https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 11:49:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435491 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:41:57 +0000 prettylizy 435491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never said it in a mean way, I don't think that ways so it just didn't occur to me to use it as an insult. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435483 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:37:01 +0000 DigAPony 435483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only use it if I'm not around anyone with red hair--I don't mean it in a pejorative sense, but I'd never want to accidentally offend someone who was not okay with the word. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435481 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:36:25 +0000 BananaPancakes 435481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: This is crazy to me! I've known lots of red heads and not once have I known one to be outcast for their hair. 99% of the time it's not even something anyone noticed, and I live in the south where people love to discriminate. I guess that's why I don't think of ginger as a bad term. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435466 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:28:41 +0000 Anagram 435466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: noooo! I mean, I don't have red hair myself, so I guess I can't say for *sure*, but I have one ginger sister and a ginger aunt on both sides and I never heard ANYTHING negative said about my sister. Maybe here in the states, it's more rare, so it's more "special"? I really don't know.</p> <p>It could also depend more on the shade of the red hair. I went to elementary school with a girl with the brightest shade of red hair I've ever seen in my whole life, even now as a well-traveled adult. And while people didn't make fun of her (she was actually pretty popular), I think people (like substitutes--adults mainly) commented on her hair so often it made her uncomfortable. But those comments weren't mean, just dumb, "Like, oh what bright hair you have!", like she didn't know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435420 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:51:14 +0000 .twist. 435420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: oh gosh! I don't think it's that bad here (in Canada, where I am), but one of my best ever friends is a red head and she also hated her red hair and freckles to the point where she tried to BLEACH her freckles off!!!! It didn't work to say the least lol. Now she love them and her red hair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435409 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:44:29 +0000 Cherrybee 435409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Because, certainly when we were at school, redheads got a lot of abuse. I hated my ginger hair and freckles. I didn't get a boyfriend until I started bleaching my hair blonde. Ginger people were like lepers back then, doomed to hang out with the really overweight girl and acne-kid (every class has those characters, why is that?). I guess DH doesn't want that for our children. </p> <p>Im not sure if its as bad now.... </p> <p>Is it like that in the States? Are ginger people routinely social outcasts? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435252 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:41:02 +0000 Mrsbells 435252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know some people that dont want to called ginger but most people dont care. I mean who remembers Ginger spice? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term/page/2#post-435249 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:39:59 +0000 mrbee 435249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Oh my gosh, why did he say that?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-435244 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:38:56 +0000 Cherrybee 435244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have red hair (before the bleach!) and I'm not offended by the term ginger - I use it. I agree that people with red hair get a rough deal, though - DH said to me only today that he'd be upset if our children are ginger. Hmm, I think there's a pretty good chance they will be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434838 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:19:33 +0000 Arden 434838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: In Little House on the Prairie, Laura called her hair "Dirt Brown". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434828 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:16:31 +0000 anonysquire 434828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Just mousy brown. I don't if there are obvious others, maybe someone knows more? </p> <p>That reminded me, I had a friend growing up with the most beautiful brown eyes and all the boys in class called her poop eyes. I guess if you are negative enough you could describe anything negatively. That had nothing to do with hair, sorry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434815 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:12:41 +0000 MrsTiz 434815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use ginger. I don't know very many red-heads IRL but the ones I do know, i'm close enough to them that I can pick at them and they know i'm just kidding. One of my best friends is having a baby with a red-head, and her and I joke all the time that she's going to have a ginger kid, and neither of us are being mean! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434806 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:10:14 +0000 Arden 434806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: Yes! Love that guy. Tim Minchin is awesome. My favorite song is "If I Didn't Have You". That guy is my kind of comedy.</p> <p>I would totally imped the "Only a Ginger" video but I don't think it's appropriate for a family site... but go watch it people! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434788 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:04:18 +0000 mrbee 434788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: Great point about the term, blondes! What's the bad term for a brunette? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434774 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:56:45 +0000 Anagram 434774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my bestestest two girl friends has red hair, and both she and the rest of our group refers to her as a ginger. But never in a pejorative or even slightly teasing way. I think she's proud to be a ginger and that rubs off on us. Like it's a compliment. It's also much cuter than just "red headed". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434669 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:14:54 +0000 anonysquire 434669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was younger people often said my hair was mousy brown and some blondes are called dishwater blonde or whatever. I think every hair color/texture has a sort of bad term. I know they are not used as often as ginger but still. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434666 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:14:47 +0000 Lozza 434666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An Australian comic/singer named Tim Minchin has a funny video on this (that you can find on youtube), and as he notes "Only a ginger can call another ginger "ginger."" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434654 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:09:19 +0000 lovehoneybee 434654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mewtill: That scene with David Tennant was the first thing I thought of when I read this thread!</p> <p>I don't use it, but I don't think it's a pejorative term. I wouldn't be bothered if I was ginger (sadly mine comes from a box). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434651 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:07:54 +0000 red_seattle 434651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I should add that I feel like red hair is a badge of honor in a way-- (that's exaggerating, I know, but hear me out)-- you get teased when you're younger for it, but when you're older it's "beautiful" and the compliments I get for it make me feel like it's earned. So being called "ginger" is a compliment as far as I'm concerned, but if someone who isn't really a redhead called themselves that (just have a light reddish color or they dye it), I kind of get annoyed. "you didn't earn it!" Again, just barely annoyed, but y'know, the sentiment is there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434648 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:06:02 +0000 anonysquire 434648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use the term ginger, but I also sometimes use racial terms so I'm not a good example. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434639 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:03:05 +0000 red_seattle 434639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a red head, and for now, so is Toddler X. I don't mind "ginger"-- but I think that's because in the US, it's not used as frequently as in the UK and Canada, and even less frequently in a derogatory way. I was *lightly* teased for having red hair when I was little (and the word "ginger" was never used), but now that I'm older, I love my hair color and I'm proud of it, so calling me a ginger feels more like a compliment than anything else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434629 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:58:29 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 434629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say ginger jokingly...(with my red head family members who are okay with the joking). But if I was casually talking with someone (serious conversation, not a joking one), I would use the term red head and not "my ginger cousin..." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434593 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:40:05 +0000 Rock n Roll 434593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do with my husband since he had red hair growing up. (It's more brownish now, but his beard is red.) Honestly, I had never even heard the word until that South Park episode! And neither had my husband. I guess it just wasn't common in Michigan.</p> <p>My understanding has always been that it's more offensive in the UK, so I guess I wouldn't use it there. And I don't really use it except to tease my husband anyway. (FWIW, I love red hair and wish I had it. Mine's brown with reddish tint.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434569 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:25:35 +0000 Andrea 434569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't use it myself very much but I used to live in England and everyone used it there. No one seemed offended by being called ginger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434568 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:25:28 +0000 .twist. 434568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: haha ok, that's fair. To be honest I'm kind of jealous redheads get to be called gingers... I wish I had red hair. lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434567 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:23:50 +0000 mrbee 434567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: True, but non-racial groups can still experience discrimination! Religious groups, for example... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434562 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:21:11 +0000 babynumber1 434562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a red head and am not offended by it at all. They did have "kick a ginger day." That was a bit much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434557 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:18:53 +0000 .twist. 434557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: Except that redheads aren't a race, otherwise I would fully agree with you. They just have red hair! :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434539 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:03:41 +0000 ninja 434539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've usually heard it being used as an insult, so I don't use it. DH is a redhead and doesn't like it, because of how kids used it growing up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-use-the-word-ginger-or-do-you-consider-it-a-pejorative-term#post-434537 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:01:11 +0000 mrbee 434537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bree72: I know a lot of people of various races that use racial epithets as a term of endearment... not sure I have permission to use them myself though! </p>