# Are ginger kids the new oppressed minority? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155 "2008-11-23T22:13:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Valteron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f17d59/32.png) [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/1 "2008-11-23T22:13:49Z")
This is alarming! Look at these news stories coming out of Canada. See [http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=49022ee5-66d1-46e0-a057-7707de6e140b](http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=49022ee5-66d1-46e0-a057-7707de6e140b) This is NOT a joke. It really happened in Canada. Other news articles say that parents of ginger kids who were beaten up and kicked are thinking of suing South Park. I had never even heard the expression “ginger kids” until I saw a South Park rerun about three months ago. The Original was aired in November 2005 according to Wikkipedia (q.v.) I have never been attracted sexually to redheads, but I have never had anything against them. But now that I think of it, I remember my sister once saying that freckled redheads “smell funny” when they are wet. Since I never had the occasion to shower with a “ginger” I have never tested out this theory. Has anything like this happened in the US? Are “gingers” about to become a new oppressed minority? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/2 "2008-11-23T22:28:39Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > Has anything like this happened in the US? Are “gingers” about to become a new oppressed minority? Well, in their favor, they do have Thomas Jefferson, Alyson Hannigan and Cassandra Peterson. But on the other hand, they also have Esau and Judas Iscariot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/3 "2008-11-23T22:38:44Z")
I don’t know about red-headed kids, but less than a month ago, we were coming to grips with [“Hit a Jew Day.”](http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/BDF6DBB8D3034275862574F20013F784?OpenDocument) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/4 "2008-11-23T22:39:12Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > Has anything like this happened in the US? Organized crap like this? No. Bullied through grade school just for having red hair? Hell yes. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/5 "2008-11-23T22:42:15Z")
I have been aware of it for awhile in [England](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6725653.stm)but have heard nothing like it in America. > [@](#): > > … the phenomenon is long-standing and uniquely British in its most virulent form. I’ve heard that some similar prejudice against redheads exist in Russia too but googling “redhead” “Russia” only brings up a list of porn sites. I wonder if that informs in anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Valteron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f17d59/32.png) [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/6 "2008-11-23T22:44:37Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Well, in their favor, they do have Thomas Jefferson, Alyson Hannigan and Cassandra Peterson. > > But on the other hand, they also have Esau and Judas Iscariot. > > 😃 I should specify first that “gingers” are not just redheads but have freckled faces and are apprently the result of a recessive gene. Brown-haired parents with no freckles can have ginger kids. So I am not certain if Jefferson was a ginger or just a redhead. Also, on what do you base the info that Judas (or Esau) were redheaded? I know of no physical description of either in the Bible, or have I overlooked a passage? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/7 "2008-11-23T22:47:36Z")
☹ Aly Hannigan has dyed her hair brunette. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/8 "2008-11-23T22:49:59Z")
If it turns out Judas was a ginger, that could start a real anti-ginger backlash. Let’s not go there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/9 "2008-11-23T22:50:26Z")
Just when you think you’ve heard of every type of discrimination… I will never cease to be amazed at people’s ability to be assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Valteron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f17d59/32.png) [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/10 "2008-11-23T23:06:13Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > If it turns out Judas was a ginger, that could start a real anti-ginger backlash. Let’s not go there. 😉 Yes, but my point is that the Bible, and specially the New Testament, rarely gives a physical description of _anyone_. For example, we have **NO** friggin’ idea what Jesus looked like. So where does this info about Judas being a “ginger” come from? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/11 "2008-11-23T23:09:32Z")
Send all those poor, oppressed, red-headed Canadian women to me, so I can comfort them. Extensively. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/12 "2008-11-24T00:07:28Z")
> [@Valteron](#): > > So where does this info about Judas being a “ginger” come from? Late medieval and rennaisance art. People with red hair were seen as being untrustworthy and ugly, so Judas tended to be portrayed with red hair. ---
**Author:** ![MizTina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MizTina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizTina)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/13 "2008-11-24T01:19:32Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Send all those poor, oppressed, red-headed Canadian women to me, so I can comfort them. > > Extensively. And send me the lovely red-headed men, especially those with green eyes. Swoon! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/14 "2008-11-24T01:26:04Z")
Kids get picked on for tons of reasons. That’s wrong, but that doesn’t make anybody who gets picked on “the new oppressed minority.” If you want to call it oppression there are plenty of groups who have it worse than redheads. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/15 "2008-11-24T01:28:39Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Late medieval and rennaisance art. People with red hair were seen as being untrustworthy and ugly, so Judas tended to be portrayed with red hair. Thanks, I left the house soon after posting & didn’t see the Qs till now. As for Esau, his nickname was Edom (Hebrew- “reddish”, similar to Adam) and he was renown for being hairy. Now, he could have been just of a ruddy-complexion and hairy, or he could have been red-haired hairy. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/16 "2008-11-24T01:31:05Z")
Damned star-bellied sneetches. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/17 "2008-11-24T01:52:04Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I have been aware of it for awhile in [England](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6725653.stm)but have heard nothing like it in America. > > > [@](#): > > > > … the phenomenon is long-standing and uniquely British in its most virulent form. > > I’ve heard that some similar prejudice against redheads exist in Russia too but googling “redhead” “Russia” only brings up a list of porn sites. I wonder if that informs in anyway? There was a ‘No Ginger’ segment on [_The Catherine Tate Show_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1aQfpbjuLE). (Video.) ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/18 "2008-11-24T01:57:10Z")
My Darling Marcie is a natural red head; all over if you know what I mean. And she is mine, mine, I tell you, mine. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/19 "2008-11-24T02:13:03Z")
South Park covered this one quite well once. I have heard of redheads being picked on i.e. “I will beat you like a redheaded step-child” but I didn’t know what a ginger was until a couple of years ago. I was shocked that it is a real derogatory term in England. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155/20 "2008-11-24T03:03:11Z")
I have a hard time taking this seriously. This is like someone saying we should nuke Tibet, or the US should invade Canada. It’s generally accepted as being tongue-in-cheek (though in poor taste) or shocking for the sake of being shocking. The fact that they could find people and quote them as earnestly decrying this as a “hate crime” is what’s wrong with society today. People need to lighten up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ginger-kids-the-new-oppressed-minority/474155.md?page=2)