History Main / MenGetOldWomenGetReplaced

Old men are often seen as wise, experienced or powerful. Old women, on the other hand, tend to be treated as bitter, useless, and replaceable. As such, many works of fiction have a DoubleStandard where older male characters outnumber female ones or are far more active.

It seems that male characters age and either become {{Mentor|Archetype}}s, [[OldSoldier old versions]] [[OldSuperhero of what they were]] or {{Old Master}}s, while female characters are either written out of it altogether in various ways or remain [[TheAgeless eternally young and beautiful]]. It goes hand-in-hand with MenAreStrongWomenArePretty, since the women either ''stay'' pretty, or they're out.

Also related to MenActWomenAre, since men are assumed to have value for what they can do, thus even an old man wants to stay useful and can remain so in various ways. A woman's value, however, is tied to her sexual attractiveness, so if that's been lost with age, there is absolutely no way she can ever gain back relevance or usefuleness. (Thus why the VainSorceress sets her priorities there, but the WizardClassic ''doesn't''.)

* In the original release of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'', all of the female characters who are former members or veterans have somehow remained young. For example, Mei was cryogenically frozen and Tracer is stuck outside of time. Other female characters, like Zarya and Pharah, are newer recruits. Mercy's lack of aging is never explained but is lampshaded in conversation with Mei. All of these characters contrast the male veterans, like Torbjorn, Solder: 76, Reaper, and Reinhardt, who are all still around and significantly older. The first DLC character, Ana Amari, is Pharah's mother, the only female member of the original team. This would subvert the trope, except that all of the male characters have still been active since their heyday. Ana only recently returned, and only to [[MamaBear protect her daughter]]. Also, WordOfGod went out of their way to go on a forum and state that Tracer ''does'' age--which [[VoodooShark left a lot of players with even more questions]].

** The original members of the Justice Society included Comicbook/WonderWoman and Comicbook/BlackCanary, but when the group reformed decades later, it included the daughters of both as replacements. (Wonder Woman was retroactively stated to be Diana's mother, Hippolyta.) Many of the men returned despite having aged (such as Jay Garrick, the original Comicbook/{{Flash}}). Some, like Alan Scott (Comicbook/GreenLantern) and Carter Hall (Comicbook/{{Hawkman}}) had either de-aged or were immortal.

** The third game skipped ahead 19 years, and most of the cast was replaced with their children or younger counterparts. However, Anna and Nina Williams were put into cryostasis and thus remained unaged while Heihachi Mishima, Paul Phoenix, and Lei Wulong all significantly aged. Michelle Chang was replaced by her daughter Julia, Jun Kazama was replaced by her son, Jin, and two games later by a teenage relative, Asuka. Lee and Marshall Law returned in ''Tekken 4'' and had significantly aged, but the returning Kazuya had not. Baek Doo-san returned in the fifth game and had significantly aged, Bruce and Ganryu had not, and Marshall Law and Lee appeared to look much younger. Finally, ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' replaced Kunimitsu with her daughter, who shares her code name. In short, the series ''was'' playing this trope straight at some point, but then decided to rewind time back to somewhere near the second game. Absolutely NONE of the female characters show any signs of aging while several male characters either once did or still do.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', this is both played straight and {{downplayed|trope}}. Most kunoichi from older generations managed to somehow stay young, particularly Tsunade, whose youth is a spell, and she has never been seen on-camera in her withered old form. Mei Terumi is a kunoichi from an older era who is [[ChristmasCake worried about getting married at her age]], although she is still in her thirties and gorgeous. The only female BigBad [[spoiler:Kaguya]], is an immortal, unkillable goddess. The single exception to this, Elder Chiyo, is used mostly as a {{Foil}} for her evil grandson, Sasori, and after he dies, she does too not long after (through HeroicSacrifice).

* Played with in ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''. The third game skipped ahead 20 years, and most of the cast was replaced with their children or younger counterparts. However, Anna and Nina Williams were put into cryostasis and thus remained unaged while Heihachi Mishima, Paul Phoenix, and Lei Wulong all significantly aged. Michelle Chang was replaced by her daughter Julia, Jun Kazama was replaced by her son Jin, and two games later by her niece, Asuka. Lee and Marshall Law returned in ''Tekken 4'' and had significantly aged, but the returning Kazuya had not. Baek Doo-san returned in the fifth game and had significantly aged, Bruce and Ganryu had not, and Marshall Law and Lee appeared to look much younger. In short, the series ''was'' playing this trope straight at some point, but then decided to rewind time back to somewhere near the second game. Absolutely NONE of the female characters show any signs of aging while several male characters either once did or still do.
** In ''Videogame/Tekken7'', Kunimitsu was replaced by a daughter using the same codename.

