Persuasive Essay On Gingerism

Freckleface, Ginger, Duracell and Carrot Top. One of the many names we with red hair have to endure almost daily. We only make up an estimated 1-2% of the population but all feel that we have experienced different levels of what is known as gingerism. This is prejudice against or maltreatment of people with red hair and is more serious than you think, but is it as offensive as racism?

Gingerism is denied as being on the same level as racism because : redheads are not refused jobs, are never stopped by the police as seen to be a threat/terrorist and finally are not confronted by political parties or movements that would like to see them deported from the country. Does this make everything else okay? Some even claim red to be the colour of
the moment with many popular celebrities including Emma Stone, Amy childs and Christina Hendricks choosing to go red by choice. Flying the flag for gingers all over. Even a selection of well loved Disney princesses in the past few years have sported lovely flaming red locks, such as Merida from Brave and Ariel from the Little Mermaid.

However this sudden endearment is not the reality for all the natural redheads out there.There is in fact many sinister sides to the reaction to redheads. The “ditch the label bullying survey 2015” reports that in the United Kingdom 23% of females with ginger hair cited that their hair colour is their bully aggressor. Furthermore research by University College of Cork student Kevin O’reagan shows that over 90% of males with red hair have been bullied/victimised at a certain period of time in their lives due to once again, their hair colour. In one tragic case a young school boy Simon Walters aged 14 hung himself from his bunk after being tormented relentlessly by classmates about his ginger hair. He had even experimented with brown hair dye to try to put a stop to it. The school had been aware of the harassment and assured his father that there was a zero tolerance bullying policy in place. Despite this there is no evidence to show that they got involved. This is just one amongst many other events where a redhead has received cruel treatment through no fault of their own.

The bullies range from school kids to corporate giants. A Tesco christmas card in 2009 featured a child with red hair sitting on Santas knee with the slogan “Santa loves all kids, even ginger ones”. This just illustrates the attitude towards redheads and how they are seen to be inferior to everyone else, that they are something to be avoided. The card may be intended as a bit innocent humor but imagine all the little kids reading it and thinking that there was something wrong with them because of their hair.

In addition to the bullying everything about redheads is seen as a widespread joke.
In 2005 a popular television program south park aired an episode named “Ginger Kids” accusing those of the copper hair colouring as being disgusting, inhuman , unable to survive in sunlight and having no soul. This then led to a Facebook group naming 20th November “National Kick A Ginger Day”. No one batted an eyelid towards the page and it resulted in redheads in schools up and down the country being physically assaulted by other students who found the whole situation hilarious. In one incident ,at Wingfield Academy in Yorkshire, at least six ginger students were ambushed and battered on their way to classes. A father describes how his 13 year old daughter had came home with bruised legs after being singled out because of her auburn hair. No-one apart from the parents and the odd teacher showed any concern or sympathy towards these children. The majority of people laughed at the days events and now you can even buy commemorative mugs with the title “National Kick A Ginger Day” brandished on the front. But Had it been kick an asian day or kick a homosexual day the whole country would of been in an uproar, and anything relating to the day would have been investigated immediately
.

Gingerism can not be classed as a form of racism but is just as offensive. We do have feelings and I think you will agree that verbal/physical assault for our appearance is cruel and wrong. If hating someone for their body weight or skin colour is deemed inacceptable , then why is shaming someone for their hair colour okay.