Discrimination against people with red hair

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/discrimination-against-people-with-red-hair

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Why do some people think red hair is magical?Red hair is very rare, so in the past people linked it to the supernatural and thought it had special powers.
2. How did red hair get linked to witchcraft in the Middle Ages?Because people didn't understand genetics, they made up stories that redheads were witches or demons, which made them feared.

MC1R Gene: A gene that plays a key role in regulating pigment production, influencing hair and skin color.
Superstition: A belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or chance.
Protected Characteristic: A trait or attribute that is legally protected against discrimination under specific laws.
Microaggression: Subtle, everyday verbal or nonverbal slights, insults, or dismissals targeting marginalized groups.