Red Hair

[Vaelus]

I never realized there were so many legends and stereotypes about Red Haired people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_hair

So I thought this could be a interesting topic for discussion. I have red hair and the stereotypical freckles and pale skin that comes with it myself. I've read some more articles on the Internet about how people with Red Hair have been discriminated against or sometimes even killed because of it. Its kind of interesting to go read some of those stories. Some people even seem to consider red haired people another race! Which really raises a interesting question, since of 1 to 2% of the population has red hair, should red haired people be considered a minority?

I can honestly say I've had discrimination because of hair color before. But at the same time I've had some good things said because of it too.

I know their are people from many countries and other parts of America reading this forum so I'd really like to hear their insights on this. Have any of you seen these discrimination like this?

I'm even more interested in those of you in japan. I know there are very few red haired people there obviously, but how do they fare there? I am planning on going there someday so I'd like to hear some insight on it. Is anyone here a red haired person who has been to Japan? I know that freckles are considered very unattractive there which might cause me some problems but any other issues that surface?

[Candyvan Stan]

I personally find girls with red hair very attractive. I have to admit I'm not so crazy about the pale skin and freckles.

Still, I've seen people teased for it. But never really 'discriminated against' for it.

[Mastiker]

I find red hair, pale skin, and freckles cute. Very cute.

[Duke Luke of Juke]

Yeah, a lot of red-headed girls are cute. And I always wanted a red-headed best friend (I think it comes from reading the first Harry Potter book when I was like 12). LOL.

But on the other hand, this girl I was talking to from Melbourne asked if we hate redheads too, and I was sort of like, "Huh? What dya mean?" And she said it's pretty normal there to dislike redheads, or that it'd be embarrassing to date one. Just seems so random to me.

The South Park "ginger" episode was pretty classic though.

[Candyvan Stan]

Yes. A red-headed best friend who provides comedic relief would be awesome.

[Citizen]

I can't stand red hair. Especially when it's been dyed red. Probably the most disgusting of the natural color dyes.

But whatever floats your cock, I guess.

Freckles can be decent, though, as long as they're light freckles. Not a fan of body freckles or of freckles you can see from a block away. And pale skin is decent as long as it's the healthy kind. Pasty emo skin can GTFO.

[knivesc]

One of my best childhood friends had red hair and I was jealous as a kid xD

He did get teased a hell of a lot at school though. Kids can be cruel and I think it affected him and he has become quite a timid person. All 5 of his sisters had red hair too with freckles and I thought they looked pretty cute :knockout:

[SlickWilly440]

Kids can be cruel...

They sure can be; saying things like "Crotch Fire," or "Carrot Top" and such.

[Vaelus]

They sure can be; saying things like "Crotch Fire," or "Carrot Top" and such.

Mmm I got hit with Carrot Top even into High school. lol I never realized red haired best friends were in such high demand. I should tell mine that. In his case I provide not only comic relief but also kicks in the rear when he goes into depressive mode lol.

[erbiumfiber]

I'd say at least half of Japanese women in their 20's and 30's dye their hair some shade of reddish-brown. It's hugely popular. My daughter is a natural redhead and went to high school in Japan (international school) for two years. I'm guessing a lot of people thought she dyed her hair.

She has the stereotypical pale skin but no freckles.

She now goes to university in the UK where pale skin is the norm and her hair color is not that unusual.

She was teased as a kid but not really about her hair. But it did make her stand out and maybe that was the cause of the teasing?

[Your Mom]

My brother's a natural red head.
It's always been one of his defining features, and people like to comment on it (especially now that he has a full, red beard), but it's usually seen as something positive. He claims to have never been discriminated against because of it.

[ruaidhri]

Personally, I've always preferred red-haired women. I like everything about them. I sought them out. I like them so much the woman I married has red hair and I consider myself very, very lucky. We celebrated our 36th anniversary a couple of weeks ago and we never stopped enjoying each other's company.

But, yes, one would have to be blind not to notice that some people hate people with red hair. Here's a good one for you. A number of years ago my secretary made the comment, "Don't you just hate people with red hair?" I said, "No, my wife has red hair." You should have heard her try to back out of that.

[Rear Admiral Grapefruit]

Lots of people in England hate red hair, but lots of people are arse holes too, so it's expected.

I'm 20 now and I've heard lots of things from having red hair ( i prefare to say orange tbh, since, well, it's orange, but meh semantics), but i think the thing that bothers me the most is that people can openly give me shit about it and i can't do anything about it, if i were black and someone called me the n-word they'd be racist, other people would be pretty shocked by that, but since it's hair colour it's treated as acceptable.

