Hair and Prejudice

[Audrey Horne]

I know there are similar threads but I hope you don't mind if I create this one.

So I read somewhere this typical article. Nothing special, you all know them: "blondes are sexy, brunettes are more successful, redheads aren't serious". Or "wavy/curly isn't the right look for an office, you should go with straight hair". We all know it's nonsense! And while I always thought it's just hair, it isn't the case.
For example when I went to school (no, it wasn't in Austria) girls were not allowed to dye their hair in "unnatural colours" OR wear it down even if it was shoulder length. I think it was deemed as something sexual at my school :confused:
And yes, of course, some hairstyles are quite taboo (not in my opinion)...

Have YOU ever experienced prejudiced because of your hair?

[Mesmerise]

Well I think it's just rubbish too really! At my school you weren't allowed to dye "unnatural colours" or have any weird hairstyles (like dreads or something). I did go to a private school though with a strict dress code (although most public schools here also have reasonably strict dress codes... just not quite as bad). I remember one girl dyed her hair an impossibly bright red and she was sent home until she changed it!

However, they allowed reasonably natural colours...and I remember one girl had stripes on the bottom part of her hair (she had short hair and it was clipped up the back... and had stripes) and she seemed to go fine with that!

I do remember my MIL saying a year ago about someone "oh, she dyed her hair bright red!" in this sort of scandalized tone and I was like.... "Umm I dye my hair red all the time :confused:." So it makes me wonder what she says about ME behind my back!

I also remember a guy I knew making a comment about the teachers at his daughter's school and saying some have really long hair (like waist length) as if that was somehow inappropriate for a school teacher!

Meh... as long as they don't say anything about my hair to my face it doesn't phase me ;).

[PianoPlaye]

Prejudice? only from other women. Who were "concerned" for me that my hair was forever in a (skinny) braid & didn't "look professional".
They were shorthairs, who spent time & money on colour, cut & primping. I didn't have the time or money & above all inclination to mess with a simple system that worked, as I combined mum of three with the fulltime job.
I run with the "they pay for my brains not my looks" school - which probably gets me more discrimination for having a different attitude!

[Audrey Horne]

Mesmerize, I've heard quite often this "omg her hair is red!" phrase. I think it's still more within natural colours than blue, for example :D I think some people say that long hair is inappropriate because they secretly have a long hair ****** :D I suspect.
The last thing I've heard two years ago was "Brunettes are not to be trusted" in my face LOL oh well haha

[IanB]

The biggest prejudice is against men with long hair. You hear of problems at school where boys are told to get a haircut, jobs only being offered to short hairs, names being shouted in the street etc. Where's the justice in that?

[celebriangel]

Well I have my hair up permanently in a bun, so no one can tell whether it's wavy, straight or curly. If I had a job (I'm a full time student trying to recover from glandular fever, so no job for me) I would be wearing a neat cinnabun on my crown, the slightly tighter version of a lazy wrap or a chinese bun every day. All 3 styles are neat and contained.

Some people think of long hair as "unprofessional", which is probably a layover from what I think of in my head as the Great Fashion Switch where in the early 20th century women abandoned their long hair and tightlaced corsets for short hair and the brassiere. To the best of my knowledge, it was then perceived that long hair and wasp-waisted corsets were the emblems of weak silly women who couldn't do anything.

Well, corsets have become a fashion item, and no one really remembers tightlacing, but I think the perception of long hair has remained. I think that some people have the same reaction to extremely long hair as they (would) have to a modern tightlacer.

Anyway. The basic bottom line is I don't really care. If I were in a really professional job, well, my henna'd hair looks like a natural auburn, and if I wore a french twist every day I can think of nothing more professional than that. If I still was told I needed to cut my hair (despite it never being visible) I would tell them where to go.

As for people (women) telling me what I should do with my hair...well, I don't have that kind of female friend. My female friends are mostly unconventional rockers, serious martial artists, and/or physicists. I suppose if I ended up with irritating work colleagues I just wouldn't socialise in work much, but given that I'm headed into physics research, I doubt there will be much hair conversation. Besides which, physics departments are very used to unconventional employees ;)

As for odd comments in public...well, I wear my hair up all the time, so no one ever sees it.

I'm pretty lucky in that way. I've also got a neat bun, some glasses and a mean look, so people generally don't mess with me :D I've heard of lots of stories from other people where they've been put in terrible situations by others relating to their hair, and I just think "in what universe is that remotely acceptable behaviour?" I feel bad for the longhairs involved; I personally would just sock the detractors in the mouth if they were being *really* unreasonable.

