I am the first to joke about gingers. I was blessed with dark red hair which, in summer, goes slowly blonder, until it reaches the inevitable 'strawberry blonde' stage. Which is basically a lighter shade of ginger, for those who are still in denial.
Over the years, I have recieved the odd comments; South Park I blame you for giving the impression that ginger's 'Have No Soul'. I've had 'Does the carpet match the drapes?' but on the whole, I can't say I've ever really faced much prejudice. I think this is because I make jokes at myself, I laugh (and cry) at my Casper-esque translucent skin, so people realise I'm actually quite comfortable with embracing my natural hair colour and everything that goes with it. The fashion world is going (ginger) nuts for redheads. Gone are the days where the mannequins in Topshops were only blonde or brunette. Nicola Roberts and Christina Hendricks have paved the way in terms of role models, and being a redhead is claimed to be 'Big for 2011' by various fashion magazines.
It got me wondering, that as modern and open minded individuals who amongst other achievements; campaign for gay rights, work to prevent child and teen suicide rates, have the first black US president in history, and generally claim to love everyone, why do we still sterotype and decide who an individual is, purely on first sight?
I will admit, I'm guilty of this, but then again, so are you, so is everyone. My best friend is gorgeous; a doppeldanger for Jessie J and is blessed with a figure with all sorts of right curvy goings on. Yet people associate her with her boobs and forget that she got 3 As and a B at Alevel and is at Cardiff University studying English Literature and ,is one of the strongest, brave and incredible people I know. People who don't know her say 'Oh the girl with the boobs, I bet she's well up herself?' and I want to slap them. But yet, look around. It happens everywhere. A quiet guy with glasses is 'a geek,' a girl who likes rock music and not Justin Bieber is 'an emo' a girl who has had a lot of sexual partners is a 'slut'. Perhaps, just PERHAPS, she has embraced Sex and the City and maybe, just MAYBE she likes sex. Possibly, I mean, I don't know.
Have you noticed all stereotypes are negative? You'll never hear a girl go, that girl's blonde, she must be intelligent, self assured, cultured and content with life.
So, what exactly does our stereotyping achieve? It serves as an excuse, we do it because everyone does, and if you think about it, how ridiculous is that? Act your age and embrace the differences in life. It makes small people feel bigger for all the wrong reasons, its toxic and stereotypes feed off of the negative. Lose the labels and talk to somebody you wouldn't normally approach, you could make a friend for life. Take the time to talk to the girl who you perceieve to be a 'loner' , have you ever thought about the fact she might just be 'lonely' instead? Be more respectful, embrace people's imperfections, their likes and dislikes, their hair colour, clothing choice and if nesseccary, their tattoos on their face. What have you got to lose? Or are you just afraid?
Think about it. We are 6 Billion souls, but we all share the same world and the same dream. We want to be loved for who we are, not judged for who we are perceived to be.
