to feel insulted by the availability of a ginger gene test

[HariboAndWine]

As a redhead I find the whole idea of this test incredibly insulting and offensive. I wouldn't change a single hair on the heads of my beautiful redheaded daughters either. The suggestion that one of the most defining physical features of myself and my beautiful girls is in some way a defect makes me

[oddslippers]

[HecateWhoopass]

Is there a link?
I know physical characteristics are genetic and can therefore be identified but are you saying this test is available so people can decide to not have a child?

[lashingsofbingeinghere]

Meh, it's a test for parents to see if they have one of the genetic variants that might lead to a red headed baby. here

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Why? Do you honestly think people who carry the gene will decide not to have children because of it? If they do then they are probably too ignorant to make good parents anyway.

[SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker]

We wanted a red head :) Looks like DH may not have the gene though as I only have red genes and neither kid was blessed with red.

[YorkshireDeb]

YANBU. I would far rather have beautiful red hair than my boring 'mousey' shade. I would be thrilled if my children had red hair & can see why you would find this test offensive. X

[LegoAcupuncture]

YANBU! I have two children with beautiful red hair, it wouldn't have even crossed my mind to have a test. Ds3 otoh does not have red hair, much to his disappointment.

[SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker]

This reminds me of the scene in glee where Emma describes her parents as ginger supremacists LOL

[HariboAndWine]

I am well aware that i may be overreacting! Perhaps my hackles have been raised by people who think it acceptable to make comments such as 'never mind, perhaps it will get darker as she gets older' and 'at least she is a girl with that colour'. I even had people ask if i was 'worried about the hair.colour' when i was pregnant.

[Oblomov]

Ginger ds2 was a surprise. I don't see that this test is offensive. If you have no interest in having such a test done, then this is no problem. If there are some people that would like to have the test done, this is also fine. I don't see what the issue is.

[Catchingmockingbirds]

My cousin is a ginger, I'm really jealous as her hair is such a beautiful colour. I find it quite strange that people would pay for a genetic test for hair colour, and then what, chose not to have children if it's shown that they may be red heads?

[exexpat]

I was carrot-topped as a child, but it later faded to what I gather I'm supposed to call 'strawberry blonde'. I really, really wanted a daughter with long curly red hair like one of my cousins; DD does indeed have long curly hair, but you can only see the glints of red in certain lights. I really can't imagine how any parent could be so prejudiced as to not want a child with red hair.

Speaking of which - this should be compulsory viewing:

[WowOoo]

I feel quite shocked by it.

Is it actually something that people would test for? Anyone who'd use a test like that would be an arse.

Vive la difference..

[WorraLiberty]

These threads always tend turn into a Ginger-off where people try to go 'one up' on how much they adore ginger hair

By the end of it, someone will have built a shrine to Chris Evans and Mick Hucknall in their front garden, just to prove they love the hair colour more than anyone else in the entire history of Mumsnet.

But YANBU, I heard about this test the other day and was totally gobsmacked

[Herrena]

exexpat - I was just about to link to that!!

If people want to find out their dismal genetic fate (i.e. that they will probably not have lovely ginger offspring) then meh, let them.

My ginger sister, son and myself salute you :)

[shockers]

The issue is that some people would want to abort a baby because they dislike the colour his/her hair could be.... I hope this isn't real because it's utterly vile and is telling people/children with ginger hair that they are undesirable within our society.

[Locketjuice]

My friend had her lb I called to congratulate her, she said he's ginger and 'why did I have to have a fucking ginge! Just my luck' as a red head myself I thought it was disgusting she acted like he had just had shit plastered over him!

[shockers]

And I speak as a proud ginger!

[IndridCold]

YANBU!

In my family it was my DB who got the red hair, and I was because my mum was always being complimented for it.

When did this anti ginger thing start? When I was at school in the dark ages we admired and envied the red headed girls, who all had much more interesting hair than everyone else.

[mademred]

Yanbu, im a red head.it is insultive.those people that don't want ginger kids should not procreate atall then.im the youngest of six kids, and the only redhead my parents had.i have five children and am dissappointed that I didn't have one with ginger hair, but I love them equally, and wouldn't have not had a child because it was going to be dark haired or blonde.redheads are passionate and firey.i was bullied all thru school because of my hair.

[TheLightPassenger]

yanbu. Doesn't seem the best use of medical research, if the gene just identifies hair colouring rather than has any other health implications.

[FlorriesDragons]

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

When I read about this, it never occurred to me that someone would use it to avoid having redheaded children. I thought it was just a curiosity thing.

But, the whole ginger thing is weird to Americans. We don't get it.

[Montybojangles]

They will offer it as people are dumb enough to cough up for the test, so kerching! I believe the companies offering it are discussing being a red head as a positive thing, rather than a negative.
www.myredhairgene.com/page3/page3.html