[Audrey Horne]

The biggest prejudice is against men with long hair. You hear of problems at school where boys are told to get a haircut, jobs only being offered to short hairs, names being shouted in the street etc. Where's the justice in that?
Oh I cannot disagree! Terribly unfair :-( My DH had long hair when he was a teen and heard it all the time...
Long hair is "a feminine feature" (nobody had a problem with it centuries ago, though). The same like a shaved head can lead to a lot of trouble if you happen to be a woman. People are almost scared of it. I just wonder why!

[irisheyes]

My hair is quite gray. I have experienced ageism at work - the young folks there seemed to think I didn't know how to use a computer - just because I look "old" and therefore incompetent. I've also had strangers grasp my arm to help me along, as if I'm infirm!

[Izae]

I've never experienced any prejudice yet, just the occasional comment to "cut my hair" shouted at me from random people driving past.

When my hair was longer, my friend did once say that I looked like a girl from the back, i just took that as a compliment. :D

[TheBluffs]

Yep, all the time. First, many people think I look quiet on the consertive side, or 'scary neat perfecionist' when I do my updoos. I recently found out that I wore a braid for many peoples 'first impresions', in which they though I was a 'snob'. When I wear my hair down, I've got assumotions that I am a bohemian hippie, ultra conservitive, or yet again: a snob. :confused:

[gthlvrmx]

1) Ew, he has long hair, he must be gay.
2)Ew, he has long hair, he must be a crazy druggie metal head.

[Coan-Teen]

TheBluffs, I get the snob reaction all the time. I think it's because I tend to be quiet and reserved while still confident. As though being introverted and confident is somehow inherently a social problem. I don't know if you are also a light talker but that may contribute.

I get the ice queen prejudice associated with quiet, confident blondes.

[Ermine]

TheBluffs, I get the snob reaction all the time. I think it's because I tend to be quiet and reserved while still confident. As though being introverted and confident is somehow inherently a social problem. I don't know if you are also a light talker but that may contribute.

I get the ice queen prejudice associated with quiet, confident blondes.

Me too. I'm nothing of the sort, yet I still seem unapproachable for the most part. Maybe the extroverts are scared of us... It will be interesting to see how this stereotype will continue when I get longer hair and let my ash blonde roots show. Uber ice queen?

[TheBluffs]

TheBluffs, I get the snob reaction all the time. I think it's because I tend to be quiet and reserved while still confident. As though being introverted and confident is somehow inherently a social problem. I don't know if you are also a light talker but that may contribute.

I get the ice queen prejudice associated with quiet, confident blondes.

I forgot about the ice queen. :rockerdud: It has the anoyining factor of being called a snob, while havining it's own downfalls. I have had teachers asume, which kind of makes me want to go 'I don't only get good grades!' :boxer:

[spidermom]

I remember my son being offered a waiter job when he had long hair and was told he'd have to cut it, which he did. Then he discovered that the female waitresses only had to wear their hair back, which he could have done as well, so what was the point of that?

[Madora]

No, I've never experienced prejudice about my long hair. Oh, I've had a few remarks such as "You should cut your hair"..or the nit wits who state with such fevor "You'll look YOUNGER with short hair!" Yeah, right!

But while I think the attitude (in some places) has relaxed with regard to weird colors and cuts, if you want to be be part of the job market (in some places) you must agree to the rules..conservative styles and colors..if you want the job!

Back in grade and high school, you obeyed the school discipline about haircuts for the boys and keeping your hair tidy. A couple of kids in grade school thought they'd try and "put one over" on the nuns and got a banned haircut..they got sent home for several days and had to make up what work they missed.

Ditto for highschool...you did not dye your hair jungle red or purple with streaks and expect to be allowed in school. A girl came to school with varigated streaks all thru her hair. She didn't stay long!

[sarah061]

My hair is quite gray. I have experienced ageism at work - the young folks there seemed to think I didn't know how to use a computer - just because I look "old" and therefore incompetent. I've also had strangers grasp my arm to help me along, as if I'm infirm!

I am so sorry that happened to you, that's terrible! I've never heard any stories from people with grey hair before - I think grey hair is beautiful and I'm excited for when I can have that look. Hopefully people will be respectful though! Wow.

[Charlotte:)]

Well, people often automatically assume that I'm a super-girly "dumb blonde" even though I'm not. I also find it a bit degrading when people call me "blondie".

I have also noticed that many people find long hair on guys to be unacceptable which doesn't make any sense to me.

