Hello,
I'm working on a new manuscript, and it deals with prejudice against people with red hair. Does anyone have anecdotes dealing with friends or family who dealt with this. Thanks in Advance, JP
You mean, besides the "Irish need not apply" era of American history?
lol TBH I always get compliments and friendly happy comments. Never once anything negative. But when I was a kid in the 50s I remember a boy who was picked on for his red hair and freckles.
My nephew is a ginger and he has had to suffer all of the jokes about being a “red headed step child” and not having a soul. The joking is always done “in good fun”, but I’m sure it get tiresome for him.
No one is prejudiced against red hair people. We love gingers. People that do are just haters in general. Or racist. But against red hair.
Malcom x
I've definitely witnessed co-workers make degrading comments about "gingers", both about, and directly to, those with red hair.
It's just as pathetic as racism or mocking anyone for something they were born with.
I had a co-worker who was very sensitive about the color of his hair, and hated the word "ginger", due to this verbal abuse. It isn't "in good fun" if only one person is having fun. 🧐
~ Sunset Snuggles
P.S. On a classic note, Anne of Green Gables is a famous example of a girl who bemoaned her red hair, was called "carrots", tried to dye her hair to avoid the mocking, and longed for the day it might turn auburn with age.
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I think it'll probably be most interesting to use early America as the setting. When the Irish were discriminated against, and the red hair was an indication of being Irish. Admittedly the 'source material' i have in mind is the movie "Gangs of New York" but I'm bad with history
I've only ever seen praise for red hair. It's like asking about prejudice for blondes. Like, sure, "blondes are dumb" but no one pushes that beyond a dumb joke. People can be offended by jokes, but that's different than hateful prejudice. No one wants to beat up Timmy bc he's got red hair
I only ever get complimented on my red hair even when I was young.
@TheNewNovelist I don't believe you. I think you're lying.
Well, there's all the South Park material with Cartman and his dread of gingers lol
@PeopleLikeUs
What is the OP lying about?
I am a redhead, I do not get negative comments in this day and age
But when I was growing up, in the 70’s and early 80’s kids were mean, they called me carrot top- and not in cutesy fun way, it was meant cruelly, people said ‘I’d rather be dead then have red on my head’ and other mean things,
I hated having red hair - light skin, freckles. It got worse in high school- I was embarrassed to wear shorts or dresses to school because kids would make mean comments about my freckles,
Also, it was always kids that were mean, Adults said how beautiful my hair was -how I’d love my hair when I got older, blah blah blah, But that doesn’t change how horrible it feels to be picked on, And even worse when one is shy, and introverted.
I was a redhead ... now am mostly grey ... and I would do anything to have my flowing red mane back again!
From what I've experienced....nowadays it seems to be a positive thing to be a ginger. I do have a subtle joke about being a redhead in my profile (mostly because of the South Park episode, where Cartman does a whole school presentation about how gingers are evil and don't have souls 😜). 👩🦰🧑🦰
But I do remember watching older shows and movies from the 70s and 80s where the "ginger kid" was always typecast in negative stereotyped characters. Like, the chubby school bully or homeschooled weirdo.
I haven't had anyone say anything negative about my hair now or as a kid. I was bullied as a kid for many other reasons (and didn't have the red hair or freckles back then).
I just remember Doctor Who being constantly disappointed that he did not regenerate into a ginger.
As a child actor and model I resented how Coppertone and Wendy’s favored the reds and blondes. It should have been my white crack emblazoned on the box.
Again…another incident of redheads unfairly given an advantage over others:
Some folks get their knickers in a twist if attention is drawn to anyone other than the officially recognized victim groups.
No group has a monopoly on being victims. No group has a monopoly on being victimizer.
@TheNewNovelist Care to share a basic overview of your manuscript? Is it fact or fiction? Historical or contemporary?
As my born-redhead kid pointed out years ago, redheads are easily villainized, especially as sadistic clowns or witches. My kid had several middle school classmates who dyed their hair to quit being teased. I wonder if they still do?
Hello All,
My new story is contemporary fiction. A quick "footnote;" I had a dear friend in high school, and she was a "peliroja," (Spanish term of endearment for a redhead.) She was born with spina bifida, and used a wheelchair. "S.N." was the funniest, kindest and wittiest person I've known to date. We hung out a lot and had loads of fun. I even took her to my senior prom. We talked a lot, and she told me of being teased more for her red hair than being in a wheelchair. It stuck with me.
We lost contact after graduation, and a few years ago, I learned she'd passed away years decades earlier. She was always in the back of my mind.
I recently met a kind and gentle soul, and she too had red hair. She mentioned her experiences with ignorance and prejudice. J's story sparked an idea for a new book to write.
