Yashika Goel
The popular children’s program Peppa Pig has debuted its first female same-sex couple on the broadcast after receiving requests for more LGBTQ+ characters for years. The program has been on the air since its debut in 2004 – nearly 20 years ago. In the show’s 18-year existence, this is the first appearance of a same-sex couple. The program is broadcasted in more than 180 countries and has been translated into 40 different languages.
The Peppa Pig Cartoon
Peppa Pig, the classic British children’s show, is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable cartoon series seen and enjoyed by audiences worldwide today. It also has a significant audience in India, where children watch the program faithfully.
‘I live with my mummy and my other mummy.’
Penny the polar bear and her two mothers are the main characters in the current story. The same-sex relationship is first mentioned in a conversation between Penny Bear and Peppa Pig, the show’s lead. In a recent UK family episode, Penny Bear tells Peppa that she has two mothers while drawing a picture of herself holding hands with them.
“I live with my mummy and my other mummy,” she informs Peppa, mentioning that one of her mothers is a doctor and one mummy cooks spaghetti… I love spaghetti.”
The show’s creators are the British animators Neville Astley and Mark Baker. Peppa Pig, which has won three BAFTA awards, is about a piglet named Peppa who lives with her parents and their family life. A petition to have same-sex parents featured on the show, which was initiated on a US-based website in 2019, has gathered almost 25,000 signatures.
Peppa Pig stepping up to represent same-sex couples on the air is a significant, warmly received action globally at a time when the LGBTQ+ depiction is being criticized by conservative masses. Due to a kiss between its two gay characters, Pixar’s Lightyear, a Toy Story spinoff, was recently banned from theatres in a number of nations with a large Muslim population. Gulf Arab countries reportedly want any objectionable content about shows with LGBTQ+ protagonists on popular streaming OTT platform Netflix to be taken down in their language.
Teaching empathy and acceptance to children from an early age is the only way to combat the horrifying hate and violence we see in the world today. This might enable us to transform the fabric of our country for the better.
Love and acceptance begin at a young age.
The Academy of Pediatrics claims that kids begin to grasp gender identity at a young age. When a child’s cognitive abilities are still developing, it is crucial to make all pertinent information available. Instead of feeling uncomfortable about it, they will accept it. We will deny children essential knowledge of sex-same family dynamics if we ignore same-sex couples and families. Normality in households with a single parent or two parents of different sexes is another thing.
Sexual orientation and biological gender are two distinct concepts. Children may not understand these concepts, yet they are aware of their feelings. Children with different orientations frequently place themselves in cocoons because they are unique. If the youngsters are aware that these items exist, this difference can be normalized.
Peppa Pig is a stepping stone in that direction. It normalizes but also instructs on how to accept others who share your viewpoints. Children may learn about LGBTQ+ people from anywhere, so it is critical to step in and teach them gender identities, whether or not your child belongs to the LGBTQ+ community. Our main goal should be to educate children about inclusivity and break gender stereotypes.
