Cartoons are a big part of a person’s childhood. Children might even pick up some weird mannerisms and behavior from cartoons, Peppa Pig is no exception. However, the said British cartoon is under fire from… a fire brigade after it used a gender-specific term on air. Such a term was deemed sexist by the said government department.
During a recent episode of Peppa Pig called “The Fire Engine,” it used the gender-specific term “fireman/firemen” to call a member of the fire brigade when it supposedly should have been a gender-neutral “firefighter.” This drew the ire of the London Fire Brigade, as 5.2 percent of all English firefighters are all female. The said gender-specific term apparently discredits their hard work.
“Come on @peppapig, we’ve not been firemen for 30 years. You have a huge influence on kids & using out of date stereotypical gender-specific wording prevents young girls from becoming firefighters,” tweeted the fire brigade. Additionally, they claimed “If you respect our work, then get our name right,” while urging people to not use the outdated language.
Come on @peppapig, we’ve not been firemen for 30 years. You have a huge influence on kids & using out of date stereotypical gender specific wording prevents young girls from becoming firefighters. Join our #Firefightingsexism campaign https://t.co/IRjLtqolEl
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) March 17, 2019
This drew the attention of Piers Morgan, a blatantly sexist TV personality in the UK where he hit back at the London Fire Brigade for their apparent sensitivity by tweeting, “If women are being ‘put off’ joining the fire service because Fireman Sam – A CARTOON CHARACTER – supposedly ‘perpetuates male stereotypes’ then can I politely suggest these women probably don’t have what it takes to fight fires.”
To this, the London Fire Brigade replied with,”It’s young girls, like Esme, who think they can’t be firefighters because children’s TV continues to use outdated language. If you respect our work, then get our name right #FirefightingSexism.”
It's young girls, like Esme, who think they can't be firefighters because children's TV continues to use outdated language https://t.co/xGqNJnZn0T. If you respect our work, then get our name right #FirefightingSexism https://t.co/AsLJBJGtPf
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) March 18, 2019
What do you think of this Peppa Pig episode? Feel free to discuss in the comments section.
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