I've had plenty people insult me whenever i'm outside, recently on a train i listened to a woman talk shit about me for 20minutes until the train was pulling in to the station she stands infront of me and tells me to cut my hair and dye it another colour. I didn't kill her, but by god did I want to. Then the brave people who shout abuse from car windows and such.

TBH, it's gotten to where when people say something nice i actually assume they're being sarcastic first. Around high school age i pretty much decided i was sick of being insulted whenever i went anywhere so i just kinda got familiar with the family PC and no-one could harass me then until i went back into school.

There's a lot less of it with age though, but that may just be to do with the type of people i'm around now at university. I think stupidity in people relates directly to prejudice, or at least, to the uncontrollable desire to share a worthless opinion at every given opportunity.

[Shishio]

But, yes, one would have to be blind not to notice that some people hate people with red hair.

Guess I'm blind then. I have never, ever, seen someone discriminated against for having red hair, or have even heard of any such instances until now.

Frankly, this thread astounds me.

[erbiumfiber]

When I took my daughter to London to visit universities, some asshole on the train started loudly questioning whether my daughter's pubic hair is also "ginger." With me sitting right there. We pass as British and weren't talking so they couldn't hear our American accent so I just assume that they are assholes to everyone, not just foreigners.

And, yes, I also wonder why it's acceptable to talk about hair color and stereotypes but not skin color and stereotypes. Neither my daughter's father nor I have red hair so I've also been subjected to the "does the mailman have red hair?" treatment.

[Roxie]

when I was young and I saw The Little Mermaid, I prayed to have red hair every night for like a month.

I know a set of twins (black) who where born with red hair and freckles.

[RoxFontaine]

You know, I haven't met that many redheads in my life. I had a redhead girlfriend when I was in junior high school. Her name was Candy. Really sweet girl. I wonder whatever happened to her.

Aside from that, I don't have anything to contribute to this topic. :)

[Roxie]

I knew 3 redhead girls in HS, 2 of which I'm still close to.

[Roxie]

Never understood the whole "Ginger" thing.

[ak24]

http://z.about.com/d/tvcomedies/1/0/M/0/-/-/lily.jpg

Hot! I wish I knew redheads too!

[volomavi]

Guess I'm blind then. I have never, ever, seen someone discriminated against for having red hair, or have even heard of any such instances until now.

Frankly, this thread astounds me.

I agree, or at the very least the part of the world I come from, I have never seen anybody being teased or even thought they would be teased because of red hair. And what is seemingly becoming a trend, I consider girls with natural red hair to be just plain adorable.

[Roxie]

I've never seen someone be teased for their red hair, but I'm sure it happens. But out and out discrimination, that's a wow.

[Masa the Masta]

I had fun with a red head once.


...That's a lie. Twice.


She was really friendly. Not the brightest on the block, certainly wanton..um..


Not that you should take this as verbatim for all red heads. She could've been hotter, but I'm not going to complain too much. she was fun.

[Josh]

I read in my biology book in tenth grade that, technically, some redheads are mutants. Aside from that, eh, I've got a few ginger kid friends.

Oddly enough, they are the only people that I don't threaten to beat like redheaded step children.

Edit: I never say that to anybody unless they know im joking, which I always am. Domestic/Child Abuse = :(

[Shuft]

You know, I haven't met that many redheads in my life. I had a redhead girlfriend when I was in junior high school. Her name was Candy. Really sweet girl. I wonder whatever happened to her.

Aside from that, I don't have anything to contribute to this topic. :)
She became a stripper.



Seriously though, I haven't seen any discrimination against redheads where I live. Also, my last girlfriend was a redhead. That wasn't what attracted me to her though.

Does the sex matter? For example, there are a number of famous hot female redheads, but I can't think of any famous hot male redheads (this may also be because I don't find myself thinking about famous hot dudes as much as famous hot ladies).

[Roxie]

Carrot Top, Conan O'brien

[erbiumfiber]

Does the sex matter? For example, there are a number of famous hot female redheads, but I can't think of any famous hot male redheads (this may also be because I don't find myself thinking about famous hot dudes as much as famous hot ladies).

Yes, I do think it's harder for guys with red hair (not considered "hot" or particularly attractive).

Prince Charles was reportedly pissed off (indirectly at Diana) for the fact that Harry ended up with red hair (it's apparently common in her family, the Spencers).

