Red alert: It’s a whole lot easier to be ginger now
DISCRIMINATION against those with Maureen O’Hara’s hair colour is finally starting to disappear thanks to popular festivals like the Irish Redhead Convention.
At least, that’s the view of writer Jacky Colliss Harvey, an academic who specialises in redheadedness. His research suggests levels of bullying of ginger-haired people are finally starting to decrease.
Ms Colliss Harvey, who will be giving a talk at next weekend’s Irish Redhead Convention in Crosshaven, Co. Cork, said so-called gingerism, which she believes was seen as the last socially acceptable form of discrimination, is no longer tolerated by the wider public.
She said: ‘You look at festivals like the Irish Redhead Convention and many more which have been formed in other countries over the past few years, and that shows you how attitudes are changing.
‘There’s a lot more confidence among the redhead community and many are now embracing their hair colour, whereas previously they might have been embarrassed by it.
‘It’s become fashionable now to have red hair, particularly with women. So things are starting to change for the better, but we still have some way to go before discrimination disappears altogether.’
The Irish Redhead Convention runs from August 19 to August 21.
The schedule of events is available at the festival’s website, redheadconvention.ie.