[Venefica]

I do sometimes get prejudice for being a Goth and my hair, dyed black with sharp fringe bangs sort of tie into the Goth look. Other than that the only prejudice against hair I regularly see is those that think women over 40 should not have long hair, as well as blond jokes. Though I must admit I am guilty of blond jokes myself, like saying I am going to get back my artificial intelligence every time I dye my blond roots, but I do not mean anything by it, off course hair color do not affect a person's intelligence.

I also see prejudice towards men with long hair, many assume any man with long hair is either evil, is a drug addict or is a hippie, many places have almost zero tolerance for men with long hair, which is a shame, I love men with long hair.

[MissManda]

Yes, I have experienced certain prejudices against long hair. Before age twelve, I had hair that yo-yoed between waist and tailbone length hair that my parental figures made sure was always neatly tied back. I had a few particular teachers that assumed that I must be a "spoiled princess," which couldn't have been further from the truth.

My DF also gets a lot of flack for having long hair. People have assumed that he must be gay, a drug addict, or a weirdo-hippie. :rolleyes: I can't even begin to count the number of times where random strangers have approached him asking for/offering cigarettes, drugs, or weed. Ugh.

[Anje]

Thought I'd offer up this study (http://pwq.sagepub.com/content/20/3/447) for anyone who's interested.

Kyle, D.J. & Mahler, H.I.M. The effects of hair color and cosmetic use on perceptions of a female’s ability. Psychol Women Q 20, 447 (1996).

[Venefica]

My hubby had long hair before, and he was stopped in the street while we where out shopping once and asked if he could get drugs as the young man stopping him would like to buy. :O People have some funny ideas about long hair on men.

[snakewitch]

For some reason, girls here are expected to have long hair and abuse the hell out of it.

I got called an "ugly, manly dy-(slur for lesbian :P)"(their words, not mine) because I like keeping my hair natural. Apparently, keeping my hair healthy, happy and natural makes me non-feminine, and being non-feminine makes me a lesbian. And somehow their dislike of my facial structure ties in with all of that.

The same girl who told me that, perms her hair every month and I once heard her complaining about how her hair is falling out. Real smart of her to say that.

A lot of people call me a redneck for my hair... I thought the only hairstyle associated with rednecks was a mullet, and I certainly ain't got no mullet. Apparently they called me that because rednecks don't wash their hair, and the day I got called that I haven't washed my hair for about four days.

People constantly try to give me offensive tips, as well. "Your hair is gross, you'd look a bit better if you cut it" isn't a compliment.

[TheLurkingToad]

I'm a guy and once I was out of school I don't really face any prejudice that I am aware of. I am sure people say things but nothing to me in years.

Like Venefica's husband people have assumed into drugs but in a more amusing way than asking if I was selling. Quite a few people will tell me how I should totally listen to this one song or watch this movie the next time I'm high because it is just amazing that way. I usually laugh and tell people I don't do that. I find this interesting because the people who give me these recommendations don't come off in any way like that normally. Otherwise people want to talk to me about metal because they assume I'm a big metal head. I don't mind this because I am into the music. Just not as much as they thought.

[gthlvrmx]

For some reason, girls here are expected to have long hair and abuse the hell out of it.

I got called an "ugly, manly dy-(slur for lesbian :P)"(their words, not mine) because I like keeping my hair natural. Apparently, keeping my hair healthy, happy and natural makes me non-feminine, and being non-feminine makes me a lesbian. And somehow their dislike of my facial structure ties in with all of that.

The same girl who told me that, perms her hair every month and I once heard her complaining about how her hair is falling out. Real smart of her to say that.

A lot of people call me a redneck for my hair... I thought the only hairstyle associated with rednecks was a mullet, and I certainly ain't got no mullet. Apparently they called me that because rednecks don't wash their hair, and the day I got called that I haven't washed my hair for about four days.

People constantly try to give me offensive tips, as well. "Your hair is gross, you'd look a bit better if you cut it" isn't a compliment.
They are so mean!! Just ignore those remarks, so rude! People like that need a reality check. Your hair routine rocks, theirs doesn't, plain and simple. How mean, sorry i feel very upset about that, if i were there...:mad: They'd never speak meanly about your hair again.

[bettylibertine]

My partner has two strikes against him for being a longhair AND for going grey. He's only 22 so people are constantly telling him he looks scruffy and that he should cut and dye his hair.

Unfortunately, he's unemployed at the moment and I'm so sure that part of it is that his hair gives stupid people the wrong idea.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Audrey Horne]

My hair is quite gray. I have experienced ageism at work - the young folks there seemed to think I didn't know how to use a computer - just because I look "old" and therefore incompetent. I've also had strangers grasp my arm to help me along, as if I'm infirm!
I always wondered how is it for people who go gray. Must be very tough :-( I think nowadays nobody remembers how early our hair starts to go gray because everyone dyes it. I assume stupid remarks are made about it all the time :-(

[Venefica]

Snakewitch those pepole that have been talking with you are just mean. From your picture your hair is beautiful. Ignore them they are just jealous.

