Piers Morgan fumes at ‘political correctness’ as Peppa Pig and Fireman Sam accused of ‘sexism’

The fire brigade slammed the use of 'stereotypical gender-specific wording' in children's shows

Peppa Pig has been accused of sexism for using the word “fireman”.

The London Fire Brigade criticised the children’s television show, stating the word is an “outdated gender stereotype” and harms attempts to sign up more female firefighters.

The episode in question – titled “The Fire Engine” – begins with the narrator saying: “Mummy pig is dressed as a fireman.”

On Twitter, the official account of the fire brigade wrote: “Come on, we’ve not been firemen for 30 years. You have a huge influence on kids [and] using out of date stereotypical gender-specific wording prevents young girls from becoming firefighters.”

Some users pointed out, though, that the repeated episode shows female characters becoming firefighters when a group of fathers accidentally start a blaze after using a barbecue incorrectly. Others defended the series for its inclusion of strong female role models.

London has more than 5,000 firefighters and only 354 are female. The fire brigade, who launched the “Firefighting Sexism” campaign in the hope of redressing the imbalance, told The Telegraph: “We need to challenge outdated language that our research is showing is stopping young girls and women from considering firefighting as a rewarding and professional career.”

The tweet launched a social media debate, which was highlighted on ITV series Good Morning Britain. However, controversy struck when host Piers Morgan criticised the issue women have with the use of the word “fireman” in cartoons, including Fireman Sam.

“It’s not that women don’t want to go and risk their lives, but actually, it’s cartoons,” Morgan said. “It’s Fireman Sam, that is the problem, because it is called Fireman Sam.”

He slammed the London Fire Brigade for posting the “ridiculously politically correct” statement on Twitter, saying: “Why don’t you go and put out fires?”

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s temporary deputy fire chief recently used Fireman Sam as an example of a series that reinforces male stereotypes.

London has more than 5,000 firefighters and only 354 are female. The fire brigade, who launched the “Firefighting Sexism” campaign in the hope of redressing the imbalance, told The Telegraph: “We need to challenge outdated language that our research is showing is stopping young girls and women from considering firefighting as a rewarding and professional career.”

Peppa Pig isn’t the only children’s show to be accused of sexism. South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s temporary deputy fire chief recently used Fireman Sam as an example of a series that reinforces male stereotypes.