Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Mr and Mrs Jones, the tests came back positive ... your baby's a redhead...

From what I understand, there are lots of tests an expecting mother can have done these days to give her a bit of useful information about the yet-to-be-issued bundle of joy.  Tests to tell the sex of the baby, tests for genetic diseases and conditions, hell you can even get a 3D model of the li'l 'un if you're so inclined.

But I can't help thinking that the doctors are just making up tests for the sake of it now.

After all, what possible reason could someone have for having a test done to find out the likelihood of their baby being red headed?  And yet it looks like it's only a matter of time before this will be on offer.  Doctors in the UK are offering DNA tests for couples that will tell whether both parents have the recessive "red-haired" gene, which would give their kids a one-in-two chance of being a carrier of the gene themselves, and a one-in-four chance of actually being red headed.  Of course, the odds would be different if one of the parents was actually red haired themselves.

Does anyone else think this might just be another money sink.  An expensive, unnecessary test that the doctors can charge an arm and a leg for?  Because I really can't see any other reason for its existence.  It'd be like having a test done to find out if your kid will have curly hair ... mildly interesting, but hardly worth the money you'd have to lay out to have it done.

Or is it really that big of a deal to have a red haired kid?  And if it is, is it a good deal or a bad deal?  I know historically that red haired people have been given a pretty bad rap, what with expressions like "beat him like a red headed step child", or the more recent (and disgusting) Kick A Ginger Day.  Personally, I always assumed that red hair was something people wanted to have, at least if the number who get it dyed that colour is anything to go by.

But the whole thing reminded me of a song by Tim Minchin, an amazing Australian comedy singer, who just happens to be red headed and felt the need to express his feeling about it via the medium of funny song.



Well I've learned my lesson.  No more using the G word from now on, I promise!

58 comments:

  1. FABULOUS post.
    Not only do I think this idea is totally hideous, but who's to say if the baby will CONTINUE to have red hair. Kids and their features change like the weather here in Utah. I think that garbage.
    Kaylynn
    colbkayandtrae.blogspot.com

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    1. That's true. My hair is dark brown now, but when I was a wee thing it was a gingery colour. And do you distinguish between people who have reddish tones and those who are real red heads? I need to study genetics, I think.

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  2. Oh yea best to know in advance if your kid is goin' to have carrot crotch!!!!!!!

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    1. LOL! Now there's an expression I've never heard before ... but I'm definitely going to use it in the future.

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  3. There is literally one surprise left in the world, that little bundle of joy that's baking in the oven. Man, people, just... enjoy it? I dunno. I guess I could see a reason for genetic testing for knowing if your child is at a higher risk of genetic disorders or disability, but that's really about it in my book.

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    1. I just don't get why anyone would do it. It'd be like testing to see if they'd have big ears or long fingers.

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  4. Carrot Crotch? Bwaa haaaa haaa... that's funny. LOL

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    1. You're right honey, I'm sorry! I'll keep my hair coloured humor where it belongs ... firmly entrenched in blonde jokes ;D

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  5. People are crazy...who would really spend money to test for hair color. The glory of hair color it is easy to change.

    I think my parents should of tested for short legs and fat thighs. Now those are things that need to be genetically altered.

    Funny video!!!

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    1. I think we shouldn't test for things like that unless there's a solution to them. If they can say "Oh yes, Mrs Smith, your baby has the fat ass gene, so we'll do the gene therapy to correct that" then by all means!

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  6. There are already studies saying that in something like the next four generations there will be no more redheads. I love gingers so I think it's sad.

    And I LOVE Tim Minchin. To death.

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    1. Recessive genes are funny like that. The traits could die out and the, bam, a few generations later they come back.

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  7. Good post Kellie and I am inclined to go look up more Tim Minchin now after watching the video. That was pretty funny.

    We Ginga's have gotten a bad rap in many ways besides those listed. Back in the day when witchcraft was afoot, a redhaired child was often killed- as red hair was surely a sign of the devil. Maybe that's why we are also known to have hot tempers, can be easily riled from a snap decision as well as rumored for being a bit wild in the sack.

    I can't imagine testing for hair color while in the womb, but if people are crazy enough to spend money on hair color genetics for their horses- why not for their wee ones too? BTW- 2 of my 3 children are gingers, 3 of the four of us siblings are gingers and neither of our parents were, but they had relatives of such. Boggled the minds of a lot of people when we were young.

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    1. Tim Minchin is hilarious! I love his songs, they're clever AND funny!

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  8. Kellie! Oh what will they think of next? What happened to the mystery and hope of a generation ago that waited the 9 months and then learned of the traits first hand in a moment of wonder and gratitude? I am admittedly envious of the fact that my daughter's having learned of the gender of their expectant child months prior to the delivery. And ...still can't think of a name for her, after the baby gal is 2 days old in the hospital. Ya, what about that? LOL

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    1. And the funny thing is so many people these days are deciding to not find out the sex of their baby because they think it's "traditional"!

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  9. I think redheads should RECLAIM the "G-Word". Takes away it's power!

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    1. Absolutely! That's why I've decided to reclaim the name "Four Eyes"!