The strangest bit of hair prejudice I have ever seen was on TV, I do not remember which show it was, it might have been X-files but I am not sure. Anyway the investigators come into a room and poke around, they find a used bottle of brown hair dye and concludes that the occupant of the apartment was trying to change her appearance to disappear in the crowd as there was no legitimate reason why anyone would ever want to become a brunette artificially.

[oktobergoud]

Because I have short (and sometimes eccentric) hairstyles, like half of my head shaved, people sometimes think I'm a lesbian :P Which is ridiculous of course! And it really annoys me as well. I don't really care if people think I'm a lesbian, but what in the world makes someone look like a lesbian? I dress very girly anyway so yeah, I don't know. Short hair = lesbian is so outdated ugh.

[Audrey Horne]

Because I have short (and sometimes eccentric) hairstyles, like half of my head shaved, people sometimes think I'm a lesbian :P Which is ridiculous of course! And it really annoys me as well. I don't really care if people think I'm a lesbian, but what in the world makes someone look like a lesbian? I dress very girly anyway so yeah, I don't know. Short hair = lesbian is so outdated ugh.
I had it too haha As soon as your hair is longer you're not a lesbian anymore, it's that easy lol Still annoying...

[Ginny Mae]

Oh wow, finally a thread I can contribute something meaningful to! I grew up in the north east of England and have red, aka "ginger" hair. I guess to put it politely, red hair is seen as being pretty undesirable, at least by school children! Some ginger-related incidents I can recall offhand:
I used to be referred to as "period head" by other schoolkids (I hope this doesn't offend anyone, it's just an illustration of how mean people were!) They also claimed they could somehow "catch" my ginger hair by touching me!
My ex-boyfriend claimed he wouldn't marry me "in case our kids turned out ginger"
My brother's ex, who was a fully-qualified doctor claimed once that "gingers bleed more when they're having surgery" (that one REALLY worried me)
My sister's brother-in-law sent my sister a "funny" card when my nephew was born with a group of vegetables sitting around looking disappointed because the baby was "a piece of ginger" (bizarre, I know)
I recently walked past a busker who started singing "smile even though you're ginger" at me
Last week some people followed me and my boyfriend around singing Simply Red songs at us (Simply Red are an English band where the lead singer is famously red haired) - my boyfriend has red hair too! There have been several other incidents with people laughing at us both together...

There have been many, many more incidents like this and I've always had trouble seeing my red hair as a blessing rather than a burden. Seeing so many people on LHC choosing to dye their hair red with henna has actually really helped - obviously the people on these boards don't see it as being ugly (seriously, I've overheard guys saying "she'd be pretty if she wasn't ginger" more than once...)

[Vani1902]

Oh wow, finally a thread I can contribute something meaningful to! I grew up in the north east of England and have red, aka "ginger" hair. I guess to put it politely, red hair is seen as being pretty undesirable, at least by school children! Some ginger-related incidents I can recall offhand:
I used to be referred to as "period head" by other schoolkids (I hope this doesn't offend anyone, it's just an illustration of how mean people were!) They also claimed they could somehow "catch" my ginger hair by touching me!
My ex-boyfriend claimed he wouldn't marry me "in case our kids turned out ginger"
My brother's ex, who was a fully-qualified doctor claimed once that "gingers bleed more when they're having surgery" (that one REALLY worried me)
My sister's brother-in-law sent my sister a "funny" card when my nephew was born with a group of vegetables sitting around looking disappointed because the baby was "a piece of ginger" (bizarre, I know)
I recently walked past a busker who started singing "smile even though you're ginger" at me
Last week some people followed me and my boyfriend around singing Simply Red songs at us (Simply Red are an English band where the lead singer is famously red haired) - my boyfriend has red hair too! There have been several other incidents with people laughing at us both together...

There have been many, many more incidents like this and I've always had trouble seeing my red hair as a blessing rather than a burden. Seeing so many people on LHC choosing to dye their hair red with henna has actually really helped - obviously the people on these boards don't see it as being ugly (seriously, I've overheard guys saying "she'd be pretty if she wasn't ginger" more than once...)

