Red, orange or is it OK to be ginger?

I’ve never understood why we are called red heads. I’ve never seen anyone with hair that is even close to red unless it’s out of a box, called ‘Cherry Bomb’ or ‘Manic Panic’ and sold over the counter at the tattoo parlour. Our hair is closer to orange at best but there really isn’t a colour on the colour chart that can truly represent it.

I guess that’s why I’m happy to adopt the term ‘Ginger’ to give us our own identity. I don’t find it offensive and hopefully you don’t either – you probably wouldn’t be on this site if you find it insulting. To me it’s not too different than calling a blonde ‘Blondey’. If we use it as a term to give us a collective identity and WE take ownership over it, it no longer has the power to insult us.

I think the insult attaches itself to the term when people shout it at you, or chase you while shouting it or while giving you a wedgy. It suddenly becomes bullying. Someone is targeting you and you have the right to feel intimidated. The problem is not so much with the word as the attitude people have towards minorities. But remember, there is strength in numbers. We may only make up 2% of the world’s population but that equates to 138,000,000 people with beautiful red, orange or ginger hair.

Tags: bullying, Ginger, i am ginger, iamginger, red hair, redhead