why is there such a prejudice against redheads?

I'm not sure that there really is a significant prejudice against people with red hair although, if there is, then it might have to do with a link between hair color and hormone production. (I can't find a reference to cite to but many, many years ago at university when I was majoring in biochemistry I recall hearing this).

As I recall, both red and blonde hair are fairly recent genetic mutations (recent in terms of evolutionary time). Blonds, whether male or female) tend to also have higher levels of estrogen (i.e. they are more feminine) while red haired individuals have more of both estrogen and androgen.

Therefore red heads have more sexual ambiguity but this affects the individual differently depending on whether they are male or female. Both red haired male s and females are both more feminine and more aggressively sexual but because of our culture this causes female red heads to be seen as attractive but causes male red heads to seem both more androgynous and sexually predatory. So its this last group, male red heads, who get into trouble.

This entire notion may be utter nonsense but it occurred to me that it might be the reason.

To be honest, in my opinion I think the whole prejudice against the red heads just stems from the rarity. Red hair is the rarest hair color found in humans and for many centuries, many cultures deemed anything uncommon or "unusual" to be deviant in nature and it is human nature to fear things we don't understand. For instance, back in medieval times, if you had red hair you were thought to be a witch or a fiend of the devil but if you were left-handed back in medieval times, you were also deemed evil (and note that the MAJORITY of people are right handed) so I think the hate comes from the rarity of the color.

Now today red heads are not just a subject of evil but jealousy. I bet the majority of the people in today's society who discriminate those with red hair envy it and wish they had the same hair color, or they're just ignorant and go off South Park and other stereotypes of red heads like "oooh, they burn in the sun, they're freaks of nature" or "they have no soul".

Craziness I tell you, before the hate towards hair color it was skin color.

Because red heads are awesome and people are jealous! =D

I wish i was a redhead

Well in royal european history and in the bible red heads pop as bad people then other colored haired people.

Yeah - it's terrible!! They can't even eat in restaurants or ride the bus in my town!!

(jk!)

Because other people are just jealous :)

Not here. I love them!

idk, i actually like red hair, i have boring light brown hair =P

Idk, red heads are sexy:)

my bf's red headd<333