Mainly it just involves teasing and poking fun, but sometimes it can get violent. Some years ago a 14-year-old boy in Lincoln had his right arm broken and his head stamped on by three men who attacked him "just because he had red hair". The three men were later jailed for a combined total of ten years and one month for the attack.
What is it about someone's hair colour that causes such negative reactions? It's not as if ginger-haired people turn out to be murderers or rapists. They just happen to have ginger hair.
There are odd beliefs about red heads. That they have fiery tempers and sharp tongues. That they're highly sexed. That they're Jewish.
In the Middle Ages red heads were thought to be vampires and witches, and it was believed that burning them and scattering the ashes would produce a good harvest.
But there have also been periods when ginger hair was prized. Queen Elizabeth the First was a red head and the hair colour became very fashionable during her reign. How come the fashion didn't last?
Personally I love ginger hair. It makes such a vivid impression compared with blonde and dark hair. Which makes me wonder if the prejudice is based on jealousy. Maybe the bullies would secretly like to have such dramatic hair.
(Thanks to Wikipedia)
My oldest brother is a read head. Friends called him "carrot top". He replied that carrot tops are green. :)
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: "Carrot top" and "carrot head" are apparently common insults thrown at red heads.
DeleteI haven't really known that attitude, but I was blackish brown. My husband was a dark ginger. People....
ReplyDeleteSandra: So did your husband get a lot of disparaging comments?
DeleteI asked him and he said no one picked on him. Sandra
DeleteSandra: That's good to know.
DeleteUm, I’ve known a lot of Jewish people and none have had red hair. That’s a bit odd, but the Jews can never win, can they?
ReplyDeleteBoth of my daughters have red hair. My grandmother had two sisters with red hair, so I suspect it came from them. They were Irish and English which checks genetically.
Bijoux: Yes, the Jewish thing is weird. The picture on your blog suggests you have red hair. Could that be so?
DeleteI have known several Jews with red hair. It is a recessive trait, but not infinitesimally present in the Jewish population, possibly from the Canaanites. If you note the absence of reference to the reference to them after the initial conquest and massacres, and the later complaints about "backsliding" by the common people into Baal worship, you can see what happened to the survivors.
DeleteI didn't realize people had issues with people with red hair. My grandmother was Russian & had copper red hair before it went grey. My Uncle had the same hair color & was well liked.
ReplyDeletePaula: I guess the red hair issue is quite minor compared to other issues like racism and misogyny.
DeleteTsk. I have ginger, or red tones in my hair - not enough to be a proper ginger, so I've not been a victim of abuse.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the genuine gingers at primary school being picked on. I can't figure out why. There's something about bright orange hair that must niggle small children!
Sx
I think it's the ginger eyebrows and eyelashes.
DeleteGinger hair looks great on Nicole Kidman, but she's coloured her lashes and brows.
Sx
Ms Scarlet: I don't recall any of my school mates having ginger hair. I didn't realise there was an anti-ginger prejudice for quite a while.
DeleteMy late husband was a redhead. I loved his red hair.
ReplyDeleteMary: I love red hair. I don't understand all the negativity.
DeleteNick, in fact it is rare to find Jews with red hair. I am one with thick red curly hair. My grandfather was red haired with a red beard. I had never problems , many boys and girls when I was at school were even a bit jealous . Saïd was amazed of the colour..and still says today I can find you between thousands.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: I assumed red haired Jews must be quite unusual. Glad to know you didn't have any problems at school. I think jealousy must come into it somewhere along the line.
DeleteDidn't Venetian prostitutes have to die their hair reddish/ginger?
ReplyDelete