ForumGarden

Hi all,

I just thought I'd pop on to FG and find out your opinions on this subject.

My eldest boy (2 1/2) is a red head (well a bright auburn rather than orange if you know what I mean). I recently watched a programme on TV about people's reactions to red heads/ginger haired people (redheaded men in particular). It made me quite upset to be honest. Over here in England to have red hair and be male pretty much dooms you to a life of taunts and unfair name calling and a difficulty in the dating game although I can't understand why! I've had people in the street say 'he won't thank you for that hair when he gets older', and 'don't worry It'll probably change'.

Firstly why do you think this is? And secondly what's the reaction to our auburn friends overseas? Over here it seems that it's kind of OK for women and girls but not for men and boys.

I'm going to try and make sure that Jack has superb confidence and assertiveness but I can't help feeling a bit bad for him.

I'd love to hear all your opinions on the subject....

Katy:-6

I think........ Prince Harry is HOT!!!!

(does that answer the question???)

honestly, my two youngest brothers are both red headed, and they didn't get made fun of until high school when people would call them "gingers" which apparently means a red head with freckles and no soul- whatever- they dont give a flying! They are handsome and they ALWAYS have girlfriends!

They may get teased when they are young because kids are mean and pick on anyone that is different. Especially true for boys I could post several of the lines in vogue when I was a child for teasing reds. It's just part of growing up and will pass. The main thing is to provide a stable, loving home for them (which I am sure you do). Then nothing else matters that much.

If I am honest, I don't like it on males, not so bad on girls although I'm worried my baby girl may have it, looks strawberry blonde at the moment. I usually associate redheads having very pale skin, covered in freckles with very corse hair. I don't know why I feel the way I do sorry. I wouldn't ever pick on someone for being a ginger but though, that's just really disgusting.

I dated a carrot top in high school...he was short and stumpy with bright red hair and freckles all over the place, he wasn't very good looking, but he treated me like a Queen.

I think that it's personal preference of course, and yes kids get picked on for everything it seems. I hope the best for your little guy!:-4

LMFAO @ carrot top! Not heard that in years.

crazygal;604862 wrote: If I am honest, I don't like it on males, not so bad on girls although I'm worried my baby girl may have it, looks strawberry blonde at the moment. I usually associate redheads having very pale skin, covered in freckles with very corse hair. I don't know why I feel the way I do sorry. I wouldn't ever pick on someone for being a ginger but though, that's just really disgusting.


I really don't understand your prejudice (stupidness), I'd never pick on you though..that would be disgusting.:rolleyes:

Katy1;604632 wrote: My eldest boy (2 1/2) is a red head (well a bright auburn rather than orange if you know what I mean). I recently watched a programme on TV about people's reactions to red heads/ginger haired people (redheaded men in particular). It made me quite upset to be honest. Over here in England to have red hair and be male pretty much dooms you to a life of taunts and unfair name calling and a difficulty in the dating game

I'm going to try and make sure that Jack has superb confidence and assertiveness but I can't help feeling a bit bad for him.

I'd love to hear all your opinions on the subject....

Katy -6


Red hair is red hair, a bright coppery-carrotty colour - certainly not "auburn". Auburn is a different colour. So, in the UK, he'll be called "ginger", unfortunate connurtations, or "ginger nuts" when he gets older (if this is a generally known

name!), or whatever. I shouldn't worry about it, there's not much you can do, and IMO/E it's not a big deal - it could turn ot to be a positive boon. I shouldn't try to make him too confident, in case he gets a false sense of security, or turns into a complete ares. "Difficulty in the dating game"? I really doubt it!

I have had red hair before - it certainly attracted attention, but nothing really unreasonable, some of it welcome. I have two sisters with real red hair - I remember one being called "copper nob" by an indulgent grandfather. They're both OK. My son has deep brown, almost black hair, because of his part Eastern origins - it caught the spring sunlight a week or two ago in a most peculier way, and really glowed with a red/black richness. I was surprised, and immensely pleased - I absolutely believe that had he been wholly of this country, he would've been a redhead, and a real belter, at that!

So, in short, he'll be fine. No need to make a meal of this. You're fortunate to have a son who's got this hair colour. Me? Started blonde, then jet black. Now mousey. Pah!

Soberano;604905 wrote: Copper knob, red head not heard the term ginger minge yet.lips: wah:


No, not copper knob, copper nob. Sigh.

Pinky;604907 wrote: (ginger minge)I was thinking it, but wasn't going to say it!wah: wah:


This garden is getting effing *sad*.

magenta flame;604916 wrote: One day men will be judged by the content of their character rather than the colour of their skin.


It depends on the judge. I'm rather impartial, and have had adverse comments because of this - but - knickers to 'em!

Pinky;604912 wrote: Oh, whatever. I didn't say it in the first place did I?

