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I spotted the article on Aunty's website a few days ago and the only thing that made me frown was that the word "ginger" was being adopted. As a redhead having sustained years of verbal abuse due to my dark auburn hair, I find the word in context of hair colour as offensive as the other word that the same letters can spell out. Within the UK, I have a belief that it's ancient anti Brythonic Celt sentiment that was the root cause of the anti-redhead nonsense. I certainly can vouch for the fact that Edward I is still being cited as a reason for anti-English sentiment in Wales nowadays which demonstrates how long grudges can be held for.
I've never heard of the term Ginger in the U.S. except for an episode of South Park (an adult cartoon). Here being a red-head has very little stigma attached- plenty of women dye their hair red- the only stigma attached is added sexuality (redheads are supposed to be hot). In the south park episode, it referred to red-haired freckled kids with pale skin. I think the term being adopted over here is meant to refer to coloring but without the negative connotations; because I don't think people in the U.S. are aware of the history of anti-redhead sentiment. When I've mentioned the stories I have heard about how redheads are discriminated against in the UK, I've gotten nothing but disbelief from other people in the U.S.
I never actually knew that red-haired individuals were discriminated against in the UK until I actually joined the FL, because it rarely happens over here. There is some discrimination of individuals for assumed nationality (some of which is based on coloring) and there apparently has been a few incidents with kids after the South Park episodes aired, but other than that, I have never heard of some of the things happening in the U.S. that I have heard happen in the UK.
I have chestnut hair (so dark brown with a lot of red highlights) and pale skin with freckles and except for everyone assuming I'm Irish (I'm not) my coloring has never been an issue. Even when people assume I'm Irish it has always been complimentary. Although I do get a lot of people running up to me on Saint Patrick's day and showing off their St. Patty's day outfit and I have had quite a few men try to pick me up assuming I'm Irish. (Seriously, their pickup lines included something like "you're Irish, right sweetie?")