“Yo carrot top!” 

This is just one of the many nicknames I hear walking through the hallways. 

Only 1-2% of people in the world are ginger according to BBC, and sticking out in crowds isn’t the only thing that comes with it. 

“I’ve had guys refuse to date me because I’m ginger,” says Nonnewaug senior Chloe Walsh. “They’ll be like, ‘Yeah, you’re cute and all, but I’ve met my quota with gingers.”

Being ginger comes with being an easy target. According to research conducted by University of College Cork undergraduate Kevin O’Regan, “More than 90% of men with red hair had been victimised simply because of their hair color.”

There are also many other reports around the UK talking about how common slander of red heads are, including an article by The Week titled “‘Gingerism’: the last socially acceptable form of bullying?”

“But “unfortunately, there is a long history of making fun of people with ginger hair in the UK,” said Great British Mag, a site for international students. And although “attitudes have progressed,” cases of “ginger-bullying and exclusion” are still common.”

Personally, I think it’s not that deep. In some cases it may be more serious, but people need to lighten up more.

“I get called leprechaun a lot,” says Walsh, “it’s just one of the many nicknames people have for me.”

Nevertheless every St. Patrick’s Day, Walsh embraces the joke by giving people candy.

“Every St. Patrick’s Day because of my red hair and short stature, I hand out chocolate gold coins to the people wearing green,” says Walsh. 

While teasing may cross the line, and may have real emotional consequences on some people, there is a value in being able to laugh at ourselves. 

“I do this because it is a good way to dig into the joke of me being ginger,” says Walsh. 

Recently I feel everyone is getting super sensitive and divided. But joking about our quirks, ginger or otherwise, can be a way of coming together, not bullying, if it comes from the right place.

Walsh recalls a moment when humor brought her and her classmates more together in Marty Malaspina’s math class.

“I remember in math with Mr. Mal there were three gingers, and he used to make fun of us because we sat together,” says Walsh. “He’d tell us ‘don’t start a fire over there ladies.’”

You should be able to make jokes as long as they aren’t too far. But if you make one, don’t be surprised if I throw a gold coin at your head. 

This is the opinion of Cam Jones, a sophomore reporter for the Chief Advocate.