I am so sorry that you have been through all of that. Ironically, I have always wanted to be a ginger. I find red hair so beautiful and unique. In fact, my first bf was a ginger himself. :)

[Ginny Mae]

Aw, thanks Vani1902! That is very sweet of you, and apologies to anyone reading my post - I've just realised what a crazy rant it was!

[Audrey Horne]

Oh wow, finally a thread I can contribute something meaningful to! I grew up in the north east of England and have red, aka "ginger" hair. I guess to put it politely, red hair is seen as being pretty undesirable, at least by school children! Some ginger-related incidents I can recall offhand:
I used to be referred to as "period head" by other schoolkids (I hope this doesn't offend anyone, it's just an illustration of how mean people were!) They also claimed they could somehow "catch" my ginger hair by touching me!
My ex-boyfriend claimed he wouldn't marry me "in case our kids turned out ginger"
My brother's ex, who was a fully-qualified doctor claimed once that "gingers bleed more when they're having surgery" (that one REALLY worried me)
My sister's brother-in-law sent my sister a "funny" card when my nephew was born with a group of vegetables sitting around looking disappointed because the baby was "a piece of ginger" (bizarre, I know)
I recently walked past a busker who started singing "smile even though you're ginger" at me
Last week some people followed me and my boyfriend around singing Simply Red songs at us (Simply Red are an English band where the lead singer is famously red haired) - my boyfriend has red hair too! There have been several other incidents with people laughing at us both together...

There have been many, many more incidents like this and I've always had trouble seeing my red hair as a blessing rather than a burden. Seeing so many people on LHC choosing to dye their hair red with henna has actually really helped - obviously the people on these boards don't see it as being ugly (seriously, I've overheard guys saying "she'd be pretty if she wasn't ginger" more than once...)
Wow! It is truly shocking! I always wanted to be a readhead, really bright ginger and have freckles and all :-) I think it's very special and beautiful, elf-like even. People hate when someone stands out but I never thought it could be so extreme... I personally think gingerhead is a blessing, even if others don't get it :blossom: I tried to pull it off with a chemical dye lol a bit midiocre haha I stick with my natural now.
Don't give up, girl! Remember you're beautiful as you are.

[Ginny Mae]

Thanks Audrey Horne, you've made me feel a lot better! Not that there's anything wrong with dying, but I think that for a lot of us it's difficult to accept our hair and stick with its natural colour.

[Renbirde]

My brother's ex, who was a fully-qualified doctor claimed once that "gingers bleed more when they're having surgery" (that one REALLY worried me)
This one is oddly sort of scientific. The studies don't all agree, but there have been some that link red hair and a tendency to bleed more when injured or bruise easily.

There is a good bit of research that links red hair with a lower pain tolerance (due to vit. K deficiency or crosstalk between melanocyte-stimulating hormone and endorphins), and some that says redhead women are more sensitive to the painkiller pentazocine than the average. /biogeek

[pepperminttea]

My brother's ex, who was a fully-qualified doctor claimed once that "gingers bleed more when they're having surgery" (that one REALLY worried me)

I have actually read of some studies that natural redheads feel pain more and need more anaesthetic before surgery (this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2329313.stm) is an old article with an unfortunate title, but I feel sure there's been a more recent one about a study confirming it), though the bleeding thing isn't something I've ever heard.
(ETA: Renbirde beat me to it. :p )

Sorry you've had to deal with so much, the redheads at my school used to get it in the neck too. If it's any consolation, I always wished I'd been born a natural redhead, with green eyes, freckles, and curls. I have a few of the freckles, but that's about as close as I got. ;)

[Ginny Mae]

Interesting! Especially the part about low vitamin k levels - I have some evil thread veins on my legs (yuck!) that apparently could have been caused by low vitamin k levels. I think the bleeding while having surgery story just freaked me out because I had an image of myself lying on an operating table bleeding everywhere and the doctors saying "it's ok guys, she has red hair"!! Gross!

[Audrey Horne]

I have actually read of some studies that natural redheads feel pain more and need more anaesthetic before surgery
It's totally about me! However, I'm auburn...
Anyway it's all news to me :o

[TheLurkingToad]

I honestly hadn't known the term ginger and that red hair was looked down upon by some people until I saw the South Park episode about it. I think red hair can be absolutely gorgeous.

[nellreno]

When I used to dye my hair a dark red I was "alternative". I don't know what that means but ok.
When I wear my hair down I'm a hippie or a snob (also related to the fact that I'm pretty shy and quiet).
Because my natural color is brown, I'm homely, I'm not good in bed and I don't know how to have any kind of fun.

My girlfriend is a redhead, she absolutely hates being called "feisty".