[Roxie]

OH WAIT, You said "Hot"
oh...

[erbiumfiber]

Yeah, I was kind of wondering about your response. I guess it's POSSIBLE that someone finds these guys "hot"- hey, whatever floats your boat.

[Shishio]

I agree, or at the very least the part of the world I come from, I have never seen anybody being teased or even thought they would be teased because of red hair. And what is seemingly becoming a trend, I consider girls with natural red hair to be just plain adorable.

It's good to know I'm not the only one.

Although I don't prefer redheads, (I prefer brunettes and raven-haired ladies) I am astounded that red haired people actually get discriminated against.

(Although honestly, I shouldn't be, because there seems to be no limit to the stupidity of the human race).

My advice to redheads is to move to a civilized country. Like Canada.

[Beowulf]

I'm a full blooded irishman so I have red hair, freckles, light skin, neck as wide as my head, the works.

Never faced any discrimination at all in my whole life. And my g/f of 3 years seems to enjoy it so I don't question.

[Kyletherealninja]

I like the redhead+freckles+light skin look. Very cute.

Dyed red hair, on the other hand... nasty.

[Trump]

FYI, while you can't use racist to describe someone who hates red hair, you are more than welcome to use bigot. It is definately not a flattering term.

[ruaidhri]

Personally, I find this an interesting thread. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve always liked red hair and even married a red haired woman.

Back in the early to mid 1960’s discrimination, racism and bigotry became a hot issue. I was watching a television interview of Arthur Godfrey, a revered radio/television personality from the 1940’s and 50’s, when he mentioned that he was personally aware of discrimination because of his red hair. I couldn’t believe he was serious. I thought his statement was quite funny and typical of old white men that didn’t appreciate the seriousness of the civil rights movement. After all, I never heard of anyone enslaving someone or lynching them because they had red hair.

It wasn’t until much later that I learned that not everyone appreciates red hair and that red heads are subject to verbal, if not physical, attacks. I also find this amazing and ask the general question: Why?

Anyway, I found this on an obscure site with absolutely no credibility. It’s not even worth referencing. Still, it’s interesting enough for me to include:

Famous Redheads

Eric the Red, Vincent Van Gogh, William Blake, Maureen O'Hara, George Bernard Shaw Wilma Flintstone, Pippi Longstocking, Cleopatra, Christopher Columbus, Emily Dickinson, William Shakespeare, Carol Burnett, D.H. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, Anne of Green Gables, Mary Queen of Scots, Spencer Tracy, Pebbles Flintstone, Bette Davis, Thomas Jefferson, William the Conqueror, Greer Garson, George Washington, John Glenn, Galileo, Sarah Bernhardt, Lucille Ball, Red Buttons, Arthur Godfrey, Stan Laurel, Conan O'Brien, Queen Elizabeth I, Sarah Ferguson, Henry II, Howdy Doody, Henry VIII , Susan Sarandon, Sinclair Lewis, James Cagney, Queen Victoria, Mark Twain, Woody Allen , Raggedy Ann & Abdy, Susan Hayward, Danny Kaye, Christopher Columbus, Katherine Hepburn, Ron Howard, Clifford, Deborah Kerr, Shirley MacLaine, Lord Byron, Bette Midler, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Redford, Julia Roberts, Ginger Rogers, Red Skelton, Spencer Tracy, Jack Warden, Ezra Pound, Rita Hayworth, Nichole Kidman, The Judds, Reba McEntire, ,Molly Ringwald, Ann Margret, Bonnie Rait, Alexander The Great, Eric Stoltz, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, Captain Miles Standish of the Mayflower, Charlemagne

[Micah the Great]

I can honestly say i've never seen discrimination against redheads... ever. Of course besides the ginger South Park episode, which was just a big joke... it least i thought. I mean, i can see how(but still not 'why') people tend to discriminate against blacks, latinos, chinese, etc. because their appearance can easily relate them to a stereotype of that culture. But redheads? I don't get it.

Anyway, hot redheads are hot. Big time. I even like the freckles. Not a TON... but a few are hot. Oh man...

[digable]

I'd heard the phrase "beat you like a readheaded stepchild," but never really thought much of it, though it seems like a lot of people

do. (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_the_phrase_'beat_you_like_a_red-headed_stepchild'_come_from_and_what_does_it_mean)

I never knew being redhead was a negative thing until I met Kiwi teachers in Japan who would go on and on about how they hated "ginger" kids when they were younger. I'd never even heard that term until then.

And yes, reheads are hot.

