Red/Ginger Hair

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I don’t know if it is the same in America but here in the UK there seems to be a real prejudice against people who have red/ginger hair.

I was out recently and a teenage girl of about 15 suddenly starting shouting abuse at a women across the street, just because she had ginger hair!!

Why is this? I would be interested to hear people’s theories. Why would you abuse/hate/judge someone just because they have a certain colour of hair? It doesn’t make any sense to me.

I think it's about difference. Any minority group is an easy target for those who like to see themselves as part of the 'normal' majority. They are probably quite insecure themselves about something, and like to bully others.

There's a great South Park episode about ginger people. But I won't go on, I wouldn't want to appear obsessed.

I am aware of it, but have not witnessed the prejudice first-hand. Every little difference in this society we live in is scrutinised and sometimes ostracized. Tolerance sometimes seems to be very minimal.

I am not one of these sad people though.

I've seen it all, and I'm in the US. My mom, brother, and sister are all gingers. Personally, I was always jealous of their deep red hair and never understood why people thought it was something undesirable.

it's because the English don't really like the Irish.

Irish folks aren't the only ones with red hair.

no but the Irish have the most redheads

I'm from the UK and I think redheads are beautiful. The first girl I had a proper crush on, had red hair.

Just the other day I had three men (note, not teens but adult men who should have grown out of this sort of BS) shout verbal abuse at my for my large forehead - see my Facebook profile and you'll see it's not that big. It's not just gingers, some people will find any difference as an excuse to abuse others, particularly differences that may make people paranoid about their appearance, I mean even if a ginger child was to go its whole life without bullying they may still feel self-conscious because they're different. When it comes to things like appearance I think it's just bullying, people do this to make themselves feel better, they target people different from them.

Gingers do get it especially hard, not sure why - my family are largely red heads, I expect my kids may end-up being red heads too. I think my advice to my kids is that inside every ginger kid is a sexy redhead waiting to get out.

redheads were definitely teased mercilesslywhen i was in school as they were rare and different. but they were not despised or anything once they got older. but the teasing often led to a whole lifetime of insecurity, so the damage was already done.

I just can't see why, there is no logic in it, then may be these sort of things just aren't logical.

Why are say people with red hair singled out for abuse for being 'diferent' when people who are really good at sports (who are also rare and different) looked up to?

To me, all people are equal are deserved to be treated with respect.

I have heard of red-haired people being the targets of bullying before, but I didn't realize it was such a huge problem. I think red-haired people are beautiful - after all, one of my favorite fictional characters of all time, Johnny Depp's portrayal of the Mad Hatter, has red hair.

Last edited by IdahoRose on 25 May 2011, 12:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Sports requires a bit of talent and dedication. Last time I checked, people are either born a ginger or they aren't.

People with red hair aren't the only ones teased mercilessly in school, though. I had white blonde hair as a kid, and heard it all.

Believe it or not, when i was a child, I was teased for being blonde. I was called names like "Aryan" and "Nazi", and "Dirty Blonde" with the implication that I was promiscuous (even though I was only 12 at the time and had next to no interest in boys).

Sounds familiar.

I had very blond hair as a kid too, although I was never teased because of it (was for loads of other things though).

I guess someone people feel the need to point out diffences in others to make themselves feel 'big'. Thinks its a very sad though. Wish people would just get on with one another and stop judging on apperance or percived differences.