* When it comes to reproductive life, women have their biological clocks working against them and the prospect of menopause to worry about. Men have no anagolous concerns. On a related note, men are far more likely than women to prioritize youth when choosing companions of the opposite sex, and by extension, to find such people who don't fit the bill disposable.

** Their counterparts, the All-Star Squadron, had Liberty Belle, who was later replaced by her daughter, Jesse Quick.

** In ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'', while most of the male characters were kept for the seventeen-year TimeSkip, many of the females from [[VideoGame/SoulSeries previous titles]] (including EnsembleDarkhorse characters) ended up with {{Suspiciously Similar Substitute}}s, be they relatives or students. And, with the exception of Hilde (and Viola, if one follows the clues hinting that she's [[spoiler:an amnesiac Amy]]), the few female characters that were kept were {{Handwave}}d as [[TheAgeless not aging]], usually due to Soul Edge's influence. That said, nearly all of the men who were retained for ''V'' are ''also'' ageless or have had their aging process greatly slowed down because of similar factors (or were already immortal to begin with; meanwhile, [[GhostPirate Cervantes]] managed to outright cheat death by pulling a GrandTheftMe between games), while the versions of Astaroth and Yoshimitsu present are actually [[LegacyCharacter successors]] to the originals from the preceding four installments, as is Nightmare due to Soul Edge having a new host body to inhabit.

* In the Golden Age Franchise/WonderWoman comics most of the Amazons had [[TheAgeless stopped aging]] when they were young and beautiful but Althea, the Amazon physician who helped save ComicBook/SteveTrevor's life, had white hair and while fit looked to be well over fifty, apparently becoming an Amazon at a later age than most of the others on Paradise Island. In every version since then, Althea has either been [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 replaced by a younger looking character]] or has herself [[ComicBook/WonderWomanRebirth looked like]] [[ComicBook/WonderWomanEarthOne a teenager]].

Also related to MenActWomenAre, since men are assumed to have value for what they can do, thus even an old man wants to stay useful. A woman's value, however, is tied to her beauty, so if that's been lost with age, she's no longer useful. (Thus why the VainSorceress sets her priorities there, but the WizardClassic ''doesn't''.)

Compare and contrast IWasQuiteALooker, which may potentially subvert this. See also DeathByDisfigurement.

* When it comes to reproductive life, women have their biological clocks working against them and the prospect of menopause to worry about. Men have no anagolous concerns. On a related note, men are far more likely than women to prioritize youth and physical attractiveness when choosing companions of the opposite sex, and by extension, to find such people who don't fit the bill disposable.

* Played with in ''VideoGame/MetalGear''. The franchise switches between two eras: the UsefulNotes/ColdWar era, and the Patriot era. All of the characters who have lived through both aged appropriately, including Eva/Big Mama. However, other female characters of the Cold War era all either died or disappeared by the time the Patriot era starts. The Boss is another exception, as she came from an even ''older'' era and aged appropriately. But, [[spoiler:she dies in the same game introduced her, and even Big Mama dies not long after she resurfaces.]]

* ''Videogame/SoulSeries''

** ''Videogame/SoulcaliburVI'', a SoftReboot of the series that reverses the previous game's TimeSkip, has the [[UnexpectedCharacter surprise return]] of the original series' Cassandra, who was lost in the Abyss but still lived through the events seventeen years in the future. As some players had predicted, although Cassandra is now [[TheCorruption horribly corrupted]] by evil, she is still just as young and pretty as she ever was, making her yet another female character who avoided legitimately aging past forty.

