Prejudice against red-heads? Why?

[AYoungSillyWomen]

This is sort of old news but it still baffles me. Across britain (I don't know about other countries) there's a prejudice called gingerism where people for whatever reason hate red-heads. Historically red headed women were thought to be witches but this is the 21 century and what gets me even more confused is the fact that red hair is the rarest hair color in the world, surely we should value and try to preserve the trait not demonize it.

Also, a few years ago, scientists were doing DNA tests on couples to see if they were carrying the ginger gene and many couples who found out they were actually wanted to break up with their partners. Having a red headed child can be that disgusting to people? What is wrong with people?

Me personally, I wish I was a redhead. Beautiful flaming locks and cute freckles. What's there not to like? There is a sunlight sensitivity but I'd live. So why is this prejudice continuing.

It’s envy

what hatred of redheads? ? I see countless women with dyed bright red hair. They'd hardly do that if it caused social rejection.

It was horrendous as a kid, but as an adult it's all complements. However, parents & teachers didn't take it seriously - bullying did have a big detrimental effect on me.

This is my youngest sons hair. It's such a deep red, I absolutely love it!

I do worry about bullying in the future (he's only 3) but that said if they go for the most obvious thing and tease him about his hair colour, well maybe that's better than them picking up on something else he may feel more insecure about than his hair if that makes sense?

God I was bullied horribly cos of my hair, spat at, called names, threatened, not a chance of finding a boyfriend. It got a bit better after 17 but still was an issue. I am both amazed and pleased to hear that any redhead doesnt get shit for it! It is the last acceptable 'ism' imo. I've even had friends sit slagging red hair then saying 'oh we don't mean you'.

I used to have red hair and had a lot of remarks made about it, usually quite negative.

DS1 has red hair and has been. bullied because of it.

I have (had) naturally very red hair. I wasn't teased at school as I was brought up catholic (one of the reasons for prejudice) so there were a few of us. Never openly mocked so I didn't think anything of it and didn't think I was prejudiced against.
Through My 50s my hair lost it's colour so I coloured it.

Couple of years ago I stopped colouring it and naturally very light blond/white. I didn't understand why I was being treated differently. Still invisible but differently invisible to when I was red.

I've died it again. I am naturally red and want to stay that way

Hmm so while I was typing my post there have been others mentioning bullying so sadly I fear I may be wrong. I'm so sorry for people who have been bullied like that

I don't understand it either. I dye my hair ginger. Have done for years. Most people think its my natural colour, and I still get people telling me what lovely cour it is.

I think bullying for red hair is a lot less than it was.

DS has the most beautiful hair that is the colour of autumn

it's traditionally because it's associated with Irish/Scottish heritage and so othering of red hair has become entrenched in (primarily) English culture.

I was wondering myself whether that might have anything to do with prejudice against Celts.

Some reds are nicer that others in my opinion, just the same as some browns and blondes are nicer than others. Some shades are really beautiful. I think it's seen as a more desirable colour for women, but not generally so much for men.

@BitOfFun

Every person who has met my youngest daughter says how beautiful her hair is. She is completely unaware of the attention, as she is non-verbal and has severe learning disabilities. If she ever got lost, she'd be spotted easily because her hair really stands out.

Very beautiful and you're right about her hair, its absolutely stunning xx

My DD has red hair. Most people comment on how amazing it is - usually strangers or people who have just met her.
A couple of negatives - one from a mechanic when she was about 8 months old “oh she’s ginger? Never mind...” needless to say that was the last time he fixed my car!
And one from a hairdresser saying “oh she’ll have to be careful at secondary school. Kids can be so mean.” In front of her, at an age where she could understand. Last time she cut her hair as well.
I hope we’re bringing her up to be confident enough to combat any negativity in the future and we make sure we only ever tell her how great it is - that it’s rare and most of all reminds me of my family’s Irish heritage. She likes having ginger hair so far!

When we were in our early 20's my friend had a thing with a guy who was a red head but she was adamant she would not get serious with him as she did not want her future DC's to have red hair.
We are in Scotland too so red hair is not even that uncommon

I don't get it. I love red hair. Maybe because the they are a minority still and deep down some people fear what's different to them. Maybe jealousy. Maybe to get attention off them, I knew a man who contanstly went on about gingers in a negative way but had a massive crush on my red haired friend but she wasn't interested.

I remember watching The Parent Trap when I was younger and being so jealous of Lindsay Lohan's red hair. I wanted her hair so badly which looking back is strange because I had long platinum blonde hair as a child so supposedly quite a desirable colour.

Dd is 13 and has very curly red hair. She's never been bullied thankfully. Seems to be quite well liked with lots of friends at her school. (Comp south of London) I remember a thread where a boy was being bullied for his red hair in a Scottish school so it's not exclusively an English thing

I feared for my son being red haired like me. I was bullied very badly because of it .. nothing else just my red hair :(

Now I'm an adult I haven't had anything bad happen but definitely when I younger.. never understood it either

I’m ginger, although the colour has faded and it is now more fair than red. My Mum and most of my extended family are redheads. We’re not Celtic, my great grandparents came from what is now Eastern Poland/Russia. There were quite a lot of red haired Jews in that area and in the Baltic states.

I mean, who could possibly see this as ugly and undesirable? Nah.

I’ve got an incredible mop of curly red hair and have never experienced any problems. I’m also covered in freckles too.

I'm a red head - its because we are scussy low brow Celts.....

If so many people dislike red hair, then how come so many people dye their hair red?

Mine is properly ginger. I’m starting to see grey hairs, but I doubt I’ll go proper grey.

Sforsh49
Similar to your mum when I was pregnant with my first child I used to say ' I don't mind what sex it is as long as it doesn't have red hair'
Now.... I had absolutely no reason to think she would have, as there is no red hair in either of our families.
She is a redhead :-o
She was then followed by 4 blonde siblings.

Lesson learned there.