[belladonna]

i love red hair!! mine is actually dyed auburn at the moment, but i do have a natural red cast to it as well. i love red-headed guys, rupert grint and prince harry, anyone?


i have seen red heads discriminated against, however anyone that enjoys history knows that red hair was a trait of the celts in west europe and they were incredibly intelligent and fabulous warriors. the only red heads i've ever met have been very smart and also very friendly.

[Everdarke]

I've never seen a red head get discriminated against either. What actually would make a person want to discriminate against a person with red hair? Maybe it's intimidating to some people like red capes are for bulls. I can already imagine in my head some guy, seeing a red head walk on the street, being filled with rage and bullrushing the read head with all his might. Personally I can't see myself ever discriminating against a person because of their skin or hair color.

[akitaka]

I'd heard the phrase "beat you like a readheaded stepchild," but never really thought much of it, though it seems like a lot of people

do. (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_the_phrase_'beat_you_like_a_red-headed_stepchild'_come_from_and_what_does_it_mean)

I never knew being redhead was a negative thing until I met Kiwi teachers in Japan who would go on and on about how they hated "ginger" kids when they were younger. I'd never even heard that term until then.

And yes, reheads are hot.
Maybe they lived in a particular area where mentioned "gingerkids" weren't quite nice. Even short impressions in childhood times carry on pretty far into adulthood, but like most everyone else, I've never met anyone who really had anything against people of particular hair color unrelated to styling and work-professionalism. Like those people with pink hair? God-jesus...

(I kid, they're alright)

It wasn’t until much later that I learned that not everyone appreciates red hair and that red heads are subject to verbal, if not physical, attacks. I also find this amazing and ask the general question: Why?
It seems more like a shallow vein of racism/bias that isn't targeted so specifically since there really is no particular community background to take moral shots at. People can try and blame all Hispanics (or any race that has a particular appearance for that matter) for "stealing our jobs" and use that as a moralistic ram-rod, but what of people who's only difference to you is their hair-color? I mean, it's not like the Irish or any other race with naturally red hair did anything to particularly stand out in this generation. Maybe so in the 50's, or earlier, but all that seems to have died out after the popularity of hair-dye :gwitch:

[Noel]

...anyone that enjoys history knows that red hair was a trait of the celts in west europe and they were incredibly intelligent and fabulous warriors.

Uh, really? You're talking about the same guys who thought being naked and painted blue was a good way to battle Romans? ;)


I think the reason redheads are unpopular is that in modern culture being red-haired is associated with being unpopular. Tautology, no?

Kids are always harsh to other kids, so if a child stands out (i.e. for being ginger) then you would expect them to get teased mercilessly at school. Like the kid with a stupid name. You expect a ginger kid to become a bit of a social outcast. Not because there is anything really wrong with being ginger, but because kids are cruel and red hair is an easy target.

So we do get this association of ginger/unpopular. I'm surprised that anyone could actually hate redheads though.

I do tease my redheaded friends mercilessly. But they are my friends and they feel free to hit me.

[Roxie]

Well, Noel, those tactics did shake them up a bit. if only for a little while.

[Noel]

Hehe, I suppose it would be pretty scary for the Romans.

[belladonna]

other than just that, they were good fighters, hello Charlemagne was a redhead and a warrior king. and the tudors were mostly reds as well.

[Ginner Ben]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6725653.stm

Families have been driven out of their houses by "gingerism" (God, that's an awful term).

Let's do some youtubing:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FWkFkNhIDtg&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n9fPI3F9slM&feature=related - This one's a short one. About 10 seconds.

There's a load more out there. I just grabbed a couple.

I took a load of abuse for it for years. Then, it became a nickname (Hence my name on this forum, actually), and now it really doesn't bother me. But, a lot of people have it a lot worse.

A couple of links relating to suicide/attempted suicide related to "gingerism":

http://www.out-law.com/page-8141
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=519&id=346692007


And for anyone who tries to claim it's just playground humour etc, just a bit of fun...

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=3cadcfce-be9a-4f10-90e2-0b1ca7b92061&k=24947

A guy got murdered because of his hair colour.

[Noel]

and the tudors were mostly reds as well.

The Tudors were rubbish! Lizzie's most glorious victory was when the Spanish fleet got mutilated by a storm.

But Blackadder II was great.


And for anyone who tries to claim it's just playground humour etc, just a bit of fun...

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=3cadcfce-be9a-4f10-90e2-0b1ca7b92061&k=24947

A guy got murdered because of his hair colour.

