Peppa Pig and Fireman Sam are the latest cartoon characters to be slammed with the sexist label.
(Source: @officialpeppa/Instagram)London Fire Brigade has called out the popular TV shows over their use of the word Fire Man.
The Fire Fighting Sexism campaign has been launched with a tweet suggesting that "using out of date stereotypical gender specific wording prevents young girls from becoming firefighters."
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 You have a huge influence on kids & using out of date stereotypical gender specific wording prevents young girls from becoming firefighters.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
The likes of TV host Piers Morgan don't seem too happy with the initiative, claiming any woman who is put off joining the fire service because of a programme probably isn't suitable for the job anyway.
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. pic.twitter.com/YEZXZtDQ0J
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 18, 2019
However London Fire Brigade is sticking by the campaign, saying some girls may feel they cannot be firefighters because "children's TV continues to use outdated language"
It's young girls, like Esme, who think they can't be firefighters because children's TV continues to use outdated language https://t.co/xGqNJnZn0T.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
Cover image via @officialpeppa/Instagram