On a different site I was a member of a redhead group, mainly because of my girlfriend. Most of the posts in that group were how the particular person was a god among mere mortals because they had red hair. As my opinion of "um...it's just hair" wasn't particularly welcome I ended up leaving.

[Knittycat]

I was born blond. I was supposed to be a redhead. I've spent the rest of my life (since I was old enough to dye my hair) correcting a fault of genetics.

Most folks don't even know I dye!

I even opted for green contacts for a long time.

[nellreno]

Because I have short (and sometimes eccentric) hairstyles, like half of my head shaved, people sometimes think I'm a lesbian :P Which is ridiculous of course! And it really annoys me as well. I don't really care if people think I'm a lesbian, but what in the world makes someone look like a lesbian? I dress very girly anyway so yeah, I don't know. Short hair = lesbian is so outdated ugh.

LOL I've never quite understood that one either. Both my girlfriend and I have long hair, we must be so confused!!

[Venefica]

Red hair is beautiful. I always wanted either black or red hair growing up. People can be so mean and pick on pepole who have anything unusual about them. Ginny Mae do not pay attention that what those idiots are saying. Think of all the pepole celebrated for their beauty because they have red hair.

[Qwackie]

I have really dark brown hair that's mistaken for black, and when it isn't lightened from the sun, most people look at me as "evil" or "anti-social."
D:

[Of the Fae]

Oh I cannot disagree! Terribly unfair :-( My DH had long hair when he was a teen and heard it all the time...
Long hair is "a feminine feature" (nobody had a problem with it centuries ago, though). The same like a shaved head can lead to a lot of trouble if you happen to be a woman. People are almost scared of it. I just wonder why!

This is true, it is associated with hippies and femininity. But why can a woman wear her hair short and a man cannot?
In the time of Louis the 14th every man had either long hair or a wig. I think it was out of style just around Neoclassicism, after the Romans I guess...
But I find longer hair much more beautiful in man ánd women. My own boyfriend has really gorgeous hair down to mid back, and I just love it.

[Of the Fae]

I was born blond. I was supposed to be a redhead. I've spent the rest of my life (since I was old enough to dye my hair) correcting a fault of genetics.

Most folks don't even know I dye!

I even opted for green contacts for a long time.

I really recognize this btw :P I myself am very white and light eyebrows, same situation, most people think I am a natural red

[Nymph]

I find that prejudices towards redheads are really different if you're in certain parts of the world. Apparently in the UK it's not a gift, but here we had a guy publish an entire book on why redhead girls are better (never mind there are also redheaded men, whatever, i suppose they don't fuel his ******). It is kind of creepy. There also seems to be quite some men who are running around with giant stereotyped ideas (as in, they're all sexy and they're all so much hotter in bed etc).

I dye my hair red and I've gotten really negative reactions from girls who have natural red hair, as in "nobody should dye their hair" and "you can always tell when it's fake" (actually you can't always tell but that's not the point).
There seems to be some kind of emphasis on "real" versus "fake" redheads, there isn't that kind of prying with blondes. A girl who has blonde hair but black roots is still considered as blonde, as opposed to "oooh, but she's a fake redhead". I think I understand though, it's weird when people have bullied you for your hair, and then suddenly everyone wants it. It's like when people who have perfect vision started wearing glasses because it's cool.

[MissManda]

I think red hair is just beautiful! *Points to siggy :eyebrows: * I think it is so sad that there are places in the world where it is so frowned upon and how redheaded children get treated. :(

This made me remember one day when I was riding the bus and two female Australian tourists got on and started going on about how I was a "ranga" and how I must be promiscuous or something. :rolleyes: I thought it was really strange because I had no idea what a "ranga" was until I got home and looked it up. :bigeyes:

I also got lesbian comments when I wore my hair in a pixie for a few years and because I felt no interest towards the opposite sex whatsoever. Silly high school kids.

[In2wishin]

Oh wow, finally a thread I can contribute something meaningful to! I grew up in the north east of England and have red, aka "ginger" hair. I guess to put it politely, red hair is seen as being pretty undesirable, at least by school children! Some ginger-related incidents I can recall offhand:
I used to be referred to as "period head" by other schoolkids (I hope this doesn't offend anyone, it's just an illustration of how mean people were!) They also claimed they could somehow "catch" my ginger hair by touching me!
My ex-boyfriend claimed he wouldn't marry me "in case our kids turned out ginger"
My brother's ex, who was a fully-qualified doctor claimed once that "gingers bleed more when they're having surgery" (that one REALLY worried me)
My sister's brother-in-law sent my sister a "funny" card when my nephew was born with a group of vegetables sitting around looking disappointed because the baby was "a piece of ginger" (bizarre, I know)
I recently walked past a busker who started singing "smile even though you're ginger" at me
Last week some people followed me and my boyfriend around singing Simply Red songs at us (Simply Red are an English band where the lead singer is famously red haired) - my boyfriend has red hair too! There have been several other incidents with people laughing at us both together...

