The World’s Largest Sperm Bank Is Turning Down Redheads

[The Straight Story]

The plight of the redhead continues. Cryos International in Denmark, the largest sperm bank in the world, has stopped accepting sperm from flame-haired would-be donors.

The Telegraph reports that the rejection is simply a matter of supply and demand: sperm from redheads is rarely requested from those who are buying the, er, product. “There are too many redheads in relation to demand,” said Ole Schou, the director of the bank, told a Danish newspaper. “I do not think you choose a redhead, unless the partner — for example, the sterile male — has red hair, or because the lone woman has a preference for redheads. And that’s perhaps not so many, especially in the latter case.”

While he doesn’t mention if all redheads are equally denied — are there more requests for, say, strawberry blonde or dark auburn sperm than from fire-red sperm? — Shou does note that most people request sperm from brown-haired and brown-eyed donors. Donating sperm pays up to $500, which has led to an over-supply of the semen (there’s currently a waiting list of 600 donors) which has allowed the bank to be a bit choosier when it comes to what sort of submissions they accept.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/09/19/the-worlds-largest-sperm-bank-is-turning-down-redheads/

[KamaAina]

1. Huh?

My favorite human being has a head of flaming red hair that goes down to the small of her back. I would gladly have reproduced with her the old-fashioned way, instead of what's-his-face.

[Aerows]

10. Every person I've ever loved has red hair

and blue eyes.

[pscot]

2. A waiting list of donors..

Who could have imagined that wanking for kronor would be so popular.

[Waiting For Everyman]

3. We redheads don't need their help, we made it this far on our own.

I was the only redhead in my family, and had two redhaired children of my own, and have a redhaired niece, with her redhaired daughter. From my pov, we're gaining on 'em!

We are the smallest visual minority (next to albinos) and get lots of harassment and discrimination, and very little support. But that's ok, don't mind us, we don't mind being shoved aside in our little problems by bigger groups who get all the attention. (I kid.)

Some indian and other indigenous peoples have traditions that redheads are magical, I'll settle for that, I think that's pretty cool.

[Aerows]

12. You guys make this world a better place

Don't ever relent with your bad ass selves.

[Waiting For Everyman]

15. That is so nice...

thank you, Aerows!

[Happyhippychick]

4. Before we assume bad intent

Please remember that most folks going to a sperm bank are looking for traits that resemble their own (and their partners). Since flaming red hair is less prevalent in society, it would make sense that it is not as requested.

[DonCoquixote]

6. of course the customer is always right

"Since flaming red hair is less prevalent in society, it would make sense that it is not as requested."

Ok, I will try to be polite about this, but you may not have realized that you are advocating something much more malevolent than hair color.

After all, long noses tend to be less prevalent in Denmark. Certainly they are among the sort of wealthy people than can afford sperm, and they would want to pass the very best traits unto their children so they can inherit said wealth and make a proper use of it. Of course, tall people and fair skin might be desired too, after all, tall execs get promoted more, and well, fair skin is desired.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201109/good-looks-will-get-you-job-promotion-and-raise

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/12/theyre-watching-you-at-work/354681/

of course, what gets omitted is the fact that by doing this, those who shun certain traits are REINFORCING the PREJUDICE against certain traits. What they are saying is "You know, I am not racist, but if I could, I would want my baby to be born a blue-eyed, blond tall Aryan because I know that will make them more money and get them more love."

Not only do we NOT want to see engineered babies (just imagine what the one percent would do) but also, we do not want to reinforce the idea that people who do NOT meet society's model of looks are less desirable.

[Happyhippychick]

11. Watch yourself. I'm the grandchild of Holocaust survivors

and I don't appreciate AT ALL what you are suggesting, you have touched a huge nerve.

I don't need a lecture on breeding babies, and I never said I advocate "breeding". I am simply offering an explanation for why red hair isn't as requested which isn't based on malicious intent.

This topic is very personal to me, you obviously don't know that but please respect it. And don't ever suggest that I would advocate for any kind of genetic engineering of babies.

[treestar]

5. Weird

Didn't know that using a sperm bank involved making this type of choice.

Seems too like the DNA would matter more than the actual hair color.

[NightWatcher]

7. Gingers have no soul.

[trotsky]

13. That is absolutely not true.

They get another freckle every time they steal one!

[Tikki]

8. Proud mother of a red haired, green eyed son.

Plus, every man in my life who has a beard, has a red beard.



Tikki

[1000words]

9. Love those redheads ...

[Ino]

14. A photo of my ginger mutant...