Redheads Have Been Scarlet Underdogs Throughout History
By: Cecilia Bogaard (Ancient Origins Reconstructing the story of humanitys past)
Ginger. Ranga. Judas. Witch. Barbarian.
Red hair is the smallest readily recognizable minority on the planet. Blonds are only slightly more prevalent. Needless to say they cannot avoid attracting a lot of attention (unless they dye their hair but it's still not easy to hide that oh, so white skin). Brunettes are more common than redheads and blonds but not by that much. Three quarters of the world's human population have black hair; across all races, genders, and ethnicities.
Red haired women have fared better in recent history, being seen as exotic, sexy, amazons. Red haired women are typically portrayed as strong women in today's pop culture. But red haired men (such as myself) are still the butt of jokes, receive aggressive attention, are watched, and excluded. You know, Prince Harry is a red haired man so whatever grievances he may have will be summarily dismissed and Prince Harry will be attacked.
What are you going to tell me about being treated differently on 'kick a redhead' day? What are you going to tell me about bigotry? Do what I've been required to do my entire lifetime; stop whining, turn the other cheek, and ignore it. Nobody cares.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Whether you call them carrot tops, strawberry blondes or gingers, redheads have attracted unwanted attention throughout history. The target of objectification and abuse, animosity towards fiery locks has resulted in hate crimes and mistreatment. From accusations of witchcraft to their association with immorality, these unfounded claims have inspired a host of myths, cultural practices and insults, as well as a lot of redhead-related misinformation, that continue to this day.
Modern estimates hold that redheads make up just 2% of the world's population, and this rarity has fueled curiosity for centuries. An unmissable mark of otherness, red hair has often been linked to negative traits like impulsiveness, a bad temperament and promiscuity. Even within nature, the color red is charged with symbolic meaning, as a warning of potential threat or as a way to attract mates during time of reproductive readiness.
The connection between redheads and violence can be traced to ancient Greek and Roman societies, where groups such as the Scythians and Thracians, known for having a significant number of redheads, were portrayed as aggressive barbarians. These stereotypes fueled their subsequent enslavement. "The Classical suspicion of redheads probably derived from the fact red hair was so rare in the Mediterranean regions," explained History Collection .
During the Middle Ages, red hair was sometimes associated with immoral acts. By the time of the Spanish Inquisition , red hair was even being used to identify Jews. This helps explain why supposedly treacherous characters, such as Mary Magdalen and Judas Iscariot who are identified as Jews within Christian tradition, were depicted with red hair in certain artworks of the era. According to some sources, red hair was used as a justification for targeting alleged witches during the European witch-hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries.
By the 19th century, a New Year's tradition called 'first footing' gained popularity in Scotland and northern England. It held that the first person entering a home after midnight could bring good fortune , though redheads were believed to bring bad luck .
Dubbed the " unicorns of the human world," redheads are actually the result of a genetic mutation. Some scientists believe that it originated in the Central Asian Steppes as humans adapted to low sunlight, developing pale skin and light hair (including red hair) in the process. This mutation allowed them to absorb additional UV light needed to synthesize vitamin D more efficiently. Carried as recessive genes, red hair can appear in individuals worldwide through dormant traits passed down over generations.
Anti-ginger prejudice and enduring stereotypes persist today, rooted in remnants of these historic superstitions. But redheads are now fighting back! Events such as World Redhead Day, celebrated on the 26th May, or the Dutch festival Redhead Days , where gingers from around the world come together each year, are spreading awareness in the hope of a more inclusive future.
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When you see a redhead, what part of the world springs to mind as their place of origin? How about a blond? What follows are presumptions, assumptions, and imposed cultural expectations.
Black haired people are more concerned about skin color to differentiate themselves and make prejudicial presumptions. Red heads and blonds don't have that problem so leave us out of your juvenile slap fights. You really don't know a damned thing about being treated differently.
Well, instead of Ireland which would probably be the usual answer, my first thought is back to show Lucifer...
I love that show.
The town, province and country in which I live
My mom.
A bottle of hair dye
Nerm,
My mom's hair was jet black...
btw, redheads do care about bias. You might want to read this some of these articles
My mother had red hair. As did my grandmother. And I haven't been able to verify if only one or both my great-grandparents had red hair. Beyond that, I haven't a clue. When I was young, a family gathering was like a red head convention. Of course, they're all dead now.
My point is that red heads are treated differently everywhere and on just about any occasion. Red heads have an unavoidable innate understanding of biases, prejudices, and being treated differently. It seems to be more pronounced for red haired children; they have to learn how to be a red head. So, being treated differently becomes just normal as they age.
As I mentioned, red haired women are typically portrayed in pop-culture as strong women. In pop-culture, almost all superhero red heads are women. And, to a large extent, that's become a social expectation. Red haired men, on the other hand, are typically portrayed in pop-culture as a comedic character or as an evil character. That too has become part of social expectations.
Morning... people here with red hair are called Bluey as a nick name...
So the genetic variation in redheads appears to account for much more than just hair color.
I don't feel more pain. In fact, I tolerate pain very well, which is good, since I am also a clutz.
I was just trying to bring a little science to the pity party...
I hear ya. I just ignored that part of the commentary.
And science is good!
I think redheads are very sensual woman as a rule.
At my first house, they inspired me to have a beautiful burning bush that I pruned into the cutest ♥️ shape. It was a very hearty bush that gave me great joy.
I have a niece who is a redhead and she is certainly very feisty. Girl has a heart of gold but don't dare get on her bad side.