It's something that only two percent of the total population experiences, and personally, I have to say that it is awful! We all know how kids can be: they have no filter because they have not yet picked up on the social cues that develop it. But when you grow up different, kids can be straight up assholes!
Now, I'm not saying that gingers are the only ones who get mistreated and bullied constantly. It's a large part of being a kid, especially if you have any identifiably different trait from the majority of those around you. But there are some things unique to growing up ginger that you wouldn't hear otherwise.
1. Freckle-Face
So let me just say, this is not anywhere near original. So if you think that calling the eight-year-old redhead in your class by this name is going to be a new and hilarious joke, you would be horribly mistaken. I promise you they have heard this already, at least once a month since they were about three. Maybe even from family or close friends.
2. Red-headed Stepchild
It's a pretty well-known saying, usually referring to someone who is an outcast or bullied to a higher degree than most. Ironically enough, redheads are pretty badly bullied, and the origin of the saying makes sense. But that doesn't make it any easier to hear when somebody is trying to insult you. When they are close friends who say it without realizing it, it's typically not as terrible. But when it is someone you know is trying to get under your skin, they often times succeed.
3. Day Walker
Popularized by the weird comedy of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, this one is really just weird. South Park classifies a day walker as someone who has only some of the characteristics of a ginger. Day walkers can have any combination of red hair, pale skin, and freckles. Those who believe in the myth of the soulless ginger also say that day walkers may even have traces of a soul. It's all a little dumb if you ask me.
4. Ginger
This one is probably the most used "insult" when people are trying to bully us. Gingers are classified in pop culture as redheads who have freckles and pale skin and lack a soul. Luckily enough many of us have started embracing this title, taking on the characteristics that it implies and turning it back against those who would try to hurt us with it.
5. "You don't have a soul!"
Seriously? You believe the myth? Then let me just say this, I embrace my ginger life at this point. Sure, I don't have a soul. Guess what that means? I don't care what I say or do to you, because with a soul comes a conscience, which I must not have. Good luck!
6. "Does the carpet match the drapes?"
So I'm not sure if this is something all gingers get, or if it's exclusive to females. But let me just say, this is ALWAYS OFFENSIVE! I don't care if you're asking boys, girls, or any non-binary gender identity. I don't care if you're asking redheads, blondes, brunettes, or anything in between. I don't care if you're asking someone who is 15 or someone who is 50. This is stupid! I don't care who you are, there is no reason you need to know the answer to this question. The only person who is going to see that area of my body is the person I'm sleeping with and my gynecologist. You do not need the answer to that question and I am not going to give it to you!
Now, I'm not saying that we have it harder than anyone else. Personally, I don't know if all of the bullying that I endured in grade school was due to my intelligence, the fact that I wore glasses, or the fact that I am a ginger. But here's my take on things: a large part of the reason that I am not interested in having children is because I don't want to be genetically responsible for another child being bullied. I hated being a ginger kid. I even tried to get my parents to let me dye my hair. It was a terrible experience and I don't want a child that I brought into the world to have to suffer through it. So when I say that I don't want to have kids, don't question me and try to convince me otherwise. I have my reasons. I don't need to justify them to you, but I feel like I am one of the two percent of people in this world who are qualified to say that I don't want to bring a ginger child into the world because I know how much life would suck for them and I don't want to put another human being through that.