Please don't think that the desire to kill is behind all ginger-mocking. It really, really isn't. Besides, from that article: "A BBC report called it the first "serious anti-red-hair hate crime."
The first, i.e. so far the only. Freakishly stupid attacks do occur - a guy was stabbed on a London bus because he politely told the murderer-to-be to stop throwing chips at his girlfriend.

[ZaichikArky]

^ wow that's increedibly depressing. God Bless America.

Actually never mind, I have never been in the deep south. But even the DEEP SOUTH can't be any worse than that : (.

How absolutely horrid >_<. Kudos to anyone who can guess the reference.

Sometimes I just think Adam should have succeeded. Maybe the world would be a better place.

[Roxie]

Hold your tounge (or fingers)! I live in the "Deep South":karate:

[ZaichikArky]

No, dear, the atlanta area is NOT the deep south. Sorry : (.

[Roxie]

What? Florida is?
Are you referring to an actual physical location or a state of mind?

[ZaichikArky]

state of mind.

Also, northern florida and especially the pan handle is, anywhere south of Palm Beach(arguable palm beach county is kinda deep south) isn't the deep south. They're kinda... proud of it too >_>

Also, it's not only the shittiness about the deep south I'm talking about, it's the general deep south culture(the good aspects too such as southern hospitality)... some places just are not deep south even though they technically exist in the south.

[Shuft]

I thought Atlanta was the "dirty south." Is that different from the "deep south?" If so, is that because Atlanta isn't as deep, or because it is less clean? also, where does "Hotlanta" fit in to all this?

[Roxie]

Well, just this friday it was 80F(27C).
And we do have a real bad smog problem.

[belladonna]

zaichik have you ever lived in the south? the larger cities are arguably the most racist parts of the area. not the backwater neighborhoods... and i have been to the deep south, my dad's family lives in jasper, alabama

[ZaichikArky]

Of course not. I only have know a bunch of ppl who live in Atlanta and they all tell me it's a liberal mecca in a state otherwise filled with rednecks. *shrug*. I'd rather not set foot in the deep south unless it's at that huge airport in Atlanta which I've been to like 4 times at least. I wouldn't know, I've never been there, but I'm only talking about Atlanta, not other Southern cities.

[Trump]

From what I understand, Atlanta is pretty "modern" for lack of a better word in both viewpoints and culture.

Deep south stretches from Louisiana, comes across the northern side of Florida, and covers most of the country north through kentucky and Virginia. There are big "non-south" areas near Atlanta and from Jacksonville south near the cities. As far as I know, Atlanta is the only real "big city" in the south.

[Roxie]

It includes Texas, so no, Atl isn't the only "big city"

[Kyletherealninja]

Atlanta and the surrounding area is much more modern, I guess, than many places in the South.

I don't think Texas should be thrown in with "the south", either. As someone who's spent most of his life in that state, I can vouch for it being a lot different from Georgia or Alabama or whatever.

[Roxie]

Well, that's too bad. Texas is considered the south.

[belladonna]

atl is definitely not the only "big" city in the south, has anyone ever heard of the memphis metro area, it's almost the same size as atlanta

texas is considered west more often than south

[Roxie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_south
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_United_States

I'm not making this stuff up.

[belladonna]

some of that is definitely wrong, it says that tennessee is upper south when by tennesseeans themselves call it mid-south, because it is

[Kleshya]

Louisville, KY is a large city also (few years back it was named 16th largest in US or something) but I would not consider that south regardless of that map. Too many people in Louisville government seem to think it's southern too as they are constantly surprised when it snows, even though it *gasp* happens every year. (Reminded of Bill Engvall's comic act where he is refering to a few inches of snow in Texas shutting down the state and causing a run on the grocery stores....I have seen it happen in Louisville when I lived there....)

Back on the subject, in the many places I have lived I have never seen discrimination or antagonism towards people with red hair, but in a sad way it does not surprise me that something as silly as that exists.

[Trump]

South Florida is one huge metro area, but that doesn't make it a city. It isn't really size so much as attitude. Big cities tend to be very dense and that changes people's viewpoints. I would argue that Memphis is not even close to a big city like Atlanta. If you want a reference... http://www.tpl.org/content_documents/ccpe_Population_Density.pdf

I think Texas is more part of the west since their economy and culture began based around cattle and oil instead of the more colonial economies of the states to the east.

Are we discriminating against redheads by not talking about them? heh

[belladonna]

i know that it's not nearly as large, but it is a big city in the middle of small towns