Red head bullying

Kay_Peel

Just as an aside can I tell you two stories.

1. I complained to the Advertising Authority about TV ads by Burger King. There was a series of them on Angus Burgers, where stupid people were played by red-heads and beautiful, cool people were played by blondes and brunettes. I didn't really notice the appalling depiction of red heads at first, but the accumulation of negative images really got to me. I got into some correspondence with the people involved and the adverts went off air - now, that could have been a coincidence, but I hope it raised somebody's awareness.

2. My son came home from school wearing a badge with 'Ginger Club' on it. A senior boy had decided to get together all the red-heads in the school for some reason and meet monthly to discuss the joys and drawbacks of having red hair. There were clubs for black, Asian and Jewish Boys and it was just a bit of fun to my son at first.

One small new boy told the meeting that he was being taunted and tormented at the bus station. Someone had taken his tie off him and they had taken some books from his bag. it was escalating and he was scared. He didn't want to tell his parents because they'd make a fuss.

Let's just say that the tormentors were sorted out good and proper AND they had to replace his tie and books.:D For the rest of the month, the boy had at least two big 'brothers' walking him to the bus stop and getting on the same bus. He grew about a foot taller and didn't need his escorts after that.

At the start of every school year, every red head is given a badge 'I'm Ginger, get over it!' and an invite to this elite club. They have secret signs to greet each other and all sorts of funny nonsense to bond together. In fact, they get requests to join from other boys who claim to have a bit of red in their hair. :rotfl:

xmaslolly76

Kay that sounds like a fantastic idea with the school club kind of reminds of the advert thats been on tv recently where all the red heads got together for a big party. My sister was a red head only one in the family and we all thought she had the most beautifull hair.

OP if you can instill some strength into your daughter to get past this difficult time over the next year or two alot of the girls will be dying their hair and i would guess more than a few will dye it red like at my daughters school she can sit back a little smug then that she has this wonderful hair colour without having to spend a fortune or wreck her hair. :-)

Penny_Watcher

All my kids have red hair. DS1(15) was tormented by bullies but now has a fantastic attitude towards his hair colour. He loves it! If some..ahem.. 'shining wit' decides to comment on his hair colour he gives them a big grin, slaps his chest then gives a clenched fist salute and says "Ginger and Proud" . What a guy

elfen

Me and my older sis are the ONLY people allowed to comment upon or tease my other 3 sisters for their ginger hair. This is mainly because the middle redhead is a feisty cow who used to beat up the boys for calling her a gwa (tern used where I'm from for a ginger) and my little redhead sis used to beat them up too! They learnt to leave them alone! Whereas my niece has lovely hair, she's ginger, but we do always say if we put a brown wig on her ,she'd be the spit of me at six!

Dave101t

just tell them they are only jealous because they are all pig ugly.

NoLogic

If she retaliates it's likely to just escalate.
If she laughs it off or tells them she likes it so she's not bothered by what they say, they'll likely shutup when they get bored!

I dyed my hair from about 13 from strawberry blonde/copper to blonde, I've stopped now and it's a !!!!!! to get it back to how it was.
It really is lovely though, people dye their hair blonde to stand out, red stands out more! So many people want red hair but can't get it!

Reassure her it's lovely, maybe sit down with her and show her some celebs with red hair?
Like other people have said though, kids will be kids, it's not right but they will. If it's not red hair it'll be something else! :rolleyes:

Dave101t

what bully in real life, when not confronted and bullied back, ever gets bored and goes away, none in my experience.

she is 12, not a baby, if it escalates the best thing is to break the bullies nose.

sorry but feminine responses will not work against a group of female bullies.

dogcat_2

What a shame she's being bullied. Three of my children, and I have six...are strawberry blonde. They have all been 'got at' at school,but have had to learn to deal with it. As said before, children can sometimes be very nasty. If it's not hair, they're bullying about it would be something else. They will always find something! I think you must just keep telling her that she's got gorgeous hair, and not to worry, and hope that the kids get fed up with it. If she makes too much of a fuss they will probably bully more. I hope shes not too distressed.

alyssa_liss

i love red hair, im dark but dye it blonde

im a hairdresser and hate dying red heads blonde , i wish i had red hair ... infact i have dyed it red in the past

Red_Fraggle_3

That brings back memories - mine's auburn Titan (sP) I hated it as a kid - coppertop, ginger etc all by people who's hair looks the same

When I was 18 I went to the hairdresser and the woman next too me (and this was 20 years ago was paying over £70 !!! to make it my colour smae it looked like she's been tangoed hehe.

I know how she feels, I used to joke about it with them in the end I actually think some of these girls who all look alike would rather they stood out a little

Good luck to you and DD