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Original poster

Why the fuck are some English people so nasty about ginger hair?

288 replies

QuentininQuarantino · 02/01/2023 22:16

My beautiful DH is ginger. When we first got together, he was attacked from
behind and had his jaw broken, had a McDonald’s throws at him out of a car window, had a bloke push him into
a pond at university. My own “friends” asked me when I was pregnant what I would do if my baby came out ginger. He tells me heartbreaking stuff about being bullied at school.

We emigrated 10 years ago and people say nothing, or nice things.

We’ve been back in the UK for Xmas for 3 weeks and we’ve already had people (older people) shouting “Oi Ed Sheeran” across the street about four times, one young woman in a pub asking to see his pubes FFS.

Why is it still okay, and common(!) to bully strange men in front of their small children purely based on a psychical characteristic!!??

OP posts:
Blowyourowntrumpet · 02/01/2023 22:18

It's not OK and it's pure and simple discrimination. I'm sorry your family is having to deal with this.

GoingtotheWinchester · 02/01/2023 22:20

Wow! I had no idea it was so bad. I’m so sorry for your dh. What absolute dicks 😢🤬.

VioletLemon · 02/01/2023 22:21

Inherited racism, its all Jocks & Paddy's innit?!

mincepiepie · 02/01/2023 22:22

I have no idea it's so weird. It just another form of discrimination.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I love ginger/ red /auburn colouring.

Sorry you are so unfairly discriminated against.

caninecalamity · 02/01/2023 22:22

Sees to be the last "acceptable " form of discrimination. I'm ginger. It was awful as a child I'm so sorry he's having this.

Craghopper1 · 02/01/2023 22:23

My dad had red hair and I was asked when I was pregnant if I was worried about having an 'ugly ginger baby'.

JamSandle · 02/01/2023 22:24

I have no idea. I dont understand where it comes from. Or why. Just another example of the darker and discriminatory side of human nature.

MindPalace · 02/01/2023 22:25

Horrific. Your poor DH. This is not acceptable. I am 99% sure none of my friends, colleagues or family would do any of this, so who on earth are these people? I‘m so sorry, OP. Does this happen in eg Scotland or NI as well, or is it an England thing?

catandcoffee · 02/01/2023 22:25

I've absolutely no idea apart from they are probably of very low intelligence.
Your poor husband.

RandomPerson42 · 02/01/2023 22:25

It’s racism pure and simple, with it’s roots in anti-celt / anti-scots.

BenniesHedges · 02/01/2023 22:28

It's because they're brick thick.
Nothing wrong with a beautiful head of hair regardless of what colour it is.

SirenSays · 02/01/2023 22:28

I'm sorry OP that sounds awful. I was reading something the other day about how ginger discrimination increased after that South Park episode, both here and in America.

Cherrysherbet · 02/01/2023 22:28

That’s so awful op. Disgusting behaviour.

Unfortunately some people are prize twats.

soupmaker · 02/01/2023 22:28

Bloody hell. My DH has gorgeous red hair, going a bit grey now. He's never had this sort of abuse, although has been asked if he's Frankie Boyle! We live in Scotland though. Loads of red heads here. I'm still absolutely raging neither of the DC have red hair.

Changingmynameyetagain · 02/01/2023 22:29

I’m ginger and I had this when I was pregnant, as it happens I have 1 blonde and 2 brunettes, not a ginger amongst them Sad
I’ve not had too much bullying but I’m gobby and outspoken so I rightly put them in their places.
My mum and dad are both Irish and we have vast swathes of fellow ginger relatives on both sides.

Bugeyedowl · 02/01/2023 22:30

It's really pathetic and racist, isn't it?

When I first started going out with my DP a girl I worked with loudly asked 'does he have ginger pubes?' I mean! You wouldn't say that about a blond or brunette would you? I said to her 'My boyfriend's pubes are none of YOUR business, XXX' loudly back. That shut her up.

glasshole · 02/01/2023 22:31

I'm a ginger, I had the occasional issue growing up but overall I was very lucky and it didn't bother me... but that's more to my resilience, the others calling me names were just fucking idiots. Oddly the most common one as an adult redhead woman is if I am assertive or refuse to back down then a man will often comment that they used to burn women like me at the stake! I tend to just smile and maintain eye contact and they tend to walk away.

My DNs and DGSs are all various shades of red and they ( thankfully) have very few negative issues. My grandson is just two though and he gets nothing but compliments, his hair is the sort of orange flame shot through with actual red and it's just breathtaking. Strangers often stop us to ask if it's real , which they apparently used to do to my mum when I was a little one.

Fireflygal · 02/01/2023 22:31

I dont understand where it comes from

It is racism - as mentioned earlier usually red hair indicates someone has/had celtic origins. Do people forget that racism against Irish/Scottish people was very signifcant and in recent times.

Like all racism it needs to be called out and not tolerated.

Red hair is beautiful so your dh is very fortunate.

XanaduKira · 02/01/2023 22:33

I was ginger as a child and was bullied horribly. Dyed it blond as soon as I was old enough (& my parents allowed me to) & have been blond ever since.

My dad was the worst for making fun of me being ginger.

No idea why - people can be horrible & when they're 'allowed' to be horrible being nasty to someone with ginger hair is deemed acceptable.

Fuckers. Sorry your DH has had this experience.

NestingSparrow · 02/01/2023 22:35

Sorry this has happened to you OP. My MIL has red hair and I hoped my children would inherit it. My friend has red hair and has never had any problems, she loves her hair. I have not seen any negativity about red hair (I am in England) so I don’t think it’s everywhere in the UK but unfortunately you have encountered some idiots. Don’t let it bother you. My daughter had a strawberry naevus and we had some negative comments about it but I just thought to myself that they were ignorant and ignored them.

MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 02/01/2023 22:35

The last time I disgraced myself properly in public was when my red-headed friend (the bride) was thanked in the best man's speech for 'not giving us a ginger baby'. I went through that prick like a dose of salts and I'm not even sorry. I do have a red-headed child, who spent his entire high school career wearing a beanie because of bullying.

I HATE this about the Uk - and actually I'm in Scotland where people should fucking know better. It's a disgrace, with its roots in sectarianism I believe, though I've no sources for that. I'm so sorry it's happening to your DH.

MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 02/01/2023 22:36

Fireflygal · 02/01/2023 22:31

I dont understand where it comes from

It is racism - as mentioned earlier usually red hair indicates someone has/had celtic origins. Do people forget that racism against Irish/Scottish people was very signifcant and in recent times.

Like all racism it needs to be called out and not tolerated.

Red hair is beautiful so your dh is very fortunate.

See I know what you're saying, but I don't buy it because Scottish people do it too. I genuinely think it's anti-Catholic.

Remainiac · 02/01/2023 22:37

My DS2 is ginger (now an adult) and has been bullied because of it every day of his life, beginning with rude comments from midwives on the post natal ward, teachers and other kids at school, attacked in the street, accosted by hen parties abroad. Every day someone makes a comment to him about his colouring, often strangers.
The only place in the world where he has received a lot of attention and all of it positive, is China. We even suggested he stay there as during his trip he never paid for a drink or meal as the locals absolutely loved having him at their table!
It’s so awful, but folk just seem to think it’s funny 🙁🤷‍♀️

stairgates · 02/01/2023 22:39

Cowards and bully's pick on the easiest thing unfortunately🙁

OnceRuralNowUrbanbliss · 02/01/2023 22:40

Makes my blood boil. Always has. I'm so sorry all ginger haired people.
My teens laugh at me when I tell them off for saying anything gingerist. I tell them it's a form of racism as it is.