| | | | "There are only three ages for women in Hollywood: babe, district attorney and Driving Miss Daisy.”
Even if you’re not a Gen-Xer like me, you’ve probably come across this iconic movie line, delivered by Goldie Hawn, in the 1996 box-office smash, The First Wives Club. That’s because for most of the years since, the sentiment has proven disturbingly true.
Want proof? Well, just note this analysis that found, through 2022, the average age of the Best Actor Oscar winner was 50 years old. Meanwhile, the average age for those taking home the Best Actress prize was 13 years younger—or 37, which, at times, has seemed like an actual cutoff point imposed by Hollywood on women hoping to be cast in challenging, multi-layered roles.
Fast-forward to the 2025 red carpet awards season, which for months now has reflected a possible cultural tipping point when it comes to seeing midlife women onscreen.
First, there was Demi Moore—at the age of 62!—taking home the Best Actress trophy at January’s Golden Globe Awards, where she not only delivered the most talked-about acceptance speech of the night but also became the internet’s new favorite beauty icon. That inspiring moment was followed by a similar occurrence at the Grammy Awards earlier this month, when 43-year-old Beyoncé finally won the Best Album of the Year prize.
Next up are the 97th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, with midlife women poised to make even more history as the majority of nominees in both the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories—a list that includes Moore—are over the age of 40. Even better: None of those women are playing the “babe” or the “old lady.”
Instead, in The Substance, we witness a feminist critique of the trope that women lose value as they age, while the female leads in I’m Still Here and Emilia Pérez bravely navigate complex political and social issues.
I know there will be some critics who see this year’s slate of Gen X and Millennial nominees as a one-off, a happy accident not soon to be repeated. But in the year that I’ve been editor-in-chief of Flow Space, I’ve been blown away by how quickly the public conversation around midlife women—who we are, what we want and what we will no longer settle for—has shifted. And I’m convinced Hollywood, at long last, is ready to come along for the ride. |
| This Sports Medicine Doc Is Taking on the Research Gender Gap for Female Athletes
It's been more than 50 years since the passage of the landmark Title IX legislation, which, among other achievements, expanded access to sports for women and girls. But while female athletics have certainly come a long way, there's still at least one area in which it remains stuck in the past: Research, specifically about how women's musculoskeletal system differs from men's.
Dr. Amy West is hoping to change that. A Harvard-educated sports medicine specialist who stays active with CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting, she wants the healthcare system to start recognizing that "women are much more resilient than we have been given credit." Here, she shares more about the important differences between male and female athletes that she wants doctors to take into account and why she tells all of her female patients to take up strength training. |
How did you decide to specialize in sports medicine? I've been an athlete my whole life, so it seemed like a natural fit for me to address problems I'd often come up against growing up. I played softball professionally in Europe a little bit; I also played volleyball, soccer and hockey with a bunch of boys! One of the scariest things was ACL injuries. It never sat well with me that, at the time, it was like, "Well, this is just something that happens, and you have to hope it doesn't happen to you." So that got me really interested in my body—why being a female athlete might predispose me to certain kinds of injuries and wanting to know the things I could do to change that.
Just as in most areas of medicine, there's a gender gap when it comes to our understanding of male and female athletes. What's the impact of that? Roughly 6% of strength and conditioning research is based on women—which means most of the protocols we're using are based on young men! And, as we know, we're rather different. There's just not a very good understanding of how hormones interact with our musculoskeletal system. Women, over the course of a lifetime, we have many hormone fluctuations, whether that's puberty or menstrual cycles or pregnancy or menopause.
So let's take puberty, for example: When men go through puberty, they become bigger, faster, stronger, which means their sports performance improves across the board. Women, meanwhile, have a bit of a setback at that age, as body fat percentage changes, biomechanics change, things like that. And that's when see a big drop-off in female participation in sports. What are some of the encouraging signs you're seeing when it comes to women and fitness? In recent years, the idea of strength training for women has become something that's embraced. I played collegiate sports, and the women's time in the weight room was either nonexistent or optional, whereas the men always had it. But we know now that weight training is protective of so many injuries and other conditions, especially when you're talking about things like bone density.
How do you find flow within your everyday life? For me, I like to give myself tangible goals, like thinking about what an exercise is going to allow me to do better in my life. How does being able to lift a certain weight translate into you being able to carry your bags through the subway or play with your kids or go on that extra-long walk? Part of fitness is the empowerment it brings you. So feeling that sense of power over yourself and over your environment is really the best way to flow.
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Shining a Light on Black Women’s Health Advocacy Black women have long been at the forefront of health advocacy, pushing back against systemic barriers that have led to alarming disparities in healthcare.
Despite facing higher rates of misdiagnosis, limited access to quality care and increased risks for conditions like breast cancer and heart disease, they continue to reclaim their wellness through self-advocacy, community support and holistic healing. From fighting for early detection and equitable treatment in breast cancer diagnoses to addressing the silent but deadly impact of hypertension, Black women are demanding better, and rightfully so.
Yet, the challenges persist. Obesity, often a byproduct of systemic inequities, has been linked to aggressive breast cancer subtypes that disproportionately affect Black women. Meanwhile, research shows that chronic stress, microaggressions and social determinants of health contribute to elevated blood pressure levels even during rest, increasing the risk of heart disease.
This Black History Month, we celebrate the resilience of Black women who are taking control of their health and call for an end to these disparities. A future where every woman receives the care she deserves is possible—but only if we continue to demand it. |
LISTENING to fashion designer and author Rebecca Minkoff—whose best-seller Fearless was released in paperback with special new content earlier this month—on her new limited podcast series, The Morning After, co-hosted by Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell. The four-part series, released in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Minkoff’s eponymous brand, will explore all things love, career and navigating life in New York City—through a unique lens of different women and generations.
SHOPPING for the ultimate at-home sauna experience. The CurrentBody Wellness Infrared Sauna Blanket promotes relaxation, enhances circulation and supports muscle recovery. Its far-infrared heat wavelengths penetrate deep enough to reach muscles, joints and blood vessels—similar in depth to a deep tissue massage. Regular use of the blanket can help relieve stress, improve sleep quality and contribute to overall well-being.
ADDRESSING vaginal dryness with Bonafide Revaree, an over-the-counter vaginal insert that utilizes hyaluronic acid to provide relief from itching, irritation, sensitivity and painful sex—without any hormones involved. And if used consistently every two to three nights, or about twice a week, women often experience symptom relief and the reduction in vaginal dryness within just nine days.
REGISTERING for the World’s Hottest Menopause Party hosted by women’s health advocate Tamsen Fadal. This free, virtual experience is designed to empower, educate and inspire women at every stage of menopause by bringing together the world’s leading menopause experts to deliver real answers, practical solutions and unwavering support.
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| Come Join Us in Austin! Join us at the SHE Media Co-Lab @ SXSW in Austin, Texas, March 7 - 9 for powerful sessions centered on Women’s Whole Life Health. Together, along with our still-expanding lineup of standout speakers, we will learn, inspire, debate and build infinitely powerful bridges to ensure access to the science and stories that benefit us all.
Want to help shape the future of women's health? RSVP HERE!
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