clipped from news.bbc.co.uk

A red-haired family claims to have been driven from their Newcastle home because of abuse. Why is the harassment of redheads dismissed as just harmless fun?

"What's the difference between a terrorist and a redhead?"

Here's the punchline. "You can negotiate with a terrorist."

In adult life, women get stereotyped and red-haired men take much of the worst abuse. Treatment of red-haired children in school ranges from mild taunts to grim persecution.

Children face a tough time at school (Pic: Charlotte Rushton)

"There is nothing like this in the US where having red hair is not a precursor to having someone abuse you. Red hair is considered glamorous."

For those who claim their workplace taunts are just harmless banter, it could be stress rather than an anthropological aversion to red hair.

I think red haired men are gorgeous and sexy! If we only had more where we live... export them to the south of Europe, we would welcome them all!
Vina, Lisbon