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Date Published: 09/12/2024

Spanish government blames Peppa Pig for perpetuating gender stereotypes

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Other popular cartoons like Paw Patrol are coming under fire in Spain for allegedly promoting inequality in the workplace

Spanish government blames Peppa Pig for perpetuating gender stereotypes

Beloved children’s shows like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol might seem like harmless entertainment, but according to Spain’s Secretary General of Land Transport, Marta Serrano, they’re part of a larger cultural problem perpetuating outdated gender stereotypes, especially in traditionally male-dominated industries like road maintenance and transport.

Speaking at a conference on women’s roles in the road network sector this week, Ms Serrano highlighted how these cartoons portray workers as “giant, very muscular men” while failing to showcase female representation in similar roles.

These portrayals, she argued, contribute to the underrepresentation of women in certain professions, discouraging young girls from even considering them as career options.

Ms Serrano, a civil engineer herself, shared a personal anecdote to illustrate her point. Despite seeing her mother excel in the field, her own daughter doesn’t envision women working in road maintenance or transport.

“Even though she sees me working on the other side,” her daughter and other girls her age don’t even think about these sectors as viable choices, she said.

"It’s a social and cultural challenge," Ms Serrano added, pointing out that by the time girls reach secondary school, many have already dismissed the idea of pursuing careers in these industries.

Although the minister’s comments have raised more than a few eyebrows, the figures seem to agree with her. In Spain, women make up only 11% of the road maintenance workforce and less than 10% of the road transport industry. Even within the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, where Ms Serrano works, women represent just 40% of employees compared to 54% in other areas of Spain’s General State Administration.

Ms Serrano’s critique goes beyond cartoons; it’s part of a larger call to action to address gender inequality in male-dominated fields. She warned that without efforts to attract young women, sectors like road maintenance could face serious staffing shortages in the future.

With this in mind, the Ministry of Transport plans to tackle the issue head-on by launching a gender-focused guide for transport-related industries in January. Originally scheduled for November, the guide’s release was delayed due to the devastating DANA that struck Valencia.

In other news: EU proposes gradual roll-out of Entry-Exit border control system

Image: Peppa Pig on X

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