AIBU about Ginger Ninja?

[Hakky]

My DS has beautiful, striking, ginger hair, I've consistently been very positive about his hair colour as I know it is a potential target for name calling. At school the male teachers have nicknames for the children, 'smithy' for a child called Smith, that kind of thing; except tonight my DS tells me one teacher calls him 'ginger ninja'...my son doesn't mind, but I'm just not happy, am I over-reacting? Should I say something?

Why are the teachers not calling them by their names?

I think it's mostly during sport lessons, they get called by their names in class

I think it's affectionate and is a big part of male cameraderie. Embracing a distinctive quality can usually combat bullying as its no longer seen as a weak spot. So nicknames such as Titch, Lanky or whatever as long as theyre meant fondly can be quite useful I think.

And it's not all the male teachers, just a few, the others tend to either use their name or call them Mr Smith or whatever their surname is

I actually think you'd be wrong to complain if your son doesnt mind. He probably looks up to these men and wants to be treated like everyone else

So nicknames such as Titch, Lanky or whatever as long as theyre meant fondly can be quite useful I think.

I don't agree with that. Kids can be really insecure about these things and I would have been mortified if I'd been called a nickname like that!

With regards to the ginger thing is it any wonder kids think it's acceptable to call people horrible names because of hair colour when they see and hear apparent grown ups doing it. This is why it'll never die out.

My ds has lovely ginger hair (as do I). If this happens to him at school then I think I'll be relieved, overall, as it's a relatively nice nickname and may make it less likely that he gets given a more unpleasant one by bullies.

The key point is if the quality is EMBRACED. Some people are happy with ther particular characteristics and so a nickname like that can stop it being turned into a negative to hurt you with.

Nicknames being given as a way to hurt feelings are different from those given affectionately.

He's 7, my concern is that if it's a teacher drawing attention to it then it's kind of saying it's ok for other children to call him for it.

I don't see it as a problem. It sounds quite relaxed and informal. If your DS doesn't have an issue then you need not worry.
The ninja part sounds better than winger ! I imagine its complimentary!
Yes I do have 'ginger' hair and I too love it, I also embrace it!

I think most boys think ninjas are pretty cool so I would see it as a positive - if your son is okay with I then no point you get upset over it on his behalf.

My son has divine vibrant thick red hair, and calls HIMSELF the ginger ninja.......red and proud.....can't see the issue??

Agree that if your son doesn't like it, then it's worth addressing, but if he is happy (and it does sound more likely to be a compliment than not IMO) then leave it be.

My brother is red haired and everyone called him Ginge. Even the HT and the Parish Priest. There is nothing wrong with being ginger. I wish I was.

Perhaps if you reinforce how fabulous ginger hair is? I suppose the worry is if he feels any negativity about his colouring.

Tim Minchin has a song for everything:

(only a ninja, can sneak up on another ninja)

DS also has thick red curly hair and some of his friends call him ginger ninja. As long as it's friendly I think a nn is a positive thing.
When he's being grumpy DH and I call him the ginger whinger.

My friend has 2 ginger DCs and had always made a point of calling them "ginger-x" so they become desensitised to it. Her theory is that they're going to get called it at school at some point, so if they're used to it then it won't upset them.

Seems to have worked with both who are confident lovely children.

endo beat me to it!!

Sounds no worse than " blonde"

My mum is a red head and refers to herself as a ginger ninja

The connotations between being a "ginger ninja", with ninjas being skilled people, and being a "dumb blonde" are strikingly different.

As long as it's not being said in a spiteful way, what exactly is the problem?

My son is also ginger (as am I) and I think you just have to accept it, we don't make a big deal out of if so now neither does he.
In fairness if he wasn't getting called ginger something or other they'd find another nickname for him, it's just a hair colour at the end of the day.

Having a "blonde moment" is an acceptable turn of phrase which reinforces that blonde people (mostly women) are stupid. That is far worse than "ginger ninja".

Red hair is beautiful. All the more so for being unusual.

If i had ginger hair and was given the nickname ginger ninja, it would be quite the complement.