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Original poster

That colleague made comment about ginger babies

316 replies

CheesexCrackers · 02/05/2024 11:30

To be annoyed about a colleague making comments about ginger hair?

A colleague has recently come back from maternity leave and was talking about her dd.

She said she's so glad she's got brown hair, it would be the worst to have a ginger baby, I would of hated to have a ginger baby it would of been horrible.... she then glanced around the room and noticed my hair and made an awkward face.

I'm pregnant with my first and may well have a red haired baby, which I would personally love.

Is it the pregnancy hormones talking or am I right to be pissed off that she's targeting red hair.... and even red haired babies??

OP posts:
DodoTired · 02/05/2024 20:08

I adore ginger hair. So beautiful!

she’s super rude

Willyoujustbequiet · 02/05/2024 20:07

HoneyButterPopcorn · 02/05/2024 18:05

Did Viking really have red hair though? Can’t say I’ve ever met a red haired skandi/danish oerson.

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Yes. More reds than blonde in parts of Scandinavia according to genetic research. Tormund from GOT is a particular favourite of mine lol.

It's why there are so many in Scotland, Ireland and North East England. Its no coincidence that we bore the brunt of the Viking raids.

StarbucksQueen1 · 02/05/2024 20:06

I’d have loudly said ‘what’s wrong with ginger babies or people for that matter? Have you seen my hair?’!
Ginger hair is gorgeous she’s a twat!

CharlotteLucas3 · 02/05/2024 20:04

Are you very attractive OP? Because her comment seems a bit odd. I mean there’s nothing wrong with brown hair but it’s not usually something people are thrilled with is it? Mine is a particularly dull shade of brown and I’d love to have red hair.

MILhere · 02/05/2024 20:04

honeylulu · 02/05/2024 20:00

I'm laughing my head off at "poo brown hair" despite having poo brown hair myself.

I love red hair so much I married a ginger. Our son has poo brown hair like me and our daughter has lovely strawberry blonde hair that I'm envious of.

White personal laughs at the idea of brown being compared to poo as an insult, shocker

Dearg · 02/05/2024 20:01

HoneyButterPopcorn · 02/05/2024 18:15

Really? Wow. I had a Norwegian friend who was rather short and dark - every time she was introduced to someone new she was ‘yes I’m Norwegian, yes I’m short, no I’m not blonde…’

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Well my own experience of living near Stavanger was that more were dark and not exceptionally tall, than the tall blonde vision I had expected.

RedMark · 02/05/2024 20:01

I've never understood this. Even as a child. And turns out, one of my boys is slightly gingery/blonde. It was a surprise as DH and I were both very blonde as children and our first ds is very bright blonde. Ds2's gingery blonde hair is gorgeous and suits him.

honeylulu · 02/05/2024 20:00

I'm laughing my head off at "poo brown hair" despite having poo brown hair myself.

I love red hair so much I married a ginger. Our son has poo brown hair like me and our daughter has lovely strawberry blonde hair that I'm envious of.

AInightingale · 02/05/2024 19:58

Well it's a bit of a pain in hot sunny weather (condemned to a life of Factor 70), but apart from that what's the issue? Look at the number of red/strawberry blonde hair dyes available to buy, no-one ever chooses to dye their hair mid-brown (unless it's going grey that is). Your colleague is an arsehole.

Cuckoochanel80 · 02/05/2024 19:51

DeersBeersPeers · 02/05/2024 19:46

I always think that anyone making negative comments about red heads is bring racist towards people of celtic origin. I don't know why it's tolerated when negative comments about any other prominent characteristic of a group would be unacceptable and the person would be told to stop by others. I'd consider making a complaint to HR especially if there are any further comments about it

Edited

Yes, I agree.

I don't see any difference if she'd said 'I'm glad my baby doesn't have dark skin'.

Shouldn't be allowed.

elliejjtiny · 02/05/2024 19:50

A little girl at my son's preschool had ginger hair. Not the kind that's a bit blonde or auburn as well but bright ginger. She was absolutely gorgeous. I have auburn in my hair, when the weather is sunny so I was hoping for at least one ginger haired baby but it didn't happen. Although ds1 has dh's almost black hair with blue eyes combo which is very striking.

JockTamsonsBairns · 02/05/2024 19:50

I'm Scottish, living in England, and I genuinely adore ginger hair. Perhaps because it's more unusual here than in Scotland?

I feel sorry that it's still seen as fair game to mock people with ginger hair.
Of my friends who have been blessed with it, each and every one has grown to love it.

BathshebaEverdene1 · 02/05/2024 19:49

My daughter used to put henna on her blonde hair as she thought red was lovely. I think she wanted to be like a pre Raphelite girl..

The first time she did it at the age of 13 she was shocked that suddenly she got rude comments in public!

Weirdly after years of doing it her hair is like a natural auburn/ ginger..

BurbageBrook · 02/05/2024 19:48

YANBU. I think she did this on purpose, to hurt you, for some reason. Surely she doesn't actually think this way. No one could be that stupid.

DeersBeersPeers · 02/05/2024 19:46

I always think that anyone making negative comments about red heads is bring racist towards people of celtic origin. I don't know why it's tolerated when negative comments about any other prominent characteristic of a group would be unacceptable and the person would be told to stop by others. I'd consider making a complaint to HR especially if there are any further comments about it

Cuckoochanel80 · 02/05/2024 19:45

I hate dickhead colleagues like this 🙄

Original poster
CheesexCrackers · 02/05/2024 19:43

Thank for all the comments of support everyone. I had very mixed comments growing up, older people tended to comment how beautiful my hair was, but children at school would often make rude comments, thankfully I love my hair now!

OP posts:
Gulbekian · 02/05/2024 19:43

She's downright ignorant. Ignore.

hotpotlover · 02/05/2024 19:40

Ginger hair is extremely beautiful.

ABwithAnItch · 02/05/2024 19:39

I’ve never gotten my head around the British hatred of red hair. It’s just weird. Would love someone to explain it. Red hair is gorgeous.

Georgethecat1 · 02/05/2024 19:39

My neighbours were very invested if my kids were red headed. Not congratulations but first question / response after their birth was “are they ginger”

Honestly they are so focused on image, they have loads of debt and i don’t think they are very nice people. Not comfortable in their own skin and wanting to impress people all the time. I feel sorry for them must be a sad life

ZoeCM · 02/05/2024 19:39

Red hair is lovely. What an unpleasant comment for her to make.

Runnerinthenight · 02/05/2024 19:38

Faduckssake · 02/05/2024 11:44

You should have looked her in the eye and said "I'd rather ginger than rude".

Yes, or "baby can always dye their hair later if s/he wants, but you will always be a bitch!"

overitall100 · 02/05/2024 19:37

She sounds very insensitive and not too bright. Red hair is beautiful and I wish I had it!
Just feel sad for her that she is judgemental and small minded. Enjoy your pregnancy and first born. 💕

jasminocereusbritannicus · 02/05/2024 19:36

I am not ginger, nor my ex- DH, but was mother to a very red haired baby. (Her brothers were not red).
It was such a lovely shade, complete strangers used to comment and say how much they loved it and that it cost a lot of money to have your hair dyed that shade!
I will never understand why some people 'hate ' red/ginger hair so much. What is wrong with it?