Apparently, it's okay to make fun of people with red hair in the media - evidenced in VicRoads new anti-"gingers" campaign - as if anyone needs a further excuse to perpetuate this particular form of discrimination.

I found growing up being a redhead difficult in many ways, experiencing what I can only describe as a form of racism, from the widest imaginable variety of people. Maybe it's not covered by legislation (in the same way discriminating against or humiliating someone for having blue eyes wouldn't be), but I'm personally proud of this part of my Celtic heritage, and I don't see how it is okay to treat a genetic physical characteristic of a particular group of people in this way.

I like to think we're beyond this kind of discrimination in this country, particularly as three of my daughters also have red hair, but apparently not - Australia remains an inherently racist nation, if our advertisers are to be believed.

Labels: Racism, Redhair