Rowling sees Red: Gingerism in the Harry Potter books...

J.K. Rowling has been identified (by me at least) as a redhead. I think her usual media appearance, as a blond, is assisted by peroxide.

Perhaps her natural hair colour explains why the Harry Potter books are filled with gingers. The main family in the Potter saga (featured far more than Potter's relatives) are the Weasleys; and every single one of them is ginger.

Ron Weasley is relegated to second place (or third, behind brainy Hermione) in the Potter triumvirate. Although he seems to be an excellent chess player (as seen in The Philosopher's Stone) and a fairly good Quidditch keeper (as you can read about in The Half Blood Prince,) he is generally portrayed by Rowling as something of a coward and a mummy's boy. He's certainly viewed as less intelligent than Harry (who got better scores than him in their OWL exams.)

Although he comes through in the end, throughout the entire Harry Potter saga it's clearly suggested that Weasley is the weakest link in Harry's chain.

For that reason, I suspect the colour of Ron's hair was a deliberate choice by Rowling to illustrate his sidekick status. Ginger hair is typically used in fiction to identify characters who are weaker or more awkward than their more socially acceptable blond or brunette peers.

Likewise, the Weasley family (note how close the word Weasley is to Weasel) are poor and socially inferior wizards, coming from pure blood stock but generally at the receiving end of other Wizard's scorn (Mr Weasley, for example, seems to be the only poor employee of the Ministry of Magic.) What better way to instantly illustrate this than make the entire family ginger?

I don't think Rowling intends to portray any 'ginger' character in a negative light because of the colour of their hair (although treacherous Mundungus Fletcher is described as having red hair.) I think she simply took an accepted social stereotype (the nerdy ginger) and borrowed it for the occasion.

Rowling more than makes up for it, though. In the books, the Weasleys are portrayed as brave and loyal friends to Harry. The Weasley family pretty much adopts him and makes Potter feel one of their own. Ginny Weasley, Harry's love interest, is obviously ginger haired, but she's still portrayed as beautiful and attractive in the later books. (Sadly not the films, so far.)

In many ways, Rowling has done a world of good by portraying redheaded people in such a positive light. It's certainly done great things for the actor who portrays Ron Weasley on screen. Rupert Grint is now a bona fide ginger sex symbol.

In addition to that, J.K. Rowling acknowledged what ginger people go through living in England in her latest book. One scene in The Deathly Hallows particularly grabbed me. Ron, Harry and Hermione escape a team of Death Eaters (the baddies) and arrive in the middle of London late at night. While looking for a place to hide, a bunch of drunk muggles yell out to Hermione: "Oi! Ditch ginger and have a pint with us!"

Something I've experienced many times!

In fact, 'Ginger' is also used as derogatory term for Ron and his family throughout the books, both by muggles and members of the wizarding community (the evil ones, anyway.)

Considering that the Harry Potter series is so popular and important, it's really nice to see an issue that I feel passionately about brought to the attention of millions of readers. Whether it'll make much difference or not, I couldn't tell you. One thing's for sure, though. Ron Weasley and his family have really done their bit to finally make ginger cool.

Okay. Maybe not cool. But at least a little cooler.

Militant Ginger

Now I'm living in civilisation, I'd almost forgotten one of the major driving forces behind this blog - my intense annoyance at the ridiculous prejudice British people have about redheads.

But word of this prejudice seems to have followed me across the Atlantic. On Yahoo this morning, the Americans were reporting on what they dubbed 'Ginger Phobia.'

You can see the ABC news story about it here.

One of their most amazing claims was that Prince Harry got bullied at school for his red hair. His comrades in the army apparently call him The Ginger Bullet Magnet and his girlfriend refers to him affectionately as: The Big Ginger.

I mean, this is the guy who's forth in line for the throne! Show some bloody respect!

The American reporters on this item seem incredulous. I can't blame them. Picking on somebody for the colour of their hair is crazy enough - but for the Brits to do it?

But the British reporter, who actually narrates the piece, has that same, snide, snotty lilt to his voice that we've all heard when exploring this particular issue. As Dan Wright, presenter of F*** Off, I'm Ginger, told me: We don't want to make it too serious.

That's why all reports about ginger prejudice are littered with puns, jokes and references to 'ginger nuts.' It's a serious issue that nobody in Britain is willing to take seriously. Why? Most likely because it reveals a nasty streak about British culture that loves to pick on people who are different.

As Charlotte Rushton says in the news item: A redhead stands out; and a nail that stands out gets hammered down.