My story is about a young woman, who has red hair and blue eyes. She's from Great Britain, but now lives in the U.S. She experiences a trauma after a near-fatal incident, and develops PTSD symptoms. A chance encounter with a counselor (a fellow redhead) leads her on a positive journey of healing and discovering a dormant, inner-strength that eventually allows her to triumph.
My story is "tribute" to my old friend, as well as a means to provoke thought about biases and prejudice.
All your input (J from SD especially), is greatly appreciated.
A quick side note; according to reputable sources, blue-eyed redheads make up only 1-2 per cent of the global population. Also, in ancient Europe, people with red hair were revered during the medieval era. This, coupled with the gift of having known SN puts "pelirojas" at the top of my list of gifted people.
Thanks,
JP
@TheNewNovelist I don't think you're lying anymore.
I do not have red hair. But in addition to kids being mean to redheads, adults have a tendency to fetishize (adult) redheads. There's a stereotype of fiery in bed. Often paired with a stereotype of being crazy. And the names.
Imagine being called "firecrotch".
My bad your original post said people with red hair who went through some shit. Malcolm X biography speaks to that in depth. But since your story is primarily about red headed european women, I have nothing to offer 😂
My recent conversation, and legitimate research, also indicated that people with red hair have a higher pain tolerance. I’m getting into some scientific facets, and there may be a link with pain tolerance and pheomelanin. My story is fiction, but my aim is to be as accurate as possible.
Thank You All for the input-truly means a lot to me as a writer and friend of “SN.”
@TheNewNovelist Thank you for that synopsis and what a wonderful tribute to your sweet friend!! Sounds like she was a good one with a light in her that was infectious despite being teased for being a redhead....and any physical struggles she dealt with. 💗
It's very true about pain tolerance 😯 Dentists often have to double and sometimes triple the anesthesia when they fill cavities for redheads 💉and I've even heard sometimes in surgery.
Another cool thing is that redheads get grey hairs much later and much slower than others. I have a friend who's hair has slowly gone from bright auburn to dark strawberry over the years 😊🫶
For the record (and not to burst anyone's bubble), I'm not a natural redhead.... but since I've dyed it for so long that no one remembers me as a brunette.... people ask me/tell me these types of things all.the.time. 😏😉
In contrast, the incredible Bruce Springsteen has a rather risqué song about his talentless wife called Red Headed Woman.
Thanks All-the information provided gives me much grist for the old “mental mill.”
The pain tolerance issue will be a significant aspect of the story. I’ve always marveled at the mysteries and “magic” of the human body.
A found a “memory” earlier about a young lady who attended my jr. HS; she had red hair and a learning challenge. Fellow students were downright cruel to her. Also, I have an adopted, distant relative with red hair. Even his parents made subtle, not-so-nice comments about him.
Much food for thought-Thank You All,
indicated that people with red hair have a higher pain tolerance
Lol! 😆 This nonsense was believed many years ago about black people's skin too, like black skin equals "teflon", like one can stab/shoot us and we won't scream out in agony. Smh...Like really, this was 'a thing'?! 😆😆
My mother told me of her experience with this crap with a doctor, years ago. I didn't believe her at first, due to how stupid this doctor seemed (coming from her story) then she says that they (doctors) were being TAUGHT "black people do not feel pain 101" in medical schools WAY back in the day.😏
Smh...l listened on with laughter and disbelief as she went on telling me, until she finished. 😄
Later on, I decided to Google this nonsense and OMG...Google confirmed it!😒🤦♀️🤯
I felt so bad, that I called my mother up and apologized for not believing that ignorance and hate ran that deep in the medical science field.😔
Geez!😑
Lol!😄I'm GenX so my experience with most white people have not been as "awful" with what all SHE ACTUALLY WITNESSED AND EXPERIENCED amongst white people while she being born and raised in the 50s here in the South.
Honestly, I have experienced more negativity from most black people then most white people growing up around these parts in MY childhood...Including from my own mother being a part of that negativity!😌
I do tend to "forget" that with my being born and raised in the 80s/90s, that what she experienced back (and she is STILL clearly traumatized by majority of it😬) isn't what my experiences have been and that's my fault. 🤦♀️😌 So yes I did indeed apologize to her sharing her "black people don't feel pain" experience with me and failing to believe her.🙂🫂
Sorry, I know this thread is directed at red haired people. I just saw that one comment that brought back another 'memories with Mama' moment so I acted on it. Lol!😆😄😆
Gonna quietly bow now, do continue...🤫🤐
@TheNewNovelist Best of luck with the manuscript and all that jazz!😊👍