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Tiger Who Came to Tea could have been gender neutral, says campaigner

Zero Tolerance co-director Rachel Adamson made the comment as she discussed the findings of a recent audit of thousands of children's books

August 25, 2021 17:16
Tiger Who Came To Tea
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: An annotated page from 'The Tiger who came to tea' by Judith Kerr is displayed at Sotheby's auction House on December 4, 2014 in London, England. A selection of annotated first edition books from the Worlds greatest living illustrators and authors including contributions from Michael Bond, Raymond Briggs, Quentin Blake, Lauren Child, Terry Gilliam, Judith Kerr, Paula Rego & Gerald Scarfe are to be auctioned to Raise Money for 'House of Illustration' on December 8, 2014. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
1 min read

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the 1968 children’s classic by Jewish author and artist Judith Kerr, is “problematic” and reinforces stereotypical gender roles, a campaigner has said.

Zero Tolerance co-director Rachel Adamson appeared on BBC Radio Scotland on Monday to discuss the findings of the charity’s recent gender and equality audit of thousands of children's books.

“I know this will make a lot of people unhappy,” she told host Connie McLaughlin. “I am a big fan of [The Tiger Who Came to Tea]. I’ll let you know Judith Kerr is a wonderful author. 

“However it is reflective of a society that we need to think more closely about.”