* In ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'', while most of the male characters were kept for the seventeen-year TimeSkip, many of the females from [[VideoGame/SoulSeries previous titles]] (including EnsembleDarkhorse characters) ended up with {{Suspiciously Similar Substitute}}s, be they relatives or students. And, with the exception of Hilde (and Viola, if one follows the clues hinting that she's [[spoiler:an amnesiac Amy]]), the few female characters that were kept were {{Handwave}}d as [[TheAgeless not aging]], usually due to Soul Edge's influence. That said, nearly all of the men who were retained for ''V'' are ''also'' ageless or have had their aging process greatly slowed down because of similar factors (or were already immortal to begin with; meanwhile, [[GhostPirate Cervantes]] managed to outright cheat death by pulling a GrandTheftMe between games), while the versions of Astaroth and Yoshimitsu present are actually [[LegacyCharacter successors]] to the originals from the preceding four installments, as is Nightmare due to Soul Edge having a new host body to inhabit.

* ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'': While many of the male heroes come out of retirement after Superman does, most of the female superheroes stay retired and have been replaced in this distant future. Examples include Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, Comicbook/BlackCanary, Comicbook/{{Catwoman}}, Comicbook/{{Starfire}}, and Comicbook/{{Zatanna}}. A handful of exceptions include Franchise/WonderWoman, [[Comicbook/PowerGirl Power Woman]], and Jade, and only the latter has aged all that much since it's established that Wonder Woman is immortal and Kryptonians like Power Girl not only age at a reduced rate, but get StrongerWithAge.

** Heroes like Captain America and the Winter Soldier are still around from the UsefulNotes/WorldWarII era but have been preserved by cryostasis. No female character from the same era is still active, with the aged Comicbook/PeggyCarter being replaced by her niece, Comicbook/{{Agent 13}}. Peggy is dead by the time of ''Civil War'' and [[spoiler:As of ''Endgame'' Steve has retired too.]]
** Hank Pym is retired, but actively training his successor. Janet Pym, however, has died and her young daughter, Hope, wants to replace her.
[[spoiler:Turns out Janet is alive, but takes a similar stance to her husband.]]

** Heroes like Captain America and the Winter Soldier are still around from the UsefulNotes/WorldWarII era but have been preserved by cryostasis. No female character from the same era is still active, with the aged Comicbook/PeggyCarter being replaced by her niece, Comicbook/{{Agent 13}}.

-> ''"I am absolutely convinced that the plan was to have Cassandra return in ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' without having aged a ''day'' so she could continue to be playable since she'd be under the 40 year threshold that forces women to retire in Namco fighting games."''

* In Creator/FrankMiller's ''Comicbook/TheDarkKnightReturns'', Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} has gotten old and fat by the time Franchise/{{Batman}} comes out of retirement. Almost all of the male heroes, including Batman, Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/GreenLantern, Franchise/TheFlash, Comicbook/GreenArrow and Comicbook/TheAtom, and even villains like Comicbook/TheJoker and Comicbook/LexLuthor, have gotten older but are still capable of fighting. The only active superheroines in the story are younger replacements, with the exception of Franchise/WonderWoman, who is immortal.

* ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'': While many of the male heroes come out of retirement after Superman does, most of the female superheroes stay retired and have been replaced in this distant future. Examples include Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, Comicbook/BlackCanary, Comicbook/{{Catwoman}}, Comicbook/{{Starfire}}, and Comicbook/{{Zatanna}}. A handful of exceptions include Franchise/WonderWoman, [[Comicbook/PowerGirl Power Woman]], and Jade, and only the latter has aged all that much, since it's established that Wonder Woman is immortal and Kryptonians like Power Girl not only age at a reduced rate, but get StrongerWithAge.

* In the Golden Age Franchise/WonderWoman comics most of the Amazons had [[TheAgeless stopped aging]] when they were young and beautiful but Althea, the Amazon physician who helped save ComicBook/SteveTrevor's life, had white hair and while fit looked to be well over fifty, apparently becoming an Amazon at a later age than most of the others on Paradise Island. In every version since then Althea has either been [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 replaced by a younger looking character]] or has herself [[ComicBook/WonderWomanRebirth looked like]] [[ComicBook/WonderWomanEarthOne a teenager]].

** Heroes like Captain America and the Winter Soldier are still around from the UsefulNotes/WorldWarII era, but have been preserved by cryostasis. No female character from the same era is still active, with the aged Comicbook/PeggyCarter being replaced by her niece, Comicbook/{{Agent 13}}.

