In 2017, Reddit users started calling his ex-wife Karen “Karen.” As a response, the term gained notoriety as an amusing meme to mock women for acting overly petty.
It has now become a contentious slang term that many consider a woman-hating insult. There even exists a male counterpart called “Ken” or “Greg.”
Origin
“Karen” is a label often applied to white women who are perceived to have an arrogance and sense of entitlement. It has been criticised for its use in ridiculing women for their behavior, such as yelling at managers or police officers, and has been labeled both sexist and ageist.
The term has gained popularity on Reddit, a website with many subreddits. The thread that inspired it, r/F**kYouKaren, features posts from multiple people. It was inspired by one Redditor who often posted bitter invectives about his ex-wife; thus he created a subreddit where his words could be turned into fun slang – now used regularly by tens of thousands around the world.
According to one researcher, the term “Karen” emerged on the internet as a way of ridiculing those who are entitled or complain too much. It has also become popular in criticizing women who engage in public acts of racism–an increasingly common trend amid protests for racial justice.
Professor Roly Sussex, who teaches applied language studies at the University of Queensland, noted that the term “Karen” had been used on Reddit before but had recently gained popularity. According to Sussex, this pejorative is sexist, racist and ageist in nature and has been used widely to dehumanize white women.
In February 2020, Australian journalist Dr Julia Baird wrote a column criticizing the term as being sexist and belittling women who strive for acceptance and equality. She asserted that Karen wasn’t just applied to every middle-aged white woman; rather it depends on an individual’s behavior.
A term similar to ‘Becky’ has been used to label white women who lack social awareness or lack diligence when it comes to parenting their children. Another phrase commonly used to describe such white people as ‘Susan’ describes kind but unforgiving individuals.
Though not explicitly sexist, ‘Becky’ and ‘Susan’ have been used for centuries to dehumanize women. Likewise, the name ‘Karen’ has also been employed in dehumanizing white women who are too zealous or demanding.
Meaning
According to AI writing tool QuillBot, “Karen” has become the most-Googled slang term in 20 states this year. This pejorative label is applied to an arrogant, entitled and often racist middle-aged white woman who uses her privilege to get what they want or police other people’s behaviors.
The term “Karen” is often referenced in memes, depicting an arrogant White woman who demands more than what society considers acceptable. Additionally, the hashtag “Karen” has become a popular one on Twitter and TikTok – online video platforms.
Some linguists believe the term Karen originated on Black Twitter in the 2010s; however, others argue it more likely stems from comedian Dane Cook’s 2005 sketch “The Friend Nobody Likes.”
Another possible explanation for the term’s origins lies in Karen, a character from the 2004 movie Mean Girls. In that film, Karen is an uncaring White girl who gossips on kids at lemonade stands.
Other terms coined from the Karen trope include “Karen the Bag of Douche” and “Karen the B.D.” A notable example is seen in the Netflix series House of Cards, where a character known as Karen is heard shouting at another character for allegedly not paying for his coffee.
Another slang term to consider is “Chad.” This derogatory term refers to an alpha male, usually a sexually active and typically wealthy white man. Contrary to “Karen,” Chad tends to take more positive actions and displays of attitude.
The term “Karen” is not as widely used in the United States as it is elsewhere. Nonetheless, its roots can be traced back decades in American culture; it’s commonly used during conversations regarding racial oppression or blue collar jobs, though some argue that using it sexistily and as an insult against women who put their foot down is offensive.
Connotation
In colloquialisms, the term “Karen” has come to symbolize middle-aged white women who are overly entitled. People often refer to these individuals as “Karens” when they act unprofessionally or make demands that don’t seem reasonable.
Karen can be used to describe anyone who exhibits excessive entitlement, or demands of others without justification. They might also be labeled racists or bigots for not seeming to prioritize their own needs and desires.
Karen has recently gained popularity and been featured in multiple media outlets. While it typically refers to middle-aged white women, the term can be applied to any race or gender when someone acts unprofessionally or makes demands that don’t make sense.
Karen is a woman with great expectations of herself. They may become angry and/or enraged at even the slightest infraction of their rights or needs, and will likely make a scene and call the police if something doesn’t go their way.
According to a study published in Psychology Today, Karen tend to have an unhealthy sense of entitlement and believe their rights come before everyone else’s. They may refuse to wear face masks or act racistally against someone of another race or color.
Karen’s behaviors can lead to an uncomfortable situation for both parties involved, and they may serve as a trigger for further misbehavior. Therefore, it is essential to know what a Karen’s connotation means so you can approach the situation appropriately.
Karen can be difficult to handle, and the best approach is to understand how she’s feeling and offer solutions to her problems. Doing this will help calm her down and enable you to view things from a different angle.
The name “Karen” has become increasingly popular on social media in recent months. It often features in jokes on Twitter that degrade other people’s lives or reputations, revealing racism that has spread online. Therefore, it’s essential to comprehend its connotation so you can better discern who may be using this slang and their intent.
Examples
Karen is a popular slang term that denotes an obnoxious, angry, entitled and often racist middle-aged white woman who shouts at people or makes unreasonable demands. It’s widely used on social media as an amusing way of making fun of women acting aggressively petty; and its use has grown increasingly commonplace in today’s internet age.
One of the best examples of this slang comes from a video that went viral last May. In it, a white woman displays extreme anger when asked by a black man to put her dog on a leash. She shouts at him, calls the police and even puts him in jail.
Karen slang is often illustrated in this scenario. The individual is acting irrationally and overreacting out of frustration at feeling mistreated.
If you’ve ever witnessed someone in this predicament, it can be heartbreaking to watch. It’s difficult to comprehend how their emotions become out of control.
Thankfully, many times all you have to do is calm down and walk away. This can be a trying situation and very stressful, so try your best not to get too worked up about it.
Another example of this slang is when someone gets extremely drunk and acts out strangely. Although this usually results from an accident, it can still be upsetting to witness.
Another example of the phrase is when someone experiences an extraordinary transformation, which could either be seen as a positive thing or something to be avoided depending on the context.
It could also be a sign that they are about to experience mental breakdown or are facing an extremely trying time in their life. In such cases, calling a friend and asking them for assistance can be beneficial.
These are just a few of the slang terms you might encounter in everyday conversation. There are certainly others out there too, but these are some of the more commonly used.
