Pigs are popular for kids. Among the most famous pigs -- Porky, Piglet, Babe, Pumbaa, 3 Little Pigs, Wilbur -- most are male. Miss Piggy is the super female piggy exception to the only male pigs get famous rule. Which makes me wonder -- is there a glass ceiling for female pigs too? Or can only super model piggies break that glass ceiling?
In any case, there are dozen of pig characters listed on Wikipedia categorized by those in literature, folklore, nursery rhymes, film, animation, and even video games. For our kids' generation, two additional female pigs are at least putting fractures in the glass ceiling: Peppa Pig and Olivia. Both are older sisters. I'm guessing Peppa is around 5-6 years-old and Olivia is around 8 or 9 years-old. Both have little brothers. (Olivia has a little brother and a little bother, a.k.a brother). Both are bossy, talkative and take charge of the family antics. And both prefer walking on two legs, wearing red clothes, ballet, living in houses, riding in cars, and camping. After careful analysis, I like Peppa a little more -- mostly because she actually 'oinks' & she loves to jump in muddy puddles.
Some parents have complained that Peppa Pig is making children naughty. They have complained that children are replicating Peppa and George's behavior by demanding chocolate cake instead of eating vegetables, saying 'no' and 'yuck,' and .... (gasp)....jumping in muddy puddles. Serene exhibits all of these behaviors, but we're not banning little Peppa at our house. Instead, I'm going to work to empower her.
In adult culture, pigs are associated with greed, gluttony and uncleanliness. But for children, they are sweet, funny, smart, kind, silly, sensitive and giving. So why the disconnect between what we learn as children and how we come to interpret the pig as an adult? Probably someone should write their dissertation on it. In the meantime, if you want to make millions, (Peppa Pig boasts a $2 billion plus industry), start writing children's books and/or animated cartoons with fun little piggies in it. Its a no-fail business strategy to big bucks. If you focus on female pigs, then we'll have more 'positive' role models for our daughters -- assuming you think being independent, free-willed and remembering to take time to play are positive lessons for young girls to learn.
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