Gingerism. Am I unreasonable to think it should be outlawed by now (lighthearted)

[gingergenius]

So, obviously by my username you can guess my colouring, and I've recently read posts by pale-skins where people think it's acceptable to comment on your colouring, which often feel awkward, uncomfortable, rude or downright predatory. As an example, "do collar and cuffs match?" Is still (and I'm in my 40s) a favourite (my usual reply us: "what do you expect? Purple feathers?"

But I'd love to know, what's the cheesiest/cheekiest/worst comment you've ever had in relation to your looks? (If only to make me feel like I'm not alone!)

In the North wales, nobody cares?Scores of redheads at my childrens' schools, never ever heard anything negative!

They're all just jealous because they don't have a band as fantastic as Simply Red named after them!

Mick Hucknell
T'Pau's Carol Decker
Ed Shearan
Bonnie Langford

All talented and famous for their sunset coloured hair.

I have green eyes and I am a total wannabe ginger. I would love red hair and freckles. I ve spend most of my twenties dying my hair various shades of red and copper.

Thomas Knight did a Red Hot project in a bid to fight the stigma that comes with red hair thomasknights.com/red-hot/

I have to say i'm not comfortable with the racism chat. Racism goes beyond name-calling and bullying. It is a systematic and institutional oppression of a race. Sure, i have faced cultural and social discrimination because of my hair but I have never been refused a job, pulled over in my car for no reason, experienced higher levels of poverty and lower educational attainment because I have red hair. I also don't fear for my child's life as he grows up the way many black mothers do.

All of the bullying and assaults described here are horrific and i do believe that there is a special kind of dislike for gingers (perhaps linked to to historical racism aimed at the Irish which would explain why anti-ginger sentiment is still rife in the west coast of Scotland where sectarianism is still a HUGE issue), but we do experience white priviledge and I think it's important to point that out.

Racism goes beyond name-calling and bullying

racism can be many things, including name calling and bullying.

The consequences of name calling and bullying can be profound and lifelong

but we do experience white priviledge and I think it's important to point that out.

crap

Care to elaborate user ?

And yes name calling and bullying can be part of racism but racism is not only bullying and name calling.

I'm ginger. Like titian ginger, and curly. It's kind of like merida in brave.

A woman at work had a baby and brought him in to see us. I was so excited, she was a nice colleague and I'd brought her a little present. Someone else at work teased her gently throughout the pregnancy as she mentioned that she had "ginger genes" in a jokey way once. First words out of her mouth when she got him out of his pram in the office "oh my christ, first thing I thought when I'd had him was "he better not be bloody ginger! He's gorgeous and blonde, thank god!"

I know its always non intentional but even as a grown woman I still get embarrassed and feel like I want to crawl in a hole!

Also with the racism thing. I don't believe it is racism but I do believe it is xenophobic.

My grandparents were from Ireland and they maintained throughout my childhood that ginger bashing had strong links to Anti Irish/Catholic/Celtic feelings and mindsets and stemmed from there.

i'm very ginger with blue eyes. Was badly bullied in school, for more than just being a redhead but it gave them good ammunition. Then I grew up and all the guys who took the piss out of me in school suddenly wanted to take me out. Twats. the collar and cuffs thing - FGS! 'oi ginge - do your collar and cuffs match!?'

I remember ginger comments at school - lots of bullshit there. And that it was apparently socially acceptable to enquire about the colour of your pubic hair when you are clearly underage.

I think that's why I grew my hair long - still is as a literal red flag of rebellion. that and the fact it is magnificent.