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.

My ds, who is usually dirty blonde, dyed his hair bright red just before school restarted. He then tried to go back to his original colour, without much success, he is now sporting orange hair that graduates down to yellowish. It looks awesome.
I will never understand why people are prejudiced about hair.

My DH was teased for his red hair when he was younger. And I got comments when I first started going out with him. I don’t know why, it’s just ingrained in our culture sadly. None of my kids have red hair which I’m sad about as I think it’s beautiful but also happy about as I would worry about them being teased.

Beautiful, Brigante.

I'd love to be a redhead and am jealous of all that are. It's beautiful!

I’m a red head, I’ve never really been teased for my hair and the odd comment I have had has been give a swift fuck off from me!
I haven’t passed my gingerness to my kids though, they are blondes or brunettes
My mums family is absolutely full of gingers, we are northern Irish so not uncommon really.

Neither DH or I have red hair.

When DS was born - lo!! Gorgeous red hair. Bit of a surprise but so beautiful.

As he's got older, it's darkened to a stunning deep red to go with his beautiful blue eyes. Lucky bugger. He's now 14 and very popular with lots of giggly girls.

No one ever takes the piss. Cos he really is beautiful.

Oh....And he's a taekwondo black belt.

Probably because it marks a difference. And it's a beautiful difference - so people demonise it/ other it.

My partners a redhead. I pray that I carry the gene too Gorgeous stuff.

And DP says he was never bullied for being ginger, he knows others have been though. He's v lucky (or wouldn't take shit maybe)

Midwife when I was born asked if I should be put back "bad news is she's got red hair"
Because I was a redhead. Didn't improve from then!
Plus it's curly so that added to the low level bullying

My eldest has the most gorgeous red hair. I love it and she’s only ever had compliments. She had it chopped just before school started as it was a nightmare to brush and she hated it every morning. I really miss the ginger curls though!

@QueenPaws what a horrid thing to think, let alone say!!

Red hair is beautiful in all its tones and textures, on men, women and children, and everywhere in nature. Nothing more beautiful than my ginger cat, he is mesmerising!

As mentioned dd hasn't had any issues with her red curly hair. Elder dd with brown hair said she's never heard of any ginger bullying in their comp south of London either. I've twice heard women of about my age (50) make a comment about not wanting a ginger baby. Neither were very bright, so I'm wondering if it's older, thick people who tend to be anti ginger and less prevalent in younger people or more intelligent people. In my area anyway.

I agree they because it is different people would "other" it and at one point that meant she must be a witch. Then that's ingrained culturally.

I told DH he needed to provide me with a curly haired red headed girl. 3 blonde boys with straight hair later...

To clarify, l heard the comments when my kids were little but they'd be 40s by now

I’m in my 40s, Ive had comments, good and bad all my life. Gingerism does exist but an equal amount if people live and are jealous of red hair
Being a shy teenager I struggled more with drunk men making uninvited comments about my hair and pubes to make their friends laugh, It used to really upset me until probably my late 20s when I gained more confidence to shrug it off

I think this was more prevalent decades ago. Kids with ginger hair were teased at school. Because kids are mean and they pick on anything “different”

We had a girl in my year, but she was somewhat different, sort of geeky troubled loner, and her hair was more on the orange side and very frizzy, and she got teased, I was friends with her, but she didn’t have the happiest of school time. I think her hair added to it, but it wasn’t the only reason.

I work with a guy who has ginger hair, at school he was also teased, his hair is also bordering on bright orange. However his son has the most amazing hair I’ve ever seen. It is deep red, almost burgundy, with copper highlights. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s gorgeous. He doesn’t get teased, so I’m not sure if time has moved on or because his is so unusual. His mother has dark brown hair.

Now red hair I think is seen as desirable for females. Many women dye their hair red, it’s a not an unusual colour when looking at box dyes, and even most browns have an auburn tinge to them.

I’m not sure it’s as desirable in men still, unless it’s like the little boys I mentioned, but it is defintely perceived as beautiful and enviable in women.

Very good and valid explanation, @Veterinari

Red hair doesn't really exist in my birth country but there is no prejudice against it at all. I remember as a little kid really liking it.

This reminded me, saw this little girl in DD's school with the most fiery beautiful red hair! Like wow colour! She was carrying 2 little soft toys that were carrots

I think asking the question why makes the assumption that there is a rational explanation, but prejudice is never rational.

I have red hair... it’s fading though now. I was never bullied for my hair at school ( other things but not my hair) I’ve had jokey comments occasionally from mates etc but to be honest I’ve never felt prejudiced. I’ve always loved my hair colour and am gutted it’s changing

I don't know why it is but I'll admit I'm not attracted to red hair, either dyed or natural. I dislike the pale skin/freckles combo too.
I'm glad neither of my daughters are ginger and just feel brunette or blonde hair of various shades is prettier/sexier.

I saw a young girl thr other day with amazing red hair with those really tight corkscrew curls (think chantelle from eastenders hair) absolutely stunning I couldnt help but stare.

I used to know a guy who had red curly hair, he was forever getting random strangers walk up to him and calling him a “Ginger Tosser” or worse. It was baffling but he’d just learned to ignore it. People are dicks.

@Sootikinstew

Depends really doesn't it, one picture I say YANBU the other I say YABU 😂

What you are saying is that young red heads are OK - just don't get old!

I think redheads are stunningly beautiful. I love red head men (Damian Lewis) and dyed my hair red for a few years.

The bullying for redheads though is so cruel. Unpleasant comments like Phoebe’s are the reason my naturally redhead SIL has dyed her hair black for the last 25 years. She is naturally red but her life was made a misery because people thought ‘black or brown hair was sexier’.