ShareAlike 4.0 International licence. User: Kjersti Lie.
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