MASCULAR 

A shock of red hair. A sprinkling of freckles over the bridge of his nose. Whiskers of orange, blond, brown and copper. Pale, almost translucent skin. Ginger. It’s a colour, a flavour and a signifier of a unique community of people bound by pigmentation and genetics. From Ireland to Morocco, and Portugal to Pakistan, Ginger people stand out. Gingers have been the focus of negative attention and of fascination in equal measure – sometimes to the point of being fetishised. 

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Issue No. 45 will be dedicated to Ginger. As always, it is entirely up to our contributing artists to decide how to interpret the theme. For some it may be all about Zingiber officinale, a flavourful root that defines cuisine for about half the world’s population – maybe more. Bringing aroma, depth, colour and mystery to something that sustains us every day (what a lovely metaphore). Maybe it’s that burnt yellow colour that is at once fresh and soothing. Not quite safran, but a beautiful hue unto itself.

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For others’ it’s about the “strawberry blond” bodytype that appeals. In French, the term is rouquin – sounds strong and determined, if a bit “other”. In Arabic, it’s alzanjabil – melodic and sophisticatd. In German, it’s Ingwer. As is often the case, German can leave us a bit at a loose end. But Itlalians call Ginger, zenzero – which is lovely, metaphysical and unusual, all in one. Why do we feel the need to be able to identify, describe, isolate and name what is simply a range on the very broad scale of human genotypes? Yes, culture separates black form white and Asian from Caucasian etc… but it seems like there is a special effort to mark out Gingers – not always to their advantage. Ginger’s have been the butt of jokes in many cultures, particularly in the last hundred years, and a lot of hurt has been experienced as a result, no doubt. Interesting to see the recent intersection between Gingers and other minority groups on social media. But Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were Ginger, as was George Washington. Nobility and achievement go hand in hand with being Ginger throughout history. 

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Perhaps it’s because ginger-ness is such a strong genetic trait. It runs in families and is passed on through the generations. As a recessive trait, to be Ginger, you have to be quire special in receiving a full set of ginger genes from both your parents. But the truth may simply lie in the stinking and unusual beauty of a Ginger person. You can’t help but notice it. Advertising campaigns by the likes of Benetton, back in the day, relied on Ginger models to catch the attention of their customers, bearing in mind that less than 5% of their customers actually were alzanjabil. Gingers are special. 

 

If you are interested in contributing to Issue No. 445, please download and complete the Submissions Form below, or for more information, feel free to contact MASCULAR Magazine at: submissions@mascularmagazine.com.

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Deadline for submissions is June 8, 2026