There have been many, many more incidents like this and I've always had trouble seeing my red hair as a blessing rather than a burden. Seeing so many people on LHC choosing to dye their hair red with henna has actually really helped - obviously the people on these boards don't see it as being ugly (seriously, I've overheard guys saying "she'd be pretty if she wasn't ginger" more than once...)

Wow, I never realized that red hair had such a negative connotation. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Growing up I had several redheaded classmates and I don't ever remember people being mean. Of course, I was a blonde so I may have just been oblivious but I don't think so.

Is this predominantly a British thing? Could it have it's roots in the perception that Scots and Irish have a larger percentage of red hair? (or is that a US perception only?)

[Ligeia_13]

I get snorts when I walk down the street cause of my blue/green fringe...


And I must agree, I find ginger hair absolutely beautiful ^_^

[Audrey Horne]

You can even get looks and prejudice towards brown hair, believe it or not... I got some strange reactions in the area mostly populated by blondes.
Also don't forget that the most of the villains in the movies happen to have dark hair :D (and usually British accent Lol)

[selderon]

My DH had long hair when he was a teen and heard it all the time...
Long hair is "a feminine feature" (nobody had a problem with it centuries ago, though).
Anyone who thinks long hair is automatically effeminate needs to check out Jason Momoa. :thud:

That said, I think hair length today is a little like clothing in the middle ages. In some places and times, clothes so literally "made the man" that people would see a particular outfit and mentally register a man of a particular class, even if the person wearing the outfit were a woman of an entirely different class. The hair effect here and now isn't so strong, but people make similar assumptions about hair.


1) Ew, he has long hair, he must be gay.
2)Ew, he has long hair, he must be a crazy druggie metal head.
They forgot "3) He has gorgeous hair. I want!"


I got called an "ugly, manly dy-(slur for lesbian :P)"(their words, not mine) because I like keeping my hair natural. Apparently, keeping my hair healthy, happy and natural makes me non-feminine, and being non-feminine makes me a lesbian. And somehow their dislike of my facial structure ties in with all of that.
*boggled* You mean someone was teed off because your hair is its natural color and texture?

This may say more about the sanity and kindness (or lack thereof) of the speaker than anything else. Makes about as much sense as identifying snakewitch as a trainer of pink elephants because her hair is healthy and natural.


Oh wow, finally a thread I can contribute something meaningful to! I grew up in the north east of England and have red, aka "ginger" hair. I guess to put it politely, red hair is seen as being pretty undesirable, at least by school children!
That is just weird. Apparently this is a fairly common attitude in Australia as well. I wonder if this is a remnant of racial prejudice?

Any road, red hair is lovely. It was (and may still be) the most popular color for American women to achieve with chemistry. ;)

[PiroskaCicu]

I got a lot of hair prejudice against me when I had a very short pixie cut. I got called all sorts of names, and even my own father was very rude to me about it.
Things like insults for lesbians, or saying i looked "too masculine", or calling me "emo" . People will always find something about you to insult. Also, once I went to a school dance with one of my female friends, and we were dancing together. A LOT of other girls were laughing at me and pointing out that we looked "gay".....simply because my hair was short. Ugh, I hate homophobia.

Anyway, there is nothing wrong with being a lesbian (I myself am bisexual), or being masculine, or even being emo, if one is happy that way. It's just that they meant it in a negative way.

I don't understand why there is so much prejudice against girls who wear their hair short.
Personally, I LOVED my short hair. But it was others who made me feel bad about it.

[snakewitch]

'*boggled* You mean someone was teed off because your hair is its natural color and texture?

This may say more about the sanity and kindness (or lack thereof) of the speaker than anything else. Makes about as much sense as identifying snakewitch as a trainer of pink elephants because her hair is healthy and natural.

Yeah... it might have been jealousy, who knew. And the trainer of pink elephants comment made me giggle... :D

[Eirelin]

I'm pretty sure from all I have read that the ginger/redhead prejudice has had to do with mainly the idea of "shanty Irish," which is why it would be so prevalent in England and Australia. As a child, I faintly recall kids saying, "I'd rather be dead than red on the head," or repeating that other old one about beating you like a red-headed step child.

