Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Tesco Christmas card making fun of children with red hair

377 replies

Northernlebkuchen · 15/12/2009 11:48

here

I can't believe they think they should sell something like this. So glad this woman got them taken out of our local tesco - now what about the rest of the chain?

I know two children horribly bullied because of their (beautiful) red hair. It's just the same as any other discrimination - breeds hate and misery

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 15/12/2009 14:02

My friend finally got pregnant after years of TTC and IVF treatment and was astounded how many people, in reference to her DH's red hair, asked what she would do if the baby was ginger.

Ceri Radford, in the Telegraph writes: Granted, it?s not the sort of thing that you?d actually want a ginger-haired child to see and be upset by, but I think it?s very much aimed at the adult, tongue-in-cheek market.

Why defend it then?

pleasechange · 15/12/2009 14:11

I think it's absolutely disgusting - I really really don't understand why people think this is acceptable but racism isn't. It's exactly the same

TillyMintSpy · 15/12/2009 14:19

My DC saw this on TV this morning and couldn't understand what it was about - "What are ginger ones?" when I asked them what they thought.

When I had explained, DS was outraged and said he thought it wasn't acceptable and very derrogeratory - why would Santa treat children with ginger hair differently.

Is teasing of children with ginger hair worse in all-white areas? Just asking because where we live, skin and hair comes in such a wide range of colours....

deaddei · 15/12/2009 14:32

My dds best friend has the most beautiful red hair I've ever seen-I'd love to have hair as shiny and glossy.
What got me about this article in the DM- is the obligatory "sad" photo of the complainant's family- I hate it when they get families to pose like that. And I see the DM as usual pointed out the job status of mother's partner.....

ladylush · 15/12/2009 14:33

Agree NL - terrible I think red hair is beautiful but that's besides the point. Totally out of order to ridicule anyone because of their appearance.

Fourisenoughthanks · 15/12/2009 14:34

It's very simple. If you can sell cards that say "Santa loves all kids, even ginger ones" you must also be prepared to sell cards that say "Santa loves all kids, even black ones" and "Santa loves all kids, even Asians".

Can those who think this card is just gentle teasing tell me if they think this would be ok too? And if they would send one to their black/brown friends? I see no difference.

I've never got the ginger teasing thing, I don't find it a strange colour to have on your head. My most beautiful friend growing up had red hair - she was drop-dead gorgeous.

midnightexpress · 15/12/2009 14:36

Maybe all us parents of beautiful red-haired children should think about going to this.

DS1 has the most beautiful hair and I dread the day he comes home feeling miserable sbout it. He's 4 now and when he was smaller he used to run through the house shouting 'I've got lovely hair!' because people used to stop us in the street to comment on it (we're in Scotland, so it's not soooo unusual here, and grannies here LOVE it).

Fourisenoughthanks · 15/12/2009 14:38

midnight I love the idea of your DS running around shouting "I've got lovely hair". You'll want him to stop that once he's a teenager though I bet

BalloonSlayer · 15/12/2009 14:41

This is interesting re Judas Iscariot and the origins of "the dislike of red hair."

NormaSknockers · 15/12/2009 14:41

My cousin has gorgeous ginger hair & have to admit I'm a tad as it's so striking & suits her so well, I think she looks stunning! When DS was born he had a mass of what looked like red hair & one of our "friends" said 'oh he's ginger' like it was a bad thing .

If the card was aimed at adults would it have been taken so badly? Genuine question, not being funny just curious. I can see why people are angry about it though.

trellism · 15/12/2009 14:42

Re the history of it: in medieval texts, Jews (including Judas) were traditionally portrayed with red hair too. I don't know if that has anything to do with modern ginger prejudice.

Also, I remember that Anne of Green Gables, a Canadian (albeit fictional), was teased for her red hair so it hasn't been limited to the UK.

WinkyWinkola · 15/12/2009 14:48

It's not ok, this card.

It's not ok to bully people because of their colouring, whether they have red hair or black hair.

It's quite simple really.

And it's not a case of the pc brigade gorn maaaaad.

pleasechange · 15/12/2009 14:54

Do you think one day we'll all look back and wonder in disbelief that it was ever acceptable? - a bit like watching some of the racist 'humour' from the 70's. I wonder what it would take to change peoples' attitudes?

waitingforgodot · 15/12/2009 14:54

I think its offensive.
It shouldn't be allowed as it is reinforcing the belief that people with ginger hair are different.
Why would people find it funny? I cant understand that.

pleasechange · 15/12/2009 14:57

The thing is though it's ingrained in peoples' behaviour. Recently at work there have been 2 occasions where there have been 'ginger' jibes in my presence. Everyone laughs like it's just a great big joke but it really is just bullying imo

YouKnowStuffingIsForLunch · 15/12/2009 15:01

This is DS2's anthem

timelordvictorious · 15/12/2009 15:02

When I was in Corfu years ago an old Greek woman chased me up the street, pointed excitedly at my hair, and then slapped me on the arm, al the while laughing uproariously.

Needless to say, the friends I was with laughed just as hard.

To be honest, ginger-bashing has never really bothered me. I know it should, but I have been lucky enough that any directed at me has been good-humoured. And I KNOW that my hair is gorgeous, as is Bloke's and DD's(what little she has).

Vivia · 15/12/2009 15:06

I feel awful for the children who are bullied for having ginger hair, I honestly think it's

However, I truly believe that children will find any reason to mock each other - hair, height, latest toys. But this sort of idea:

It's very simple. If you can sell cards that say "Santa loves all kids, even ginger ones" you must also be prepared to sell cards that say "Santa loves all kids, even black ones" and "Santa loves all kids, even Asians".

is over-exaggerated to me. Being mocked because of a hair colour is awful, it is bullying. But it is certainly NOT akin to racism.

pleasechange · 15/12/2009 15:07

Vivia why is it not akin to racism in your opinion?

MaggieAnFiaRua · 15/12/2009 15:14

i sympathise but why do red heds get protection iykwim.

they're all laughing at the card on an irish forum i go to!

pleasechange · 15/12/2009 15:16

what protection maggie?

MaggieAnFiaRua · 15/12/2009 15:17

as opposed to short people or really tall people or old people for example i mean. i;ve seen cards mocking some of these character attributes

MaggieAnFiaRua · 15/12/2009 15:18

allnew, what would happen if a pensioner walked into tesco and asked them to remove a card from the shelf that depicted a couple to old to go upstairs and have sex, "one or the other!!"

Picante · 15/12/2009 15:18

I gave birth to a girl in August with the most adorable bright copper hair. I was and still am soooooo excited about watching her grow up and watching her hair grow.

I have red hair. Yes I was picked on marginally at school, but I love my hair now. In fact I frequently dye it so it's even more red!

So to those who have redheaded children but who are not redheaded yourselves, please be reassured that they will love their hair when they're older.

When dd's awake I'll try and get a good shot of her hair and post it on here.

pleasechange · 15/12/2009 15:21

People's self-esteem is effected sometimes permanently from being teased mercilessly at school for being red-haired. Everyone gets old