Monday, October 23, 2006

...like a red-headed stepchild

It is one of the worst cliches ever. I mean really, what if you happened to a stepchild and you actually have red hair? Stepchildren don't choose to be stepchildren and people do not choose red hair - OK, some people choose red hair, but there is nothing wrong with that.

According to the Urban Dictionary, the term has at least four meanings.

1. A person or group treated without the favor of birthright.

2. A child who is obviously not your own, a child who is treated worse than other children in the family

3. One who is beaten often.

4. According to popular belief red headed stepchildren are prone to severe discipline problems, rebelliousness and promiscuity.

Well, aren't these lovely definitions? But, aren't these just good fun? I mean really, does any one really attribute negative stereotypes to stepchildren?

The answer is that they do. Jokes about stepchildren aren't funny and do not serve to promote healthy family life. As if life were not complicated enough for stepshildren, then add social stigma, mockery, and taunting. Furthermore, when adults use the phrase with children, it is even worse. Then there is the generational power play going on. Not a good idea.

My advice, stick to jokes that are funny and not offensive, demeaning, or crude. Making negative attributions to people becuase of family structuture or genetics is cruel.

11 comments:

Kaley said...

I don't understand why they have to be "redheads" >.<.... && the picture you posted with the uglyyyy red head, I take offensive.. Not all red heads are ugly...

Anonymous said...

FROTCH

Anonymous said...

IM A UGLY RED HEADED STEP CHILD AND IM PROUD!!!! seriously im a red headed step child...no joke.
but...im a red headed step child from the future and a different dimension where I was in the middle of a epic battle with a camadragon which is a camal/lama/dragon and I was teleported here to save the world!
seriously...foshizzle!

Anonymous said...

me again.

Anonymous said...

LIDLE LIDLE LIDLE LEEEEEE, STILL THE RED HEADED STEP CHILD FROM THE DIFFERENT DIMENSION.

Anonymous said...

IM NOT SURE IF I SPELLED DEMINSION RIGHT.

Anonymous said...

I have red hair. My idiot friends (Joe is the worst) tease me and call me names. I had some acne too, some even on my neck and buttocks... The long term impact has been traumatic. Mean people suck....

Anonymous said...

Wow that kinda means yo ont have anyfreinds you know...

Anonymous said...

Most jokes are offensive.

If you can't take a joke, you have no place telling them.

I am redheaded.
I am a stepchild.

I think that phrase is funny as hell.

Tenant Loan said...

You have a good sense of humor. Great picture.

Anonymous said...

All I saw was "I am a read headed stepchild and these jokes are not funny" and some bitching and ranting.