Peppa Pig is blamed for the lack of women working in construction

Cartoons like Peppa Pig are blamed for the lack of women working in the construction industry in Spain.

Spanish MP Marta Serrano said the children’s show discouraged women from entering work, for example in road maintenance, by portraying all workers in these roles as “gigantic, very muscular men”.

The country’s secretary general for land transport argued that cartoons such as Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol posed a “social and cultural challenge” because in the shows “those who work to repair the roads are strong men.”

Speaking at a conference on the role of women in the transport sector, Serrano said: ‘We teach girls that the road sector is not for them and is a man’s business.

“It is something that affects them from a young age and if they do not realize that, it is very difficult for them to choose us in high school.”

The politician claimed that her own daughter does not believe women can enter the transport sector, even though she sees her mother working on the other side.

“We are still far from achieving equality,” Serrano said, adding that women made up only 10 percent of Spain’s road maintenance sector.

Women make up only four percent of senior positions within the transport sector.

Serrano said the show “teaches girls that the road industry is not for them and is for men.” Pictured: far right, Daddy Pig doing construction work

The left-wing politician also criticized her own ministry, which she said had fewer women than in other public offices.

Serrano, a civil engineer, said, “We are falling behind,” as women make up only 40 percent of her department, compared to the average 54 percent in government.

To remedy this, Serrano suggested that “more equitable representation was needed at all levels and roles, in both the public and private spheres.”

The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) politician is about to release a new guide to ‘good practices in the gender perspective in land transport infrastructure’ to tackle the low numbers.

Following the statement, a ministry spokesperson said: ‘The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility intends that this guide will be a consultation tool for the technical staff of the various government administrations and technical companies responsible for the design, construction and the maintenance of land transport. infrastructure.’

But this isn’t the first time Peppa Pig has come under fire.

American parents branded the farm animal in the cartoon a ‘brat’ and were outraged by the famous 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 this is who she is and that’s OK.”

Serrano said the children’s show discouraged women from entering the workforce, including road maintenance, because they presented all workers in these roles as “gigantic, very muscular men.”

The politician claimed that her own daughter does not believe women can enter the transport sector, even though she sees her mother working on the other side. Pictured: a young girl watching Peppa Pig

A child behaviourist also told MailOnline Peppa Pig ‘reinforces unhelpful stereotypes’ about gender roles and ‘is not suitable’ for very young children.

Sophie Boucher-Giles, who founded Gentle Start Family Consultancy, said she has never had Peppa Pig in her own home and “hopefully never.”

She said the cartoon has a unique ability to appeal to children, which can lead to problems at home: ‘There’s something about Peppa that’s quite addictive.

‘With the massive marketing around it, if you fall into that trap you basically become a Peppa Pig household and you can’t escape.

‘Children then want to see more, which can be problematic because for me Peppa reinforces some unhelpful stereotypes and some of the language is not nice.’

She added that introducing things like Peppa and brother George’s frustration with their parents is not something that should be promoted to the show’s target audience, which is young, preschoolers.

‘The level of development is not entirely appropriate. That (parental frustration) is a struggle that many four and five year olds have.

She also cited the lack of manners shown in the programme, saying she could ‘count on one hand’ the number of times Peppa says ‘please’ or ‘thank you’.