re: #263 Belafon

Looking back through, I had never heard of ginger being used in a derogatory manner; until recently, it was the name of a spice. My only experience of the word, even though I have known a couple of redheads, is Doctor Who, where they used it for Amy and the doctor lamented that he wasn’t ginger.

I would be curious of the history of the word.

Now that you are curious, do a Google for Ginger Red Hair. The Wiki page is fairly comprehensive.

And if you want a quick study of how a term is used currently, you can use the urban dictionary and this is what they had for their #1 definition:

A human, characterized by pale skin, freckles and bright red hair. “Gingers” are generally considered to be inferior to their more melanin-rich brethren, and thus deservingly discriminated against. Gingers are thought to have no souls. The condition, “gingervitis” is genetic and incurable.

It can be very hurtful for some. I mentioned it because my brother has really had a rough time with it. I always accepted him because he is my brother. It was only a few years ago that I got him talking and found how hurtful it has been his entire life. I am 60, he is 68.

Sometimes people say things they have heard from others not thinking there is stereotyping involved.