‘Beaten Like a Red-Headed Stepchild’

I’ve written about the etymology of a couple of expressions, “The Origin of I’m Free. White and 21,” and “There’s a N*gger in the Woodpile Somewhere.” Someone wondered where “Beaten Like a Red-Headed Stepchild” came from, and I was curious and decided to research it.

The expression dates back to the 1800s when Irish immigrants arrived in America. In the hierarchy/caste system that was America then, the Irish ranked somewhere above enslaved Black people, a step ahead of Black indentured servants, though many were indentured servants themselves, and in the same vicinity as free Black people. The Irish were not yet considered white and were forced into segregated communities.

Red-headedness is related to a recessive gene and often skips generations. When none of the other family members have red hair, a child with red hair might be considered a bastard and become the subject of ridicule and blame, though faultless. Some red-heads were literal stepchildren and, through marriage, became part of blended families where the red-haired child stood out. Women didn’t have long life spans those days; many died in childbirth. Men didn’t live so long either, and second and third marriages were common, not from divorce but involving widows and widowers.

The term is associated with bastards (real or presumed) and expanded to include people or things that are unwanted, neglected, or mistreated. The entire South was called a red-headed stepchild in a 1910 newspaper.

“From the day the Republican party came into power, the South has been treated like a red-headed stepchild. — The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) 29 Jun. 1910.”

While the term is most commonly associated with the United States, it does have corollaries in other countries. In France, redheads were called Poil de Judas (“hair of Judas”), referencing the idea that Judas Iscariot had red hair. In Germany, redheads were also associated with Judas; some were considered witches. In the UK, the Anti-Bullying Alliance has called for red hair to be listed as a protected characteristic, which would result in targeting people with red hair for criminal acts classified as hate crimes. In ancient Egypt, men with red hair were sacrificed to the god Osiris because they might be devotees of his arch-enemy Set, who had red hair. I suppose beatings are better than being sacrificed.

Several members of British royalty have had red hair and have been generally well-liked. Some say that Prince Harry gets criticized for his red hair in addition to his Black wife. Mark Twain once said that people with red hair who have achieved higher social status are said to have autumn-colored hair.

There is no single origin for “red-haired stepchild,” we do know it was never meant as a good thing, and some were beaten. If anyone has additional information, please submit it in the comments section, and I’ll be happy to update the story.

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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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The First Myth of the Patriarchy: The Acorn on the Pillow

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