Madonna had her glory days. But the popular entertainer who turns 57 in August is far from finished.
Madonna is one star who has been fighting ageism or age discrimination for years. "The subject of her advancing years dominates seemingly every conversation about her, as she has become a crusader, willingly or not, against age discrimination," wrote Jancee Dunn for the New York Times, after the release of her new music video in June.
So, is Madonna's fight to keep a vibrant and active image paying off, despite her age?
Her sold-out shows, record-breaking views of on-air shows and most-watched performances after hitting 50, according to Huffington Post, indicate she's winning. The bigger battle against discrimination may be in the film industry for women of all ages.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, a 37-year-old actress and Oscar nominee, told The Wrap Magazine in May that she was told that she was "too old to play the lover of a man who was 55."
Age discrimination with women cast as romantic roles has become a particularly prominent problem in Hollywood. It is older women (meaning those above 30) who often won't be paired with men of any age.
Many women in the film industry have publicly stated that offers for leading roles stop coming in as they get to the age of 40 or above, or that they are expected to back out of the lime-light in Hollywood, as reported by CNN.
Alleged ageism isn't the only issue involving women in Hollywood.
"Hollywood has come under severe scrutiny for the persistently low number of leading roles for women in the movies, and the ACLU recently requested that state and federal agencies investigate Hollywood studios, networks and talent agencies over gender discrimination," The Wrap reported in May.
The investigations will not only look at actresses, but women in any capacity of the industry.
In a study by San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, it was found that women made up only 17 percent of directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors and cinematographers who worked on the top 250 films of 2014.
However, Gyllenhaal is not despairing for women, the Wrap reported.
"A lot of actresses are doing incredible work right now, playing real women, complicated women. I don't feel despairing at all," she said. "And I'm more looking with hope for something fascinating."
Madonna is one star who has been fighting ageism or age discrimination for years. "The subject of her advancing years dominates seemingly every conversation about her, as she has become a crusader, willingly or not, against age discrimination," wrote Jancee Dunn for the New York Times, after the release of her new music video in June.
So, is Madonna's fight to keep a vibrant and active image paying off, despite her age?
Her sold-out shows, record-breaking views of on-air shows and most-watched performances after hitting 50, according to Huffington Post, indicate she's winning. The bigger battle against discrimination may be in the film industry for women of all ages.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, a 37-year-old actress and Oscar nominee, told The Wrap Magazine in May that she was told that she was "too old to play the lover of a man who was 55."
Age discrimination with women cast as romantic roles has become a particularly prominent problem in Hollywood. It is older women (meaning those above 30) who often won't be paired with men of any age.
Many women in the film industry have publicly stated that offers for leading roles stop coming in as they get to the age of 40 or above, or that they are expected to back out of the lime-light in Hollywood, as reported by CNN.
Alleged ageism isn't the only issue involving women in Hollywood.
"Hollywood has come under severe scrutiny for the persistently low number of leading roles for women in the movies, and the ACLU recently requested that state and federal agencies investigate Hollywood studios, networks and talent agencies over gender discrimination," The Wrap reported in May.
The investigations will not only look at actresses, but women in any capacity of the industry.
In a study by San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, it was found that women made up only 17 percent of directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors and cinematographers who worked on the top 250 films of 2014.
However, Gyllenhaal is not despairing for women, the Wrap reported.
"A lot of actresses are doing incredible work right now, playing real women, complicated women. I don't feel despairing at all," she said. "And I'm more looking with hope for something fascinating."
