"Ginger boys are just ugly"

I don't see that its any different to the internal skin colour hierarchy common to people from non- white ethnic backgrounds - and that's definitely racism.

But most people who are white British/Celtic/Irish/Scottish don't have red hair and more often than not the abuse comes from somebody of the same race and nationality.

It's definitely abuse and prejudice, but isn't it more about appearance than race?

cactusannie having dark skin or olive skin isn't 'a race' either - both they and ginger hair are racial characteristics. Fine to say being anti-red hair is racist, as much as that term would apply to someone who was anti dark skin.

Not sure what your point is fiverabbits?

Ok, ok I'll reword it cactus and say it's a form of discrimination that seems to be acceptable in today's society (but can be extremely damaging). As a mum of gingers, I appreciate I'm extra sensitive in this topic.

When my eldest sister was born, my aunt said to my Mum Oh what a shame she is ginger, as she got older her hair went very much lighter.
My aunt went on to have 2 DS and 1DD who where really carroty ginger and still are. My Mum went on to have 1 black haired 1 white haired 1 brown haired and I was fair.

I'm not sure I'd say it's ignorant to call it racist, cactus, though I can see your point.
If you're born with a colour (be it hair/ skin) that you can do nothing about, and are constantly mocked for it, surely that's a form of racism?
I have 2 ginger children. I must admit, as awful as it sounds, I was a little worried when my son was born with a shock of ginger hair. Of course, he was the most beautiful boy ever , but I just knew that he'd have to endure many ignorant comments for the rest of his life which made me sad. I've so far had someone say how disappointing for me, he's ginger, someone talk about their neighbour saying they didn't like them, "and they have ginger children", and people often saying they were worried they might have a ginger and then looking at me and backtracking. When I watch a program on TV (ok, comedy type quiz, nothing too intellectually challenging!) with a guest with ginger hair, I count to 10 and a comment by the host will have been made and the audience start laughing. Boring. My DS at 3 (luckily he didn't notice) was taunted for being ginger by a mob of school boys in a shopping centre. I got them kicked out by security, went home and had a little cry. People with ginger hair do have to grow up with thinker skin. Why should they? I find it slightly sickening when posters keep gushing about gingers and how sad they are they didn't have a ginger DC. Really? On the plus side, my DS is a super confident sporty and popular boy who hasn't noticed any ginger comments yet, though I'm sure things will change at secondary school. My ginger DH took up boxing as a child to give him more confidence because he was constantly picked on for being ginger. So I do think it is a form of racism. It does help filter out friends though. Anyone ignorant enough to make ginger comments I give a very wide birth!

I am ginger, and I was bullied at school, which is common. But I have very early memories of adults looking at me in disgust, and making negative comments on my hair and appearance. I don't remember who these people were, just someone's weird, old uncle at a family event. But, I grew believing that I was worthless, ugly and that nobody would ever want me. It makes me sad to think about any children who might be growing up feeling the same, just because of how they look.

Two of my Ds's are ginger, DS1 is of the bright, pale eyelashes variety. It has not affected him too much, there is some banter from friends but not excessive, although he does avoid large crowds of young men who are strangers and we did get heckled on holiday in England once. He feels it makes it harder to find a girlfriend.

However, he plans to join the navy and I am concerned about bullying during training in England.

I have a ginger DH and DD. When I gave birth to her my DH followed her over with the midwife when she was being cleaned and shouted across the theatre "she's ginger". We all cheered :)

I love my lil gingers as they are both gorge, I don't really think the Celt genes help in attributing racism tho.
The term gingerbashing is just plain ridiculous to me and should not be used by anyone ginger.
I don't think people are specifically racist towards gingers, clearly people are just having a laugh when making comments based on another group of peoples' appearance. It's all part of the fun in the playground! Witwoo!!!!!
I fully accept that the term racism has background and abuse towards gingerhaired people is just seen as a bit of a laugh, no harm done etc. No reason to worry about future difficulties for any gingers cos it's all a bit of a laugh!
Sorry I am aware I am ranting and do apologise, I don't equate it to racism but find it really annoying that the issue is belittled need some cake

I would've leant over and said "at least you can dye red hair if you don't like it but there's not a lot you can do about your face"

One of my first cousins is a classic 'carrot top' and he's gorgeous!

I have a red haired 5 month old ds and he is the most gorgeous baby ever

Ooh, I have double whammy then (red hair and green eyes).

We used to live in Kazakhstan. There ds was adored, called the golden child, and my little sunshine etc.

He was called a True Kazkah. There is a legend that the real original Kazakhs were red haired and green eyed.
There is some historical evidence that there was a group of Norwegians who migrated to Central Asia, xxx hundred years ago and they may be the origins of the legend.
Kazkahs are normally dark skinned and black haired, but you do get the occasional child born who is fair with red hair and green eyes, and they are considered to be the most beautiful children of all.

'Celtic' is a term that actually has no meaning or relevance. It took off in the Victorian period when the idea of non-indistrialised, pristine wildness captured the imagination of the chatting classes.

The big red blob in Russia is the Udmurt peoples' homeland in the Volga Basin. They are not Jewish. A high proportion of Udmurt people have red hair.

The babushkas who came second in the Eurovision a few years ago were from this region iirc.

Was just going to say what CactusAnnie said - lots of blondes and gingers as well as brunettes in this Jewish family.

Ooops, posted too soon. However, he hasn't suffered any twats in many years now due to going bald - still sexy though with his ginger beard - which strangely the idiot people seem to find more acceptable than ginger hair.

Don't forget the gorgeous one from Greys Anatomy - Kevin McKidd. He may have already been mentioned - but yummy !
Plus, my own gorgeous hubby who always says that being Ginger taught him how to take a punch, made him tough etc. he says this only half tongue in cheek, sadly.
Growing up as a ginger lad in the 80's in inner city Birmingham wasn't a barrel of laughs for him by all accounts.

I think fassbender may have had his hair coloured in some photos (being an actor and everything).

Clearly the only way to settle this is to actually meet him.