"For years I thought I was the problem. Fast forward: I toughened up. I got louder, prouder, and way more assertive."
"I love my hair. It's a part of me. I wouldn't change it. But I'm also exhausted from being hypersexualized and misunderstood."
The author reflects on her experiences as a redheaded woman, discovering the term "gingerism" that encapsulates her life struggles. From being bullied in school to facing hypersexualization in adulthood, she's navigated complex societal perceptions. Despite being conventionally attractive, she has often felt objectified and misjudged, resulting in significant challenges in relationships and self-identity. With newfound assertiveness, she questions whether this remains a common issue among redheads, highlighting her emotional exhaustion over continual misunderstanding and fetishization.
Read at Portland Mercury
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]