In the first time in its 18-year history, the worldwide popular animated television series Peppa Pig has introduced same-sex parent family.
The creators of Peppa Pig series added same-sex couple to its cast of characters in the episode titled, Families, which was aired on 6 Sept., on Channel 5 in the UK.
In the episode, while drawing pictures at playgroup, Peppa and her friends learn about each other’s families, from Suzy sheep who lives with Mummy Sheep to Freddy Fox who lives with Mr. Fox.
A character called Penny tells Peppa Pig that she has “two mummies” – Mummy Polar Bear and Doctor Polar Bear and draws a picture of herself holding hands with them.
“I live with my mummy and my other mummy. One mummy is a doctor and one mummy cooks spaghetti,” she explains, before viewers watch the three sitting at a table, slurping noodles.
Doctor Polar Bear wears a stethoscope and Mummy Polar Bear is clad in a red dress and round, black glasses same as Penny.
The landmark episode of the award-winning show primarily aimed at preschoolers, has divided viewers.
While some have welcomed the introduction of the Penny Polar Bear’s same-sex parents, many disapproved the inclusion and criticized the creators.
In a tweet, Author Nick Buckley commented “What a shame” and called it “the end of the Peppa Pig phenomenon.”
John Herbert categorically tweeted “ No more Peppa Pig for my grandchildren.”
Similarly, another user also “blocked the Peppa Pig App” as this was an “attempt to indoctrinate my innocent kid.”
Another viewer called for “Education, not indoctrination.”
Accusing the show of “box-ticking”, Kevin wrote, “can’t kids shows just be for kids?” and Andy echoed similar views: “Can we not let children be children and stop sexualizing them?”
Another, however, defended, “…same sex families are normal families & as such should have same representation.”
British safeguarding organization, Safe Schools Alliance hailed it and tweeted: “Really nice to see age appropriate representation of same sex couples on @peppapig with Penny & her two mummies.”
There was some backlash also with an Italian political leader demanding an immediate ban on the episode as this will ‘indoctrinate’ children that families with two mums exists.
In recent years, the show has been criticized for not portraying the realities of different families.
Two years back, a petition was launched to persuade the show creators to include a same-sex family.
“Children watching Peppa Pig are at an impressionable age, and excluding same-sex families will teach them that only families with either a single parent or two parents of different sexes are normal,” the petition says.
Peppa Pig was first aired on 31 May 2004 and, undoubtedly, has become the most recognizable and popular cartoon series in the world.
It is broadcast in 180 countries and translated into 40 languages, and has added £6 billion to the UK economy.