The Peppa Pig Sexism Controversy

Being a famous celebrity means always being in the public eye, always being vulnerable to controversy and negative reactions from your audience. This is especially true no matter what, even if you’re a two-dimensional cartoon pig. Peppa Pig, the adorable star of the British children’s show with the same name, had to learn the hard way when a dark clip from her past surfaced over the weekend.

According to Telegraph, the London Fire Brigade called out Peppa Pig for a 2009 episode of the famous program, in which the narrator says “Mummy Pig’s dressed as a fireman.” Instead of using this chance as a teaching moment, Peppa replies by snorting and saying “Mummy!”

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The London Fire Brigade aired their frustration in a Twitter post that read: “Come on @peppapig, we’ve not been a fireman 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 You have a huge influence on kids & using out of date stereotypical gender-specific wording prevents young girls from becoming firefighters.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.” At a very young age of 4, this is Peppa’s first brush with controversy, who’s also been bashed for not wearing a seat belt. That said, is she going to get removed this time? Is this a scandal especially curated to get Piers Morgan rock tough with outrage? And, oy, wots all this about? We do hope Peppa Pig learns from this little controversy!

The Wisdom Segment

I Children want to imitate their parents. This is key to early learning. If children see you reading for pleasure or knowledge, they too will want to read. If they see you using dictionaries, and encyclopedias to learn facts, they too will want to expand their knowledge. If they see you doing crossword puzzles and playing word games, they too will want to develop the vocabulary skills needed for these activities.

II Its never too late to set a good example, but the earlier you begin, the more benefits your children will receive. Research has shown that the most active period of intellectual growth occurs between birth and age four. By the time children are four years old, they have developed half their adult intellectual capacity; this figure jumps to 80% by age eight.

III In addition, many educators believe the training children receive from parents is the single most important factor in determining how successful they will be in school. Parental attitudes toward children and their achievements are of great importance. Positive attitudes encourage children. Negative attitudes impede learning. Ignoring children and their accomplishments is also harmful.

IV Did you know that Albert Einstein took so long to learn to speak that his parents through he had a learning disability? Similarly, Thomas Edison did so poorly during his first months of school that his teacher thought he was not bright. Children differ greatly in the age at which they learn and acquire skills and knowledge. Some are ready to read and write by four or five (occasionally earlier), but most are not ready for these skills until they are six. Such differences are normal and not an indication of a childs intelligence.

V It is not helpful to try to speed a childs rate of learning by pushing them to do things they are not ready to do. Instead, it is better to choose activities they respond to and enjoy. For example, if children want to play over and over again with a six-piece puzzle, do not pressure them into trying a ten-piece one. They are strengthening skills every time they do that six-piece puzzle. In time, they will reach for the more advanced puzzle.

VI Encouragement is key. Encourage your children to keep trying, even if at first their efforts to master a skill are disappointing. To encourage your children to continue their efforts: DO be optimistic about their abilities and DO NOT be sarcastic or impatient.

The Peppa Pig Sexism Controversy

The Wisdom Segment

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