British Airways embroiled in sexism row with Miriam Gonzalez for referring to girls as 'little princesses'

British Airways has become locked in a sexism row with Miriam Gonzalez Durantez after she criticised the airline for referring to girls as “little princesses” in an in-flight magazine.

The high-profile lawyer, who is married to former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, said that the advertisement had made her “want to scream” on reading.

The source of her anger, an advert for a Disney branded watch from the children’s film Frozen, states that the pink-themed accessory is “the perfect watch for your little princess.”

In a public rebuke of the airline, Mrs Durantez wrote on Instagram: “When you have a 2.30 hours delay in a British Airways flight...open the inflight magazine and want to scream: Stop-calling-girls-little-princesses! It cannot be so difficult for an airline to get this right.”

The incident comes less than two months after BA apologised to a university professor when she accused the airline of promoting “gender stereotypes” by referring to her husband as the “head of the household” on their executive club membership.

Ruth Blakeley, a professor in international relations at the University of Kent, said that she had been shocked by the airline’s use of the term, which she claimed was “outdated” and “sexist”.

And earlier this month, the airline faced protests from female cabin crew members over its uniform policy, which required them to carry a handbag whilst on duty.  

Responding to Mrs Durantez’s comments, a spokesman for British Airways said: “As the airline with the most female pilots in the UK we wholeheartedly agree that stereotypes should be challenged.

“Like Miriam Gonzalez Durantez our female pilots and engineers act as strong role models and regularly visit schools and colleges as part of the airline's campaign to inspire and encourage more young women to consider non-traditional aviation careers.

He added that the term head of household “bears no relation to gender” and that airline crew were regularly consulted on uniform policy.

Mrs Durantez, who is chair of Inspiring Girls, an organisation dedicated to “raising the aspirations of young girls around the world” has frequently called out major brands and toy companies for promoting gender stereotypes in their advertising.

In February, she also criticised the organisers of an International Women’s Day event for referring to her as “Mrs Clegg” at the conference.

Voicing her objection to being referred to as "Nick Clegg's missus", Mrs Durantez said: "It's just not on. We are not defined by who we have married or who we sleep with."