Karen is a derogatory term used to describe an arrogant, angry, entitled and often racist middle-aged white woman who uses her privilege to exert influence or police others’ behaviors.
Due to a flood of viral incidents, the name “titled Karen” has become a lightning rod for conversations about white women’s responsibilities, entitlement, and accountability. We’ve collected some of the most popular entitled Karen stereotype compilation videos to get you thinking about its meaning and why it can be so dangerous.
1. KAREN WHITE PERSON
KAREN is a derogatory term for any white woman who appears to be entitled or demanding more than what society accepts. It may also be used to refer to someone acting hysterically and/or mentally ill.
Initially, this term was only applied to white women; however, over time it has come to encompass all women who appear insane or hysterical. It even inspired Twitter accounts and Reddit forums.
Karen’s presence is especially pertinent at a time when the country faces an emergency and struggles with systemic racial biases. She’s been particularly visible in this context, with numerous “Karen sightings” making headlines over the last few months.
One notable instance was a video featuring a woman calling police because a Black man asked her to leash her dog. This video served as a stark reminder of the devastating impact Karens can have on Black lives, as well as the necessity of calling out their privilege-laden actions.
Contrary to what the internet may portray of Karens, there are actually plenty of beautiful and kind Karens out there. Unfortunately, many have been stigmatized as insensitive or prejudiced due to stereotypical representations online.
2. KAREN WHITE PERSON COMMENTS
Karen is a term commonly used to denote arrogant, entitled white women. She has taken on an online persona of her own, from anti-vaxxer to soccer mom to Reddit user who refers to her former spouse as “Karen” due to her “speak-to-the manager hair”.
Over the past year, this term has grown increasingly popular as a derogatory shorthand for white women who act badly when faced with perceived slights. It serves as an occasion to discuss white womanhood, entitlement and accountability.
One of the latest Karen moments to go viral is a TikTok video by Tennessee Tonya that mimics “Karen” behavior with dance moves. In just two days, this clip has amassed 4.6 million views and received thousands of comments.
Tonya shows several unique dance moves inspired by the “Karen” phenomenon. These include leaning on cars, coughing, and calling the police. She also has her dog curbed – not exactly an inviting gesture!
3. KAREN WHITE PERSON FACTS
Karen has long been a popular name among middle-aged white women. However, in the digital age it has taken on an entirely new meaning, becoming the go-to term for entitled white women who demand to speak to managers over any inconvenience.
Over the last few years, an alarming trend has been growing: white women police Black people or demand special treatment in public places. This year alone has seen Central Park Karen, Kroger Karen, Permit Karen and more become viral video sensations.
This trend is a reaction to the recent wave of deadly violence against Black people in America, prompting many white people to reflect on how they’ve treated other people for generations. Additionally, some white people use this as an opportunity to distance themselves from racist behavior.
But the rise of “Karen” has drawn widespread criticism, including from feminist icon Gloria Steinem who admitted it’s “kind of annoying.” In an interview with Time, Steinem also voiced her opinion on the matter.
4. KAREN WHITE PERSON COMMENTS
Karen is a middle-aged white woman who acts entitled, gets angry quickly and demands things beyond what is normal. They frequently appear online in videos and are referred to as a ‘cult figure’ on social media platforms.
They tend to be blonde and sport pixie cuts with sunglasses on top. Unfortunately, some of these individuals can be overzealous and call the police on people of color without cause.
Have you ever been caught on video harassing black people or threatening to call the police on them, then it could be that you’re a Karen. For example, yelling at a restaurant manager or getting into an argument with a police officer in public are both examples of becoming Karens.
In recent years, the term ‘Karen’ has gained notoriety on Twitter and Reddit as a derogatory label for white women who seem to believe they have the right to shout at people, intimidate them with threats of violence, or call the police on people of color in public places.
Recently, the phrase has gained in popularity due to the racial uprisings that have rocked America in summer 2020. It has been used to refer to numerous incidents where white women have harassed people of colour; examples include Alison Ettel who called police on an 8-year-old selling water “illegally” on a sidewalk and Susan Collins who reported seeing pro-abortion rights message written in chalk on a sidewalk.
5. KAREN WHITE PERSON COMMENTS ON WHITE PEOPLE
Karen has become a widely used term to refer to middle-aged white women who exhibit petulant, racist and sometimes dangerous behaviors directed at people of color. It has become something of an umbrella term for these types of women; moreover, she was recently featured in a BET film starring Taryn Manning entitled “Karen.”
Over the past few years, the Karen term has gained widespread adoption on social media. It’s been used to denote various offensive acts against Black people such as calling police on them in public and even coughing on a woman at a bagel shop.
Many of these videos have been uploaded on TikTok, an app that allows users to video and share their interactions with friends and family. One particularly popular clip shows a woman leaning against her car in order to block someone from parking in an open spot.
Parking lot check-ins are a common occurrence across America, typically done to ensure there are still spaces available for other vehicles during times of high traffic such as when people are traveling for work or visiting their families. This practice helps ensure everyone’s space remains free, especially during times when more people than usual use the lot.
Though these videos may appear humorous or innocuous, it is essential to examine their history. These actions were not done by one individual but by many throughout history and were founded in racism, white arrogance and white entitlement.
6. KAREN WHITE PERSON COMMENTS ON BLACK PEOPLE
Some white women are acting irrationally by calling Black people the n-word and other derogatory terms. Not only are these individuals acting irrationally, but they are committing horrific crimes as well.
Facebook group “No Karen” has been posting videos of these women to raise awareness and shame the white women responsible for these atrocities. They take great pleasure in showing the world these videos so we don’t have to.
It is essential to call out these racist white women for their deplorable acts, so that they can be held accountable.
Recent videos depict a woman calling an African American man the n-word because he did not assist her at a grocery store. Another video features another woman refering to her neighbor as “Karen” for stenciling the Black Lives Matter symbol on their property.
These are only a few examples. Racist white women have been committing horrifying acts for years.
Why must these racist white women hide behind a name like “Karen” or any other moniker that could passively mask their bad behavior? It’s time to call these racist white women out by their real names so that they can be held accountable for their atrocious acts and stop committing such atrocious crimes.
7. KAREN WHITE PERSON COMMENTS ON WHITE PEOPLE
If you spend much time on Twitter or Reddit, then you have likely come across numerous comments about Karen White People. This phrase and meme have emerged as a way of calling out White women who are rude, angry or often call the police on Black People for doing things that make no sense.
Karen’s appearance has been shaped by both the rise of social media and public disdain for middle-aged white women who appear to be aggressively pettish and self-entitlement. You might be considered a Karen if you are the 30-something woman who calls the police on an 8-year-old black child for selling lemonade on the sidewalk.
The Karen trope is one of several popular memes on Black Twitter and elsewhere that ridicule performances of racial innocence or white guilt. Damon Young (2020a) traces these words’ origins, noting that “Becky” refers to an early slang term for a racially ignorant or ignorant white woman while “Karen” stands as a representation of a defiant white woman who will not pretend when it comes to her privileged position.
Ironically, class hatred fuels Karen-bashing. Karen has become a derogatory term for entitled middle-class white women who use their status against working class and minority populations. To use this term to attack someone isn’t just oppressive – it’s also an expression of racism and sexism.
