Cartoons like Peppa Pig have been blamed for the lack of women working in construction in Spain.
Spanish MP Marta Serrano said the children’s show prevented women from accessing jobs such as road maintenance because it presented all workers in those roles as “giant, very muscular men.”
The country’s general secretary of land transportation argued that cartoons like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol presented a “social and cultural challenge” because in the programs “those who work fixing the roads are strong men.”
During a conference on the role of women in the transport sector, Serrano stated: ‘We are teaching girls that the road sector is not for them and is a man’s thing.
‘It is something that impacts them from a young age and, if they do not have that awareness, it is very difficult for them to choose us in secondary school.’
The politician stated that her own daughter does not believe that women can enter the transport sector, although she sees her mother working on the other side.
“We are still far from reaching parity,” Serrano said, adding that only 10 percent of Spain’s road maintenance sector is made up of women.
In management positions within the transport sector, women represent only four percent.
Spanish MP Marta Serrano blames Peppa Pig for the lack of women working in construction in Spain
Serrano stated that the program is ‘teaching girls that the road sector is not for them and is a man’s thing.’ In the image: far right, Daddy Pig carrying out construction work.
The left-wing politician also criticized her own government department, in which, she explained, there are fewer women than in other public positions.
Serrano, a civil engineer, said, “We are falling behind,” as only 40 percent of her department is made up of women, compared to the government-wide average of 54 percent.
To remedy this, Serrano suggested that “more equitable representation at all levels and roles, in both the public and private spheres” was necessary.
The Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) politician is preparing to publish a new guide on “good practices from a gender perspective in land transport infrastructure” to address the low numbers.
Following the statement, a spokesperson for the ministry stated: ‘The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility intends for this guide to be a consultation tool for the technical staff of the different public administrations and engineering companies in charge of the design, construction and maintenance of land transport. . infrastructure.’
But this is not the first time that Peppa Pig has been criticized.
American parents branded the cartoon farm animal a “brat” and raged over the well-known British cartoon which they say has taught their children “rudeness and impatience.”
Kayla Tychen, a Houston mother, said in February: “Peppa is rude and impatient, and the show teaches kids that that’s who she is and that’s okay.”
Serrano said that the children’s show prevented women from accessing jobs such as road maintenance, since they presented all the workers in those roles as “giant, very muscular men.”
The politician stated that her own daughter does not believe that women can enter the transport sector, although she sees her mother working on the other side. In the photo: a girl watching Peppa Pig.
A child behavior expert also told MailOnline that Peppa Pig “reinforces unhelpful stereotypes” about gender roles and is “not appropriate” for very young children.
Sophie Boucher-Giles, founder of Gentle Start Family Consultancy, said she has never had Peppa Pig in her own home and “we hope she never does.”
He said the cartoon has a unique ability to appeal to children, which can cause problems at home: “There’s something about Peppa that’s quite addictive.
“With the huge marketing around it, when you fall into that trap, you basically become a Peppa Pig family and you can’t escape.
“Children want to see more, which can be problematic because, for me, Peppa reinforces some unhelpful stereotypes and some of the language is not pleasant.”
He added that the introduction of themes such as Peppa and her brother George’s frustration towards their parents is not something that should be promoted to the programme’s target audience, young pre-school children.
‘The level of development is not entirely appropriate. That (frustration with parents) is a struggle that many four- and five-year-olds have.
He also cited the lack of manners shown on the programme, saying he could “count on one hand” the number of times Peppa says “please” or “thank you”.