3/24/2024: Women & Witches in Hollywood

 At the end of my popular media presentation on Into the Woods, I asked the class to discuss the roles of older actresses in Hollywood and how their treatment may mirror the historical treatment of witches. While I enjoyed hearing my classmates’ answers, I did not get a chance to thoroughly explore this conversation. Since this is an important topic that integrates many of the themes of this course, I decided to answer this discussion question myself...

“In those days I had no reason to believe I would have a career past 40. You could work up to 40 and then you’d start playing hags and witches. It’s one of the reasons I refused to play a witch until ‘Into the Woods’ – and I had been offered many witch roles. It was that trough that women fell into.” 

– Meryl Steep

"I was offered three witches [roles] when I turned 40 - in one year, and I thought: 'Oh, this is how it's gonna go?' … At this point in my career, I think, I really think hard about: 'What am I putting into the world with each project?'"

– Meryl Steep

What is this “trough” that women fall into? How does the treatment of older women in Hollywood mirror that of witches throughout history? What about women today?

I found Meryl’s quotes to be extremely eye-opening to how negatively the roles of witches are cast in Hollywood as well as the sexism and ageism that work against actresses. Even for someone as iconic and accomplished as Meryl Streep, when actresses age and are no longer conventionally attractive or sexy, where does this leave them? When women in society are no longer conventionally attractive or of child-bearing age, where does this leave them? How are they treated? 

While Meryl Streep may be an exception, it seems that oftentimes, the more that actresses age, the more distant the spotlight on them becomes. Instead of playing the beautiful teenage love interest or the sexy, successful businesswoman in a new city, they are booted from their protagonist roles. Then, they are either cornered into smaller mother/grandmother roles or thrown into antagonist roles. Think about Disney villains, for instance, who include many old, unpleasant, and evil women like Ursula, The Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine, and Cruella De Vil. Similarly, as women in society age, they are perceived and treated less like protagonists in their own lives. To generalize, once a woman bears children, the spotlight on her shifts to her offspring. Instead of being asked about her interests, hopes, and dreams, she is asked about her children’s hobbies and aspirations. Her identity lies more in her spouse and children than it does in her own career, likes, and talents. If a woman remains single and never marries, she may be viewed as suspicious, unlikeable, or crazy. If a woman becomes a widow, she may be viewed as helpless, lost, or bitter. I could go on and on. 

Interestingly, the sexism and ageism that work against women in our society have also played massive roles in the treatment of witches throughout history. As we discussed last class, women were certainly ranked below men in Salem’s triangle of hierarchy. Older females, especially widows, were prime targets of witchcraft accusations because they were viewed as vulnerable, powerless burdens. As in the case of Sarah Osborne, it was suspicious and scandalous for a woman to inherit her husband’s property before her sons, and viewed as wrong for a woman to ever live alone. Like Hollywood actresses, many of these accused women were made to feel ostracized, devalued, and “othered” in their respective communities. 

This “trough” that women fall into seems to be more like a sinkhole. 

Once actresses reach a certain age and start taking roles of grandmothers, witches, and evil villains, it is difficult for them to play any other protagonist role; once women reach a certain age and are tied to the identities of their spouses and children, it is difficult for them to regain a sense of personal identity and ambition. I cannot blame Meryl Streep for refusing to play a witch all of these years– I would have done the same. Though this discussion is a bit saddening, it is crucial to be aware of the socially intricate influences that craft the media we consume. I know that I will keep these ideas in mind and have a more critical eye for the casting decisions of my favorite movies and TV shows.