Mumsnet Talk

One of our departmental secretaries has just found out she is having a boy, and in the process of her coming round to tell everyone said that her partner had said 'if he's a ginger he's going back in'. Then quite a few of my colleagues who I have always liked, waded in with comments of agreement and general revulsion at the very idea of a red-headed child.
Made me feel awful as I do have red-hair, and any of my future children could have it too. So basically they all think I and other red-headed people are freaks that should never have been born.

I think the word you're looking for, next time this conversation happens is an indignant 'HELLO????' Followed by a few choice phrases on how all this silly anti-red-head stuff is not acceptable. Stand up for yourself.

Tell them, loudly and clearly, to fuck the fuck off. And I'll come over from Catford and nut them with my red head too.

YY stand up for yourself!

Red heads are hot.

That is all

Ignore them.

20+ years on, my Mum still talks about a girl I went to school with who 'had the most beautiful hair I've ever seen'. She had long curly and very deep orangey/red hair.

My Mum is right - it was gorgeous.

Embrace it!

I too think you should stand up for yourself "It never did me, Nicole Kidman or Susan sarandon any bloody harm" - accompany that with eyerolling and huffing and puffing and it should shame them into being a bit less cunty.

twats.

My sister is ginger and my grandad was too, when I was carrying my children the biggest fear was they would be ginger! My sister dyes her hair and it hasn't been ginger for 15 years.

Interesting historical question. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were revered for their red hair - thats only 400 odd years ago - so when did red-hair become a big no-no? Absolutrely nothing valid on google to indicate why.

Americans adore it.

Stand up, point to your bonce and do the whole "HELLO?" thing. If they laugh, tell them they're fuckwits and unleash the red anger.

My DH is red, my youngest is red, his hair is the most beautiful head of hair I've ever seen (eldest wins on eyes).

I HATE these comments. Unfortunately however you react people still see it as a 'joke' and carry it on further if you get cross... grrr.

Thanks all
It was a conversation that happened a few desks away from me, so I couldn't really have waded in. It just seems that this way of thinking is perfectly normal and acceptable amongst lots of people and I fricken hate it.

Oh I know! What a crock of excrement! I am not a ginger but it really gets on my wotsits at the pointless bilious nonsense some people spout over this.

I hate it because it is a gorgeous hair colour - sunsets, autumn trees, foxes, rubies (I could go on endlessly) are all stunning for their colour - I totally do not get why some people don't see a head of hair the same way! I love red heads and am sorry my hubby is not one (it is his only flaw )

I also hate it as it has just become short-hand social currency - its meaningless, but people use it as a lazy way to make humour as everyone knows it is supposed to be funny so it is just a way of making a joke that everyone is supposed to buy into cos whoever said it is too lazy/not witty enough to come up with anything actually funny. Grr. And I am quite sure that most people who laugh along do it for the same reason even though the joke ain't that funny at all. It is as funny as that annoying uncle who constantly makes fart jokes nonstop and all you feel like doing is shaking him and shouting change the bloody record!

I agree with Cogito

Red hair is beautiful and they are cretins. I'm hoping my baby's hair will turn red like her dad's. I literally don't understand why you would care if your baby had red hair - unless you were worried about stupid reactions I suppose.

DP is a ginge and proud (his words) and I was auburn when I was born so the chance of dc1, due in July, being ginger is high. We often joke about it though, and have said if its ginger it's going back where it came from! Can't imagine anyone saying it seriously though, poor you op

'when I was carrying my children the biggest fear was they would be ginger!'

Nice. You have sunk to a new low with that comment Fabby.

I don't get the anti-red thing. It's generally very striking, accompanied by beautiful skin and startling eye colour. What's not to love? I spent most of my teens and early twenties dying my hair auburn/red. I am naturally a brunette with red highlights. I think <long time since hair was in any way natural>

Yes - Fabby were you joking??

I'm over it now, and am sufficiently able to usually stand up for myself about it, I just felt awful for all the other little red-headed babies who people look at and shudder.

YANBU.They're utter twats.

Red hair is beautiful,in it's many shades,not that it'd be acceptable to make such cruel comments if that wasn't the case.

I really cannot understand the prejudice towards those with red hair. It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.

What Snowbeetle said.
I don't have red hair, but I think it's a glorious colour.
And I never use the word ginger, it's now used as an insult. I always say redhead.

YANBU!! People are so bloody rude sometimes, it's outrageous. My DH had red hair (it's got a lot darker as he's got older and now isn't actually red although people seem to think it is ) and I had a few 'what are you going to do if it's a ginger' comments when I was pregnant . I am delighted that two of my DC do indeed have red hair. It's beautiful, like spun gold . Redheads are special . Tell the ignoramuses to fuck off!

And was that supposed to be helpful,Fabby? Again I'll ask do you ever think before you post?

I really want a redheaded child Tell them it is unacceptable.bastards

In Arthurian legend, a red head always comes to save England from peril. Churchill and Elizabeth I spring to mind.

Yes, Fabby

imagine being born with red hair but no manners or empathy



i don't understand the anti-red hair thing either, and having a very beautiful red haired DD (as described perfectly by Chickens ) i 'get' it frequently by ignorant bastards who are shallow and rude

I spent my childhood listening to people say "hasn't your brother got gorgeous hair - isn't he lucky" - his hair is a dark ginger and I was so jealous.
Have you seen Tim Minchin on the subject - he has a song called Prejudice which is on you tube.