Put me on ignore of you find my posts that terrible.


If you need to get upset over trivia, well then it's your decision!

magenta flame;604921 wrote: do you know how many blonde jokes I've heard over the years ? hell if someone wants to say something nasty about anyone they will find a way


Are you blonde? Lovely! Just remember, you are your own person. There are loads of jokes about all sorts of races/hationalities/hair colours. Part of life's rich diversity.

magenta flame;604932 wrote: Well Britains make fun of australians,wah: wah:


?? Not particularly, that I've heard....

Soberano;604937 wrote: Turn the hearing aid up, that should do it.wah:


Well, tell me a few, then! I'm waiting!

I don't know about England. Or anywhere else but here.

Redheads are cool. Nuff said.

My son's got red hair, and no-one takes the p1ss out of him! Mind you, he's 17 stone, and 6ft 5....That may have something to do with it!...

Soberano;605031 wrote: What is it with youngsters today, my son has his mates around and i get a stiff neck looking up at em all. They all seem so bliddy big nowadays.


Is it cos you're old and wizened!.......:yh_rotfl

Cheers all,

There is a big part of me that thinks well, we all have our different things that people will mock us for but I suppose when I see my little boy being pushed by older kids and called ginger when he is too young to even understand what it means then it just tugs at the old heart strings I suppose. When it's your own it's a bit more difficult think pragmatically.

Just stiffening that upper lip as we speak......

Katy1;604632 wrote: Hi all,

I just thought I'd pop on to FG and find out your opinions on this subject.

My eldest boy (2 1/2) is a red head (well a bright auburn rather than orange if you know what I mean). I recently watched a programme on TV about people's reactions to red heads/ginger haired people (redheaded men in particular). It made me quite upset to be honest. Over here in England to have red hair and be male pretty much dooms you to a life of taunts and unfair name calling and a difficulty in the dating game although I can't understand why! I've had people in the street say 'he won't thank you for that hair when he gets older', and 'don't worry It'll probably change'.

Firstly why do you think this is? And secondly what's the reaction to our auburn friends overseas? Over here it seems that it's kind of OK for women and girls but not for men and boys.

I'm going to try and make sure that Jack has superb confidence and assertiveness but I can't help feeling a bit bad for him.

I'd love to hear all your opinions on the subject....

Katy


http://www.forumgarden.com/forums/showt ... rry+blonde

I totally understand where you're coming from Katy. I think redheads have the most glorious coloured hair! My daughter's hair is gorgeous and has a multitude of hues in it that blondes and brunettes just don't have. We call her ginger nut, carrot top and ginger monkey when we tease her and ginger whinger when she gets whiney, but it's only said to tease and not to upset her. If other people call her these names she now thinks it's just teasing and not someone being mean.

However, my ex-sister-in-law was a mean witch (pronounced with a 'B'!) and she DID call her those names just to be spiteful! However, we knew she was jealous because my daughter had gorgeous long rippling hair whereas her own daughter had short straggly black hair and (it has to be said) was the ugliest baby and child we've ever seen. (We called her The Trog - I know it's mean but man was she ugly! )

If anyone comments on your childs hair, give them a huge smile and say "Isn't it gorgeous? It's titian!" that should shut them up! If it doesn't just glare at them to show them they're idiots! When my son was little I had him in reins as he wouldn't hold my hand and liked to run ahead. One little old lady told me I shouldn't use reins on him as it was treating him like a dog! Stupid old bat - would she prefer him to pull away and run in the road? The world is full of idiots who love the sound of their own voice - sadly they only spout verbal diarrhoea - nothing thats ever sensible or interesting! Just glare at these braindead idiots and feel sorry for them being too thickskinned to know how rude and stupid they are.

Big hugs to you sweety. :yh_hugs :yh_hugs

:wah: Soberano- Funnily enough I remember my Mum arming me with phrases to counter taunts. I was fat and had cheap NHS glasses (and was a bit unusual) so I had it all - I was a veritable gift for the bullies, you could almost see them rubbing their hands in glee when I approached! Mum always said 'well 4 eyes are better than 2 aren't they?' and 'if they call you fat tell them that you could lose weight if you wanted, what could they do about their face?!' - I suppose nowadays they'd probably respond with 'go to a plastic surgeon of course!'.

I remember one incident when I was being taunted on the way home from school and unknown to me my Mum was hiding and watching what was going on. This boy (called Mark Hyman - I still remember!) was shouting 'c0ck-eyed Katy 'and 'Katy cow pat' when my Mum appeared and chased him down the road saying 'do you want to say that to me?! Do you?!'....boy was she mad :wah:

Rapunzel cheers for your comments. There are arseholes everywhere aren't there! If I could suss out how to post a photo of Jack I would