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  10. Growing up it always seemed to me that head headed kids were quite popular. I never knew about a stigma being attached to red hair (at least for boys) until recently. Too bad; I think it's good looking.

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    1. Most people pay a fortune at the hair dressers to get red hair like that, just doesn't make sense to make fun of those lucky enough to be born with it!

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  11. As a redhead myself, I wouldn't bother getting this silly test. Also, having spent my entire life as a redhead, I can tell you that comments like "carrot crotch" and such, are not original, funny or clever. They got old after the second grade.

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    1. *places her hand on her heart* I hereby vow to to never use the G word or the CC words ... unless I'm cooking Chinese food and I need ginger in a recipe, of course.

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  12. It's funny thing in this sometimes strange but wonderful world - that being, if something, anything, is on offer there will always be an element who can't resist, no matter what the cost! or, even what it is. This post and the comments were enlightening to me as I (truly) did not know there was any particular attention on redheads.

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    1. I'm sure if we offered a test to tell how wide a baby's nostrils would be, people would pay for it.

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  13. The test is silly, your post was great...I emailed it to my redhead daughter and my red head grand duaghter

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  14. My son is an adorable and very popular Ginger. I think the only planning ahead that you need as a parent of a red head is an extra supply of sunscreen and hats. LURVE Tim Minchen!

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    1. He is wonderful, isn't he. Such a funny guy, I'm so proud he's an Aussie.

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  15. Tim's not a redhead as in ranga or ginger red, it's more a dirty dull red brown.

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    1. It seems different colours. I've seen him where it was quite red, and then other times it's almost sandy. I'm not sure if he has it coloured, or if he just washed it ;D

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  16. I actually have a red headed step child - she's the best! The boys, my own included all get jealous and say I love her best.

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  17. OMG! And to think I had to wait until my kids were born to find out ANYTHING! (not that knowing would have changed a darn thing)

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    1. I'm not sure what they think they'll do with the results. Start a hair dye fund?

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  18. Are some parents feeling an overwhelming need to steel themselves against the frightening possibility that their child could end up a redhead? Can't think of any other reason. Personally, I love redheads :)

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    1. It does seem like a strange thing to need forewarning on, doesn't it.

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  19. Will they be able to do it with interracial couples cause if so that's funny? My nieces are biracial and while they look alike one has very sandy red hair and the other does not. But then again I had red hair for a long stretch during childhood as well. Not like my sister in laws but a burgundy brown.

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    1. That's a good point, although I'd assume the red haired gene is the same no matter what race you are.

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  20. My best friend at school, had flaming red hair. We used to play a game called 'knock down ginger,' which was just a bunch of kids knocking on stranger's doors and running away. Then it all turned a bit sinister for poor Julie and 'knock down ginger' begun to mean something else entirely. I love redheads and really don't understand the problem people have with them. Oh and I adore Time Minchin! :)

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  21. When I was a kid, we used to play "knock on ginger" but no one had any clue what ginger meant. I was 50 when I finally learned that it means red-headed, LOL!

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    1. LOL! I don't think we ever used the G word when I was a kid to describe red heads, although I do remember the term blood nut being bandied about.

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  22. I just dyed my hair red a few months ago. I wish a mofo would try to beat me like a step child. They'd have another thing coming. And anyway, you can't even see the red hair under my ninja hood.

    Hugs!

    Valerie

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    1. I kind of wish someone would try, and that someone else would videotape you opening up a can of whoop ass on them!

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  23. Awww Tim Minchin is so great. It seems to me that there are cultures (yeah, UK, you, obviously) who devalue and demonize the red headed. It started as a joke, but the dumb have taken to actually believing red heads are somehow lesser or worse, actively evil. Let's just all focus on hating and distrusting politicians and we'll be much better off.

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    1. It's strange, especially given that the UK has the highest percentage of red heads in the world. Scotland specifically.

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  24. So many tests is right...And people DO pay for them too!
    I wouldn't mind being a red-head, but since my hair is so dark brown that people call it black, I don't think I'd ever need a test to tell me the hair color.
    ~Kim
    New GFC follower, here from Meet & Greet. Thanks for linking up, and I hope to see you this weekend as well!
    http://2justByou.blogspot.com

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    1. I have the same problem. I'd love to be a redhead, but dark brown hair with orange skin undertones don't really lend themselves to red hair.

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  25. This is all new to me....this whole thing about redheads and being a ginger......not sure that is what we call them here in the USA! I don't have any in my family and the only redheads I know get it from a box! Too funny....Tim Minchin is a character!

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  26. Just when I think that I've heard it all...

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  27. Maybe it's so they can pick out clothes for the baby before it's born and maybe some clothes will clash with red hair? I grasping at straws here because I've got nothing.

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  28. I have a number of friends with red hair come to think of it. One is a guy who had this really long hair he used to wear in braids, but now that he's over 40 he cut it and it. Red hair's excellent! I'd never heard of Tim Minchin, so I Googled him. I dig his look.

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  29. What will they think of next? I think doctors should be spending more time trying to figure out a cure for cancer than this frivolous stuff.

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