* ''The Mummy's Tomb'': In this sequel, set 30 years after the events of ''The Mummy's Hand'', Steve Banning and 'Babe' Jenson return as major characters (played by the original actors in old age makeup); however, Marta Solvani is mentioned to have passed away some time during her marriage to Steve.
* ''Film/TronLegacy'' and its related timeline. [[Creator/JeffBridges Bridges]]? Check. Boxleitner? Wouldn't be a ''Franchise/{{Tron}}'' entry without him. Morgan? Uh... oops. Creator/{{Disney}} shoves her human character (Lora Baines-Bradley) [[PutOnABus on a bus to Washington, D.C.]], and [[SequelNonEntity her Program (Yori) doesn't even warrant a mention]] in the ExpandedUniverse. The [[CanonDiscontinuity other]] [[VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh sequel]] played it sideways by having the actress voicing BenevolentAI [=Ma3a=], while killing off Lora. [[spoiler:However, that turned out to be a subversion as [=Ma3a=] turned out to ''be'' what was left of Lora due to BrainUploading.]]

* In the original release of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'', all of the female characters who are former members or veterans have somehow remained young. For example, Mei was cryogenically frozen and Tracer is stuck outside of time. Other female characters, like Zarya and Pharah, are newer recruits. Mercy's lack of aging is never explained, but is lampshaded in conversation with Mei. All of these characters contrast the male veterans, like Torbjorn, Solder: 76, Reaper, and Reinhardt, who are all still around and significantly older. The first DLC character, Ana Amari, is Pharah's mother, the only female member of the original team. This would subvert the trope, except that all of the male characters have still been active since their heyday. Ana only recently returned, and only to [[MamaBear protect her daughter]]. Also, WordOfGod went out of their way to go on a forum and state that Tracer ''does'' age--which [[VoodooShark left a lot of players with even more questions]].

* In the Golden Age Franchise/WonderWoman comics most of the Amazons had [[TheAgeless stopped aging]] when they were young and beautiful but Althea, the Amazon physician who helped save ComicBook/SteveTrevor's life, had white hair and while fit looked to be well over fifty, apparently becoming an Amazon at a later age than most of the others on Paradise Island. In every version since then Althea has either been replaced by a younger looking character or has herself looked like a teenager.

-> ''"I am absolutely convinced that the plan was to have Cassandra return in 'VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' without having aged a ''day'' so she could continue to be playable since she'd be under the 40 year threshold that forces women to retire in Namco fighting games."''

-> ''"I am absolutely convinced that the plan was to have Cassandra return in ''Soulcalibur VI'' without having aged a ''day'' so she could continue to be playable since she'd be under the 40 year threshold that forces women to retire in Namco fighting games."''
-->-- '''[=The4thSnake=]''', on ''Videogame/SoulcaliburV''

-> "I am absolutely convinced that the plan was to have Cassandra return in ''Soulcalibur VI'' without having aged a ''day'' so she could continue to be playable since she'd be under the 40 year threshold that forces women to retire in Namco fighting games."

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', this is both played straight and {{downplayed|trope}}. Most kunoichi from older generations managed to somehow stay young, particularly Tsunade, whose youth is a spell, and she has never been seen on-camera in her withered old form. Mei Terumi is a kunoichi from an older era who is [[ChristmasCake worried about getting married at her age]], although she is still in her thirties and gorgeous. The only female BigBad [[spoiler:Kaguya]], is an immortal, unkillable goddess. The single exception to this, Elder Chiyo, is used mostly as a {{Foil}} for her evil grandson, Sasori, and after he dies, she does too not long after (through HeroicSacrifce).

It seems that male characters age and either become {{Mentor|Archetype}}s, {{Badass Grandpa}}s or {{Old Master}}s, while female characters are either written out of it altogether in various ways or remain [[TheAgeless eternally young and beautiful]]. It goes hand-in-hand with MenAreStrongWomenArePretty, since the women either ''stay'' pretty, or they're out.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', this is both played straight and {{downplayed|trope}}. Most kunoichi from older generations managed to somehow stay young, particularly Tsunade, whose youth is a spell, and she has never been seen on-camera in her withered old form. Mei Terumi is a kunoichi from an older era who is [[ChristmasCake worried about getting married at her age]], although she is still in her thirties and gorgeous. The only female BigBad [[spoiler:Kaguya]], is an immortal, unkillable goddess. The single exception to this, Elder Chiyo, is used mostly as a {{Foil}} for her evil grandson, Sasori, and after he dies, she does too not long after.