Sinzine

Bashing the boys and bashing off to the girls - sometimes redheads have it rough says Holly, who steps into SinZine's Angry Area to let off steam about the fiery redhead stereotype.  And if you're troubled by a burning topic and ready to rant, our Soapbox is yours to take to!  Simply tell the world where it's going wrong in no more than 500 words and send to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it



Ginge, ginger, carrot top, ginger pubes, firecrotch, ginger whinger, and for extra marks in creativity -ranga* . These are words we have heard before, either on the TV, in the office or in the company of friends, but most of us can't recall what exactly was said. Unless, of course, you are ginger. Then you can remember every time that you heard those words, starting in junior school and stalking you into adulthood.

They are derogatory, a reference to your fiery hair, pale skin and freckles that crown you prized freak. As a woman, these words will pigeon-hole you as an angry, crazy bitch who loves to fuck. Grinning men will ask you 'do the curtains match the drapes?' and then people around you will snigger as if something witty was said. As a man, these words will be shouted when drunken geezers feel like a fight, or when colleagues say things like ' just been to see the new Harry Potter film, but it's pretty unrealistic, I mean, a ginger kid with two friends...?', and laugh within earshot.

Gingerism is the last 'acceptable' prejudice – and let's be honest, prejudice is really what it is. Although most people only taunt redheads half-heartedly,  it's sometimes hard to feel half-heartedly, when people are singling you out for your appearance (as I'm sure some of you lovely readers can appreciate).

According to my dear friend Wikipedia, Montague Summers, in his translation of the Malleus Maleficarum (part of 1486's 'Witch Burning For Dummies' range) notes that red hair was thought to be the sign of a witch, a werewolf or a vampire during the Middle Ages. Thus, redheads were burnt at the stake. Hundreds of years later, in 2007, the Sunday Times reported that a few folk in Newcastle haven't evolved much since then, as 'A family of six have fled two homes after enduring a vicious hate campaign, apparently prompted by the colour of their hair.' Forced to flee for being ginger? Really? Really. And here we thought ginger-bashing was just a bit of harmless fun...


* Urban Dictionary entry (www.urbandictionary.com): Ranga

Derived from Orangutan or from the Latin “Orange Utan” meaning red pubic hair, commonly known as Fanta pants. This creature is well known for its fiery temper and pale skin; hence its ability to spend long periods of time in the sun is limited. The female of the species is renowned for being good in bed, combining its natural aggression with its lack of appreciation for its looks.

Example:

My mate won’t fuck rangas; he said he would rather put his nuts in a rabbit trap.

My misses is a ranga but don’t call her that she will rip your fucking head off and shit down your throat.