I am ginger. Or as we like to call it: 'strawberry blonde' although I've never understood that term! A teacher made a comment this week that children and/or adults with ginger hair are more likely to be melodramatic. Turning to me before she said the comment she hurried the statement 'no offence but...' that always means the opposite. I made a joke out of it saying that yes, I often flounce into her classroom doing jazz hands. She did laugh, because actually that is the last thing I would do, being quite a quiet person until you get to know me. I'm hoping she realised what a generalisation her comment was.
It reminded me of all the comments I've had over the years about being 'ginger'. I have been asked if I am more likely to have nose bleeds and get overheated as I am ginger (this was in all seriousness because this lady had children with that experience); my mother-in-law is convinced I am more likely to be angry and irrate as I am ginger and now I am supposed to be melodramatic too!
The Christmas card above caused quite a stir a couple of years ago for Tesco - the last acceptable generalisation that they could get away with I suppose. But is it acceptable?
I am not in any way linking this to racism but it goes with the territory of stereotypes and generalisations just like racism. The assumption that people can be linked together in a group and 'understood' to be the same is wrong; just like the assunption that certain types of people are more likely to be lazy, athletic or successful. There are some truths to these generalisations I presume but there should never be that assumption when meeting people and talking to them. We should take people like we find them.
I wondered where these generalisations about 'gingerness' came from and I suppose they are linked with where you inherit your hair colour from. These qualities then I suppose are linked with Irish and Scottish people. I once spoke to an Irish guy who assumed I was Irish or had Irish parents - he was a bit disappointed when I said I was half Scottish (on my Dad's side)!
Growing up I often had 'ginger' (or later 'Ginger Minger') shouted at me from passers by or lads in cars and I often get it now. But I always remember my great-grandma who had auburn hair before it turned white. She still had a clump of auburn hair tucked behind her ear, which I always thought magical and amazing. I hope when my hair goes white that some of my 'ginger' stays behind. She always said to my Mum while I was growing up, that I should never be ashamed of my hair colour and that it was special. In fact, when on a school trip to Kentwell (a place where actors pretend to be Tudors) I was told I was special because my hair colour was the same as Elizabeth I. I felt very special that day :)
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