Karens have quickly earned a place in our collective memory when white women behave badly online and in public settings, screaming incessantly at you or demanding services without cost or criticizing businesses online.
At some point in their lives, everyone will come into contact with Karens. With these helpful tips and tools in your arsenal, it is possible to survive these interactions successfully.
1. The Screamer
Screamers in bands typically are those that yell loudest; this shouldn’t be seen as negative; rock music has long been known for getting people excited and going wild!
Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon is widely recognized for his masterful talent of screaming-style singing. Even non-fans are impressed by how powerfully and emotively his voice conveys emotion during songs by Bring Me The Horizon.
Screamers can be found throughout the Realm of Chaos, prowling magic tides for mortal souls or Chaos Furies to consume. Their presence can be disrupted by shining a flashlight in their faces; once so doused they will scream loudly to alert The Seeker or The Greeter as to your location. Furthermore, Screamers move faster than most creatures by flying through planet atmospheres, the vacuum of space, or ambient Warp energy.
2. The Demander
The demander is defined as any middle-aged white female who considers herself above rules, such as those wearing an asymmetrical bob and seeking to speak to Applebee’s managers, or calling the police on those enjoying BBQing in Central Park.
The Karen meme has no known origin, yet has become an increasingly popular way for people to criticize white women seen as behaving inappropriately or using their privilege to manipulate others or assert power over those less advantaged than themselves.
Slang usage of “old fart” refers to men who behave badly and to older adults with narrow views. Unfortunately, generalizing someone based solely on their name can be damaging; making them feel embarassed or upset whenever their name comes up in conversation can have detrimental effects.
3. The Intruder
Karen is a household name with longstanding popularity; however, its meaning has come to be associated with white women who exhibit poor behaviors or regularly complain. From viral videos to the service industry’s cringing whenever anyone requests to speak to the manager, this Karen can often be identified by her aggressive and closed-minded beliefs; oftentimes calling the police on black neighbors or being overly assertive during children’s soccer matches.
Sun said she doesn’t believe anyone has ever called her Karen outright, yet the accusation can still feel personal if it is made in jest. While the criticism may not be intended as personal attack, it can still be difficult to ignore if you’re constantly depicted as such online or through media coverage.
4. The Over-the-Top Nice Person
Over the summer, a viral video featuring a woman calling the police on black birders in Central Park made her famous – and Karen became something of a meme and stereotype. According to data from Trustpilot, however, women named Karen are likely to report issues and complain most frequently.
Karens have long been accused of being loud squeakers who constantly demand attention, creating an entitlement culture in their families and communities. This phenomenon is known as lawnmower parenting; when parents aggressively tackle any barriers that stand in the way of their child’s success.
Dani Weller, customer service team leader of business comparison site Bionic, suggests that when dealing with Karen-type personalities it’s crucial to remain calm and stick to facts if she becomes aggressive; otherwise she’ll quickly back off.
5. The No-Call-No-Show
Karens are an infamous group. Refusing to accept defeat, they expect their way in all matters and often resort to outrageous tactics when frustrated; such as calling police on a Black man birdwatching in Central Park or throwing tantrums when asked not to wear masks at Costco.
Karen typically wears a blunt blonde bob haircut and exudes entitlement, feeling that her rights have been disrespected or denied in some form. Additionally, as a middle-aged white woman she may carry with her the baggage of casual racism and privilege.
6. The Angry Mama
Karen who doesn’t take well to being told what to do is often difficult to deal with and can easily escalate small misunderstandings into major arguments that become difficult to manage.
Bionic’s research indicates this type of Karen is most prevalent in the U.S. and most likely to be mothers. They can be difficult to work with and show a hidden side that is close-minded or racist when discussing vaccination or race issues with others; often leading them down an unequal path based on privilege.
7. The Obnoxiously Nice Person
Karens are well known to complain about everything and everyone. When they become upset, they frequently call the police immediately and exaggerate or fabricate claims of victimhood; even creating new issues to be outraged over.
Karens can often be identified by demanding special privileges for their children while disregarding the rights of other students and families, creating an atmosphere of bullying and entitlement in schools.
Teachers I spoke with reported being afraid to voice valid student or parent concerns because they fear being labeled a Karen, which is unfortunate, since it prevents good teachers from helping their pupils effectively. Karens can be dangerous; therefore it’s vital that we address their danger; our classroom workers deserve our respect!
8. The Slow Driver
Karens may drive too slowly for other drivers’ comfort, causing frustration for them. Furthermore, these Karens often lack knowledge of basic road etiquette such as signalling when changing lanes or turning.
Although referring to someone as “Karen” may seem derogatory, real people named Karen tell CNN that it does not equate with demeaning them as people; though many Karens themselves admit their behavior can sometimes damage their own reputations.
Bionic’s customer service team leader Dani Weller suggests the best way to deal with Karen is to remain calm and listen to her issues – even if you disagree with them – before framing the argument based on facts rather than emotions and come quickly to an agreement. This way, compromises can be reached more swiftly.
9. The No-Call-No-Show
Karens are so self-indulgent and egotistical that they fail to see how their behavior harms others. They take everything personally and escalate even minor differences into serious arguments with teachers; all while demanding they focus on helping their children first despite any adverse impacts this might have on other students who may need assistance as a result.
These entitled white women have become such a common presence that the term “Karen” has become both a meme and social justice issue. Karens tend to demand to speak with managers after an incident at work or call police on groups of Black people barbecuing in a park, demanding answers before proceeding further with any activities.
Bionic’s team at Trustpilot conducted an in-depth analysis to identify Karens. Once identified, they matched them up with countries where most Karens lived to determine where they come from and which women (and men) best represented this characteristic.
10. The No-Call-No-Show
Karens have become synonymous with certain behaviors such as Beckys, Stacys and Chads; in particular their constant complaining. A recent study conducted by customer service software provider Bionic analyzed over one million reviews to ascertain which women names were associated with complaints; it was discovered that those who shared generic names such as Karen were more likely to behave inappropriately than their counterparts with more unique names like Elizabeth or Anne were likely to act inappropriately.
Karen is the stereotypical suburban mom with a minivan who wears her hair in a blunt blonde bob, who often demands to speak with managers about issues like Anne Taylor not carrying enough XS t-shirts or her credit card being declined at F45. Karen often exhibits a strong sense of entitlement – demanding preferential placement for her children and frequently calling the police on black neighbors.
