During the past two years there are few television shows I have seen more of than Peppa Pig. Sad but true. For the uninitiated Peppa Pig is an English cartoon about a little girl called Peppa, who is actually a pig, her younger brother George and her creatively-named parents Mummy and Daddy Pig. The episodes are five minutes long and they transfix toddlers around the world to the extent that the franchise is worth around a billion dollars globally.
I quite enjoy the show and not just because of the five minutes of peace it brings, although that certainly helps. The concept of the show is simple: each episode (and there are lots of them) is based around things that little kids do. Going to playgroup, playing in the garden with friends, buying new shoes, learning to play basketball, cooking a birthday cake, visiting grandparents, playing dress-ups, going fishing. Peppa is usually accompanied by her gang of friends: Susie Sheep, Zoe Zebra, Rebecca Rabbit and Pedro Pony to name a few.
The content is relatable which is why, in my opinion (and I have given it a lot of thought over the years), it’s so successful. One of the hallmarks of every episode is when Peppa and her friends and family fall about laughing. It happens every single episode and it makes me smile every time. They are living an ordinary life and they are having fun.
So why am I writing about my daughter’s favourite cartoon? Because today Piers Akerman has published a column making the rather unusual claim that Peppa Pig pushes a ‘weird feminist line’. The column is taking aim at the ABC generally and Akerman doesn’t elaborate on his point about Peppa. It is simply a lone line which is a shame because I’m rather intrigued. I’d love to know the thinking behind it.
Is it “weird” and “feminist” simply by virtue of the main character being a girl? Because she has fun and jumps in puddles and bosses her little brother? Or because Mrs Rabbit – the hardest working woman in all of Britain – plays a leading role? I’m genuinely at a loss. Whichever way you cut it it’s dispiriting. How anyone could watch Peppa Pig and conclude there is something political being peddled is beyond me. What is ‘weird’ about a little girl enjoying her life and her family? Labelling that wierd really is weird.
I suspect in Akerman’s world ‘weird’ and ‘feminist’ are inextricably linked so we are left to wonder this. There is no doubt Akerman is using the word feminist in a derogatory sense, so what exactly is he taking issue with? If he, or anyone else, is challenged by a small pig, not more than 4, who simply enjoys her life where does that leave us on the important ground that feminists – more vocal feminists than Peppa Pig – are still fighting for? For equal pay. For autonomy over our bodies. For equal representation. For fair treatment.
Sisters if Peppa Pig is considered a threat in this arena then we may be in more trouble than I thought.