Am I ginger?

The Doctor regenerates and asks the question, 'Am I ginger?'

Domino's Pizza labels customer 'Ginger Kid'

A young boy was left shocked and upset after a Domino's Pizza employee labelled his order as 'Ginger Kid'. 11 year old Ross Wajgtknecht had given his full name when ordering the takeaway pizza yet the employee had decided to refer to him by his hair colour instead.


Ross's father thinks the labelling of his son as 'Ginger Kid' was malicious.

'It is totally disgusting. You would not describe someone by the colour of their skin or by calling them fat so why is it okay to call Ross ginger?

'Surely if they were writing his name on the receipt it would have been easier to write Ross. That only has four letters. Why write Ginger Kid instead?

'I think they picked on him because he is just a lad and they knew he wouldn't defend himself.

'It is prejudice. There is no way this should happen from adults in a workplace.

'They offered him a free pizza but the damage has already been done and he doesn't want to go back in case it happens again.'

Domino's has apologised for causing upset but does not accept that the labelling was malicious.

Source

Is 'ginger' a derogatory word?

Guardian columnist Barbara Ellen takes a look at the recent Domino's pizza incident and questions whether the use of 'ginger' to describe someone with red hair should really be considered a prejudicial attack on the individual.

It's horrible to hear of children crying, but was "ginger kid" in this context malicious? The whole tone of the story is that Ross suffered some kind of sub-racist, or otherwise discriminatory, attack – almost on a level with "spaz kid" or "paki kid". Rather more likely is that the Domino's staff meant no offence – it was just a description of who the food was for.

Which raises the issue of who or what we are allowed to describe without getting our PC knickers in a twist. "This pizza is for that boy who has… erm, hair of a vivid colour, the shade most associated with fire and sunset; on an artist's palette you could mix it with yellow and get orange… ah, sod it, the pizza's gone cold!"

In reading this article, you can't help wondering if Barbara has considered the evolution of language. She uses the the phrase "paki kid" as a genuine example of prejudice. Originally, the word "paki" was a non-offensive way of describing a person from Pakistan (in the same way a Gam is from Gambia or a Scot is from Scotland). The word has since evolved and is now always considered offensive.

The word 'ginger' is evolving in the same way and in the same direction. Eventually, it is likely 'ginger' will be considered a derogatory word and the only unoffensive way to describe a person with red hair will be to call them a red head.

Source

It's Heart A Ginga Day

Heart A Ginga day is being celebrated across New Zealand today. The day has apparently been renamed from 'Hug A Ginga Day', "to demonstrate 100% support and love for redheaded people all over New Zealand."

Promotion of the renamed event can be credited to Kiwi radio station The Edge.

Interestingly, the use of 'ginga', a word often considered offensive to red heads in the United Kingdom, has had a largely positive influence on red headed Kiwis.

According to 3news.co.nz, one participant says being called 'ginga' is "the ultimate compliment for a redhead". She continues, “This day is one of my favourites as I get gifts like Fanta, redbull, and gingernuts and receive the coolest compliments… this is one of the things that makes it great to be a ginge in NZ.”

Please, don't call me ginger

St. Cloud Times writer Adam Hammer elaborates on his most hated nickname: ginger.

Growing up with red hair, I’ve heard many associated nicknames — “flame brain,” “little red,” “carrot top,” “big red” and simply, “red” to name a few. All make me uneasy, but the one that comes the closest to a fighting word is “ginger.”

As soon as it rolls off the tongue, you know it isn’t meant as anything close to a compliment.

Source

Boxing war of words includes gingerism

Middleweight boxing adversaries DeGale and Groves have been caught in a war of words as the clock ticks down to their next fight. Groves dismissed DeGale's banter as childish, since his jibes have included a dig at Groves' supposedly bad breath and calling him "that ugly ginger kid".

Groves's response? "He's called me ugly - wow! It doesn't really cut too deep. He's called me ginger - it's not the first time I've heard that. That's the level he's at as a human being, but I'm above all that."

Source

More evidence of gingerism within the NFL

Late last month we published an article detailing a commentator's thoughts on the direct correlation between red hair and poor talent on the field. It seems this is a trend within the NFL, as another article has surfaced jokingly insinuating that Andy Dalton wasn't drafted in the first round because of, as the commentator puts it, "Gingerism, I tell ya."

Source: 2011 NFL Draft Round 1 Analysis: Why Carolina Took Cam Newton

Photographer taunted because of red hair

A photographer covering a court case in Massachusetts was on the receiving end of gingerism this week. Whilst photographing Touched By Angels CEO Gina Clark leaving the courthouse, one of her "entourage" spotted the photographer and shouted "Get a life, you f***ing red head!".

Source: Gina Clark pleads not guilty to all charges in Barnstable Superior Court today

NFL player talent dismissed because of red hair

An anonymous red-headed sports commentator from The Columbian reports on a recent bout of gingerism from an NFL scout.

We know a good quarterback has to have a head for the game, but this is a little extreme. In discussing TCU product Andy Dalton’s NFL Draft potential, one scout recently told Sports Illustrated’s Peter King: “Has there ever been a red-headed quarterback in the NFL who’s really done well? It sounds idiotic, but is there any way that could be a factor? We’ve wondered.”

Source: Talking Points: NFL scouts are seeing red

How red hair affects your health

According to a recent article from Peace FM Online, red heads have a higher risk of suffering several medical and emotional issues, and this is all down to the same genetic factors that make our hair red.

Anxious Red Heads

Reds are often more anxious than other colors. That’s because the same genetic factors that control melanin production (the DNA that gives hair its color) also affect how your body manages stress.

“The genes responsible for the ability to produce anti-stress hormones live close to melanocortin-1 receptors,” says Margaret Lewin, M.D., a New York internist.

And sometimes the gene mutation that causes red hair can lead the anti-stress genes astray, too, and cause faulty production of anxiety-reducing hormones like pregnenolone. “The decreased production of anti-stress hormones leaves a redhead more likely to be stressed out,” Lewin says.

Red Heads Feel More Pain

Redheads may require up to 20% more local anesthesia (Novocain or other, similar pain-numbing drugs) than other colors, says the study’s lead researcher, Cleveland Clinic anesthesiologist Daniel Sessler, M.D.

That’s because redheads’ melanocortin-1 receptors (the DNA responsible for hair color) are malfunctioning. In fact, red hair itself is the result of a gene mutation.

Red Heads With Parkinsons

Redheads have nearly a 50% greater chance of developing Parkinson's than people with other hair colors, according to a 2009 Harvard Medical School study. People with black hair have the lowest chance, followed by brunettes, then blondes, researchers found.

The gene responsible for fiery hair hues is headquartered close to a gene that, if mutated, can increase the risk for Parkinson's disease. And proximity can be all it takes to make one gene affect another.

Source: How Hair Color Affects Your Health