# like a red-headed stepchild

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 18, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619 "2000-09-18T17:03:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![marthag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@marthag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marthag)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619/1 "2000-09-18T17:03:26Z")

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What’s the origin of the phrase beaten/slapped/whatever like a red-headed stepchild?

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**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619/2 "2000-09-18T17:54:44Z")

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I always thought it was a ref to Danny Bonaduce (Partridge Family)  
But I’m most likely wrong

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**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619/3 "2000-09-18T18:01:22Z")

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BTW, I love your username! However mine is much more inventive due to the use of caps.

Thinking of a new user name…  
Hmmm “red headed stepchild”

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619/4 "2000-09-18T18:08:06Z")

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All I can add is, I never get to check out any Blue Light Specials, cause I desire to avoid any K-“marthags.”

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**Author:** ![tubagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@tubagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tubagirl)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619/5 "2000-09-18T18:14:46Z")

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I always thought it had to do with red heads being considered evil. There red hair was too showy and some thought it was a sign from the devil. They were punished more often due to this. Thus the phrase.

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**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619/6 "2000-09-18T20:08:48Z")

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The saying is based on several different myths/stereotypes.

There is a perception that stepchildren are loved less than biological children and are therefore treated poorly. Think _Cinderella_ or any of the “evil stepmother” tales.

Redheads are relatively rare in our culture. A person with red hair tends to stand out in a crowd - very conspicuous. Redheads were also sometimes associated with evil.

Put it all together and you have an evil misfit who is treated as a second class family member - a redheaded shetchild.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/like-a-red-headed-stepchild/33619/7 "2000-09-18T23:35:39Z")

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I’d say those describe me!😃

Oh, and I’m left handed too!😉