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I would imagine that the majority of you have taunted a ginger friend in some way. Would you see this as something akin to racism or merely playful teasing?
The ridicule of redheads goes back centuries. Some argue that the modern British dislike of gingers stems from the redheaded Danish invasions of the 9th century. A more obscure medieval belief suggested that children born with red hair had been conceived whilst the mother was menstruating, a time of impurity. A modern interpretation implies red hair is a mutation and is disliked as it suggests ‘arrested development’.
Originally a sensationalist term coined by the media, the newly concept of ‘gingerism’ is beginning to be taken seriously. Some people now liken prejudice towards gingers to that of racism.
After all, gingerism is essentially targeting someone for a genetic characteristic that they have no control over, like skin colour.
In 2007, a Newcastle family appeared in the news after having to move house three times as a result of constant abuse and attacks by thugs targeting their ginger hair. In 2003, a man was also stabbed in an unprovoked attack over a dispute of his ginger hair. Clearly what some view as harmless fun can escalate into harassment.
On the other hand, some argue that insulting someone with ginger hair is no different to targeting another personal characteristic such as weight or skin conditions.
Although ‘carrot-head’ or ‘duracell’ may seem pretty harmless, to hear insults of a more derogatory nature on a regular basis can be far more hurtful, especially when you are a child.
Anna
There are parallels between racism and gingerism; you can’t really choose your genes. However, the singling out of redheads will never reflect the deep-rooted hatred you find with racism. In my experience at least, an insult directed towards my hair colour is unlikely to escalate into violence.
I have been heckled in the street; men leaning out of cars and shouting ‘ginger’ will always surprise me but it’s more embarrassing than hurtful.
But it’s taken years for me to actually like my hair colour. As a child I hated it; I hated being singled out in any way. Perhaps I was just sensitive. Now I love it. Elderly women compliment me; I guess that counteracts the heckling.
Would I want ginger children? It’s hard during school years, but having a naturally unique hair colour has so far proved to be a blessing than a curse.
The only thing that still puzzles me is the number of people who feel the need to inform me of my hair colour. I have lived with it for 19 years, I am aware of the fact.
David
My hair colour has always been more of an issue for others than it has been for me. I can’t say I experience many comments in adulthood, but recently I was walking down Lawrence Street when a middle-aged chav shouted “Ginner!”
My favourite experience has to be when young boy asked me for the time whilst I was waiting for a bus. Giving him a reply he ‘politely’ said back: “Thanks ginge”. Why?
Although I don’t believe ‘gingerism’ equates to the problem of racism, we have to ask ourselves why it is acceptable to ‘harmlessly’ taunt redheads. Do you yell “fatty” in the street to your overweight friend?
Whist I believe that ginger men probably get the harsher treatment, I know it’s the same for both female and male redheads. But I can’t understand the issue. In European countries it’s not. In the US it’s even celebrated. But I’m not delusional; I’m not holding out for any ginger male models to appear as the face of a high street brand.
Is it jealousy? Well we have had more US Presidents, Prime Ministers, and we can take more pain. Maybe its that we are just better than you. And so I’ll accept the name calling, the taunts, the tedious jokes that I’ve heard a million times before. Because I really don’t care.
So next time you're passing a redhead in the street, shout "ginger!" Obviously they may have forgot to check that morning, or didn't know at all in the first place.
I've pondered this question before after much teasing regarding my prediliction for ginger hair.
It's different and different's sexy in my books. People just need to make fun of other people to feel good about themselves. Sad but true.
It's so sad when ginger people dye their hair lighter to hide their natural colour. Fight the fade guys; you're worth it!
Gingerism has always puzzled me. Some of my best looking friends have had red hair; that comment in itself is completely unsuprising to me and should be culturally: I'd even go so far as to say I'm ashamed that it doesn't seem to be. Go ginger pride.
I heard ginger people have no souls. 
But seriously though... I probably would yell 'fatty' in jest, if I thought my friend could / would take it as a joke just as I do with ginger friends - I'm that kind of arsehole. I'd hope that I'd also take it in good humour if they called me a lanky streak of piss. It's all good fun.
I find red hair equally if not more attractive on girls compared with blonde or brunette. Unfortunately I can't say the same for boys, David 
I guess it's all down to the perceptions of beauty forced on us by the society we live in. Any sociologists / psychologists concur?
Gingerism is becoming more of a regular sight in mainstream society. I'm keeping a record of all the gingerism I encounter at http://gingerism.com
Clearly Richard Mitchell is a hypocrite as well as a bigot.
According to this nit-picking logic, it should be ok to hate ANY group, as long as you don't treat them any more than redheads. So it's ok to have "kick a black/jew/asian day," and say they have no souls etc, it's not a hate-crime or hate-speech or anything else. Just good clean fun.
But since all hell would break loose if anyone did that, then clearly it's just a popularity-contest-- and thus, we see that it's HYPOCRITES who have no souls!
But you can mock just about every hair colour for something…
Blondes are dumb,
Brunettes are boring and mousy,
Gingers… not quite sure but clearly lots of abuse,
Don’t even get me started on grey.
Kirk, you've over-extended Richard's line of thinking.
He doesn't mention generally applied prejudice as you do, only teasing his friends if he thinks they'll take it as a joke. And he doesn't mention hate, so he's not a bigot.
If he had written that no-one should be allowed to insult anyone based on their physical characteristics, then he would be being hypocritical to then insult his friends on this basis. But that is not what he wrote.
I don't agree that it's hypocritical to take a view-point that isn't all-or-nothing - most of the time it is OK, often even necessary, to act differently in different situations!
I'm not sure Mitch is suggesting "Kick A Ginger Day" so that's harsh. What he's saying is that it's ok to laugh about something Jewish with a Jewish friend if they are up for the joke.
@ #6 You forgot to mention that people with black hair should be shot. Also something about baldies but I'm not going to go there for fear of invoking 2 Kings chapter 2. >.>
This is depressing. All of it. Richard Mitchell. No perceptions are forced on us, this is irresponsibile. We decide what we identify with and how we see other people - if - we are continuing questioning. No one else can provide this for you - otherwise it is a dummy. The 'authority' of sociology or psychology is redunant if you trust in yourself. I don't see myself quite in such a reductive or disempowering way.
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