Everybody’s seen the South Park episode portraying that gingers don’t have souls. Since then, that ginger stereotype has skyrocketed into everyday society.
While that episode of South Park was funny to most, it sparked a huge movement. November 20 has been deemed as “Kick A Ginger Day,” from that episode. During “Kick A Ginger Day,” some people will legitimately go out and kick anybody who has red hair. Personally, I’ve never been a victim of this, but the fact that it exists in society, and that people actually do it is really bothersome.
The joke was funny, but it got old – fast. When I meet new people, they often substitute my name with “Ginger Girl,” “Gingey” or “That One Ginger.” People in my classes will come up to me and ask me if I want to buy a soul. It was funny at first, but I just wish people could at least be more original. It’s obvious the jokes aren’t going to stop anytime soon, so would it kill somebody to come up with something new?
As if “Kick A Ginger Day” and the same repeating jokes over and over again isn’t enough, gingers also have to suffer having light skin. If I’m in the sun for more than 10 minutes, I will instantly get sunburnt, and sunburns stink. My face turns as red as my hair, and I get ridiculous freckles everywhere. As if being ginger isn’t enough, I then get to walk around with a face as red as a tomato and take criticism for that as well.
These jokes are funny to me, but other people might seriously get offended. People need to understand that ginger prejudice isn’t funny to everybody – especially when it’s constant. Not everybody is able to handle being bullied for something they can’t do much to help. Sensitive people might actually get their feelings hurt.
As a result, people should just understand who they’re making the jokes toward before feelings are unnecessarily hurt, and that participating in physical acts against red-headed people really is hurtful both emotionally and physically. As for the people who are going to continue making jokes, at least get some new material. As a ginger myself, I’m tired of hearing the same thing over and over again.