However, I have a redheaded son, 3 redheaded aunts, 1 redheaded uncle, 3 redheaded first cousins, redheaded grandparents on one side and a redheaded great-aunt and great-grandfather on the other, and a blonde father with red sideburns. There are more, but those are the most immediate. Shades range from very pale strawberry-blonde to auburn that is a little more brown than red.

Oh, well. I like my red hair, and it's lots of fun going to the local Highland Games with it :)

[jujube]

I'm finding this thread really interesting. I'm really pissed about stereotypes concerning men's hair. Long hair? Must be some kind of hippy pot smoker or violent metalhead. Very long hair? You're just a freak. Curly hair? Unprofessional (way more so on men than women). Curly long hair? Um, ugly. Dreads? Drug addict. Red hair? Ask the guys how they were treated in school. I think us women have it way easier. I've had long hair, short hair, shaved head, red, black, brown, curly, straight, and even dreads.

I have to say, though, that I've encountered some of these stereotypes here, namely "dreads are dirty" and "short hair on girls is unfeminine." (Not to mention comments like "hairdressers do as they please and don't know how to do their job" which is incredibly insulting to some members here who are hairdressers.) Not by a majority of members, and not always in those terms, but that's what they meant. I love the LHC, love the members and the atmosphere here, but I have to say that fellow shorties and I find this a bit offsetting. Short hair isn't more "unfeminine" than long hair is "unprofessional," those are just opinions, if not judgments.

[Helix]

Oddly enough I haven't experienced as much hair prejudice as you would expect for a head of hair as tightly coiled as mine. Then again I grew up in subsaharan Africa and most people had hair similar to my own so it was normal to me. I never grew up thinking my hair was something I was supposed to be ashamed of- infact I liked my hair. I just wished it was longer). I'd never even heard the term "good hair" till I moved to the states.

Don't know if this counts but when I began transitioning with an EL bob I would occasionally get people suggesting I hide it with a weave/wig but nothing outwardly cruel. I had a co-worker ask me if it grows? (um...if my hair didn't grow I wouldn't have any on my head at all in the first place. I'd be shiny and bald). I can only assume she thought my type of hair doesn't grow or something but who knows. Fast forward to today and she's got her answer. When I wore my flat-ironed hair down recently, her and a few other co-workers asked me if it was real. One even tugged the front of my hair to make sure - this even after I told her it wasn't extensions (did not appreciate that AT ALL. That really hurt). Don't know why they were so interested in my hair it's not even that long IMO *shrugs*.

My SO on the other hand is a redhead and I think between the two of us he's probably experienced more outward hair prejudice than I have. He's had random jerks drive by and yell out "ginger" at him not to mention the childhood teasing. I will never understand it because I loooove his hair color.

He showed me this link the other day and I thought it would be perfect for this thread, (I think the redheads on this board might like this one). Mind you the guy singing is Tim Minchin he's a comedian and there are a few expletives so you have been warned. It's aptly named "Prejudice".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVN_0qvuhhw

[Mesmerise]

That is just weird. Apparently this is a fairly common attitude in Australia as well. I wonder if this is a remnant of racial prejudice?

Any road, red hair is lovely. It was (and may still be) the most popular color for American women to achieve with chemistry. ;)

I live in Australia and have never had anything but compliments about my red hair (yes it's henna, but it's generally assumed to be natural). The most I've heard is a bit of ribbing towards people with red hair...but it's not nasty, just more jocular. I've certainly never seen anyone be downright cruel to a redhead just cause they had red hair.

[gthlvrmx]

Anyone who thinks long hair is automatically effeminate needs to check out Jason Momoa. :thud:

That said, I think hair length today is a little like clothing in the middle ages. In some places and times, clothes so literally "made the man" that people would see a particular outfit and mentally register a man of a particular class, even if the person wearing the outfit were a woman of an entirely different class. The hair effect here and now isn't so strong, but people make similar assumptions about hair.


They forgot "3) He has gorgeous hair. I want!"


*boggled* You mean someone was teed off because your hair is its natural color and texture?

This may say more about the sanity and kindness (or lack thereof) of the speaker than anything else. Makes about as much sense as identifying snakewitch as a trainer of pink elephants because her hair is healthy and natural.


That is just weird. Apparently this is a fairly common attitude in Australia as well. I wonder if this is a remnant of racial prejudice?

Any road, red hair is lovely. It was (and may still be) the most popular color for American women to achieve with chemistry. ;)
Jaja thank you :p

[AnnaJamila]

My grandmother is always on about how I should cut my hair. She badgered my mother into cutting hers and I hate to say this but she looks so much older with it so short! On top of that she hates it.

:( Why are people so mean sometimes?