Comments about red hair

[37anddone]

I have been getting a lot of comments about the ‘risk’ of my child having red hair (I’m currently pregnant).

The suggestion seems to be this would be a negative outcome, and something I need to brace myself for.

I personally think ridiculing my child’s appearance before they have actually been born is a bit much.

AIBU to tell them precisely what I think about their comments, irrespective of the fallout that may cause.

Who is making these comments?

Give them hell and tell them to STFU. Recently took my redheaded child (10) to a major city. She confided in me on the way that she was afraid someone would attack her for having red hair, thanks to all the low level anti-redhead conditioning that's out there (Kick a Ginger day, for instance). Makes me furious. It's basically rooted in racism and should be treated as such.

Say something. I had this with my eldest ds who is ginger. I had 2 more children who had dark hair ( same dad) and I got really pissed off with the comments, like my ds was a lesser person because of his hair colour. I really wish I'd put some people in their place.

I don't care what anyone says, there are some people who think it's ok to look down on ginger hair.

Rant over!

Does this really still happen? I've got two mates with children with gorgeous red hair and they get nothing but compliments.

I used to get complements from adults but insults from other children. Dyed my hair as soon as I was old enough.

@LaMereDuChat

That's so sad for your dd. I had it too when I was younger and made to feel like a lesser person because of it.

It's shit

OMG I thought that had gone out with the ark. My red haired child got more compliments than all the others put together. Most families I know have at least one red haired person. Red hair colours/dyes are often best sellers too.

I have three children, the youngest has the most glorious red hair. I cannot imagine him without it, it's part of him. My older two are blonde.

You do get the odd arsehole - looking at you, Katie Hopkins - who are openly prejudiced about red hair and think it's OK to make derogatory comments. However, I have had FAR more positive comments about his hair than negative. When he was very small and I was pushing him around the supermarket in the baby seat in the trolley I would always get older ladies stopping me to say how lovely he was. And when we first took him to Portugal, the older generation of both sexes treated him like a film star.

I think it helps that we are in Scotland where red hair is more common. My lad had 2 other red heads in his class so he wasn't singled out.

It is anti-Irish, anti-Catholic prejudice which is at the root of the teasing over red hair. Usually when you pull people up on their bigoted opinions it shuts them up pretty quickly.

@yesthatisdrizzle family members mainly!

Depressing to hear children are still being bullied (and frightened as a result) because of their red hair.

Why is it so tolerated that having red hair is a negative?

I’ve been quite shocked by it!

I love red hair.

I was hideously bullied as a child because of my (beautiful) red hair. It was also one of the many many reasons my ex-MIL hated me (apparently red-headed women are unlucky, even just being near them).

Now, I love my hair colour and think it's much more acceptable. However, there are still a large number of people out there who think it's OK to abuse you because of it.

It always gets noticed whether it be positive or negative.

The childhood comments haunted me and destroyed my self worth for many years

My DM made some nasty comments about DD's strawberry blonde hair - she's ginger you ought to do something about that. What did she think I would do - take her back to the hospital and swap her for a dark haired version.

I have a dd with red hair. Mine is blind/ ginger but more blond so I've had it a bit but not as much. I find any comments about it good or bad just really tiresome. I don't get why people feel the need to comment on it.

'Gingers have no soul ' was another thing we had to deal with, fucking outrageous!

My eldest is a proper carrot top. Some people love it some people seem to irrationally hate it. He has learned to laugh it off and as he gets older has discovered that women seem to love it, so he's happy 😆

There'll always be something. TBH I think he hides behind his red hair - people don't notice other things.

My SIL has children. Both her and husband are blonde, but both children have very bright, ginger hair. She found people were more negative about a boy having ginger hair than her daughter. My neice had comments like- isn't it lovely, I bet she will be fiery, how nice.

Whereas my nephew had comments like 'look at that little carrot top'' is he yours', 'where did THAT come from'?

I read that ginger sperm donors were in such low demand from women that most places in the UK no longer take ginger men. I'm unsure how true that is, but will post the article if I can find it.

All we get it people telling us how beautiful our red haired child is. To the point that it’s awkward for their non red head sibling!!

I think it’s just instilled in people but it shouldn’t be. Even on BGT last night a ginger joke was made and I did think would that have been ok if it was skin colour rather than hair? I think not!

Are these people that you know?

People are vile about red hair. Even the comments like “ooohh, they’ll have a temper” are disgusting.

If it’s family I would put them right in their place. Anyone else and I’d tell them to F off.

In my mind it's as unacceptable as making racist comments about a person's appearance. Unfortunately there are still some people who seem to think those with red hair are fair game for making personal and negative comments about.

OP move to Scotland, its quite common here and most parents think its gorgeous to have red haired children.

If you do have a child with red hair then tell them how special they are and point to all the very successful actors, sportspeople, singers etc who have used it to their advantage.

Name calling because of any difference is awful.

You need to tell them to eff off (if this is a real post) I've never heard of such things. I've lived and seen every type of racism, sexism and homophobia but anti ginger ?? Nah and there's a lot of gingers in my family. Why are you even giving them space in your head.

12weeks I noticed that ginger joke on BGT last night. Awful. Not acceptable. Not funny.

I think red hair is lovely. I've never understood why some people seem to have an issue with it and would insult red-haired people.

My Dad was very much a ginger when he was young. As is my nephew now.