Thomas the Tank Engine

If you thought the television tales about Thomas the Tank Engine were merely light-hearted fun, think again.

In fact, they portray a world blighted by a 'conservative political ideology' and a rigid class system which stifles self-expression. And they are sexist.

That, at least, is the view of a female academic who took the trouble to analyse 23 episodes of the programme inspired by the books of the Rev W V Awdry.

- Read more at Daily Mail

It's a British paper, but the "research" was done by someone at the U. of Alberta in Canada. *sigh*