When it comes to social justice issues, people have varying reactions. No matter the context, it’s essential that individuals take time to analyze why their behaviors are such and how they can alter them accordingly.
These types of actions often stem from racism entitlement, misogyny and economic disenfranchisement; however, they can also be caused by a person’s own mental health or substance abuse issues.
1. The Entitled Karen
It has been a challenging few months for Black people across America. While the coronavirus pandemic has brought much-needed attention to racial inequities, the internet has seen an uptick in ‘Karens’ type viral videos fuelled by irrational racism:
White women have been captured on camera displaying excessive entitlement, calling the police on innocent Black people in public spaces and screaming beyond reason. This trend, documented by Instagram account @karensgoingwilds, has gained momentum on social media platforms and become a platform for holding racists accountable for their actions.
Wikipedia states that Karen is an offensive term for an entitled white woman. Urban Dictionary de-emphasizes race when describing Karen, saying she takes everything wrong with the typical over-entitled western woman and amplifies it several thousand percent. It remains unclear exactly when or how this pejorative term began appearing online, but it appears to have been created through satire.
The Karen meme first originated as a parody of another popular sexist ‘explainer’ on Reddit, which targeted “Karens” who sought to speak with managers and bosses. As Covid-19 spread, however, “Karen” became more pointed in its message as an emblem for social policeing around Covid-19 and white supremacy – particularly among members of the white working class.
At the same time, however, this epidemic highlighted other forms of stark class inequality in America and heightened already-intense tensions between class privilege and a need to be vigilant about other forms of privilege.
Karren Wallis has become increasingly popular on Instagram, but she also appears in other types of videos. One such instance includes a video depicting a white woman threatening to call the police on an African-American man for asking her to put a leash on her dog in Central Park.
Karen is part of a larger genealogy that includes terms like ‘Becky’ and ‘white tears,’ which refer to white women who act out their racial innocence; and ‘white fragility,’ used for those white women overwhelmed with guilt. Damon Young (2020a), in his widely shared ‘explainer,’ suggests Karen serves as replacement for Becky – an ignorant white woman unaware of her privilege.
2. The Self-Righteous Karen
Over the past few months, as attention has turned towards Black Lives Matter protests and racial tensions, “Karen” has come to symbolize more than just an anti-vaxxer mom. It has become a metaphor for the contentious social politics of 2020.
In 2020, Karen is a self-righteous white woman who believes it has the right to demand more from others than necessary. She feels disempowered by society, so she uses her privilege to compel people into interfering with their lives so she can lead an easier life.
These women have a history of blaming others for their problems and taking action when they believe something to be unjust. They’ll act out in public, become angry with people for their behavior and expect no consequences; calling the police on black birdwatchers, insisting on walking through gang-zoned parks and even brandishing guns in front of Black Lives Matter protesters.
Recent videos of Karens have demonstrated the powerful urge these white women have to engage in racist behavior when faced with perceived injustices, often targeting people of color. Examples include Amy Cooper, a white dog-walker who called the police on a black birdwatcher in Central Park and Patricia McCloskey who brandished her handgun at Black Lives Matter protesters outside her home in St. Louis.
Karens have a tendency to strike back when disagreed with, so it is best to keep your distance. Being too close can cause intense emotional triggering and an overwhelming sense of hatred towards those around you.
Karen’s outbursts of anger are motivated by undeserved pride and self-righteous indignation. These traits lack true compassion or a desire to assist.
Reacting with anger is never wise, as it could quickly escalate into a race war between Karens and their adversaries. Furthermore, fighting off an arrogant Karen can prove challenging because they believe they possess the capacity to trigger you into doing whatever they please.
3. The Self-Indulgent Karen
Karens are an unpredictable bunch, and they can be dangerous. They have been known to falsely accuse people of color and cause major social harm by stirring up trouble or ruining a good time in social settings. Be wary when dealing with Karens!
Karens come in many varieties, but one of the most infamous is the self-indulgent Karen. This type of Karen gets pleasure out of making others feel bad; therefore, the best way to deal with a self-indulgent Karen is simply ignore them.
If you come across a self-indulgent Karen at work, the most effective way to approach them is with calmness and cool. Remember that they may be in an emotional state similar to that of a child – having a tantrum or looking for something to shout about.
Karen may feel overwhelmed if they have recently experienced a difficult period in their life or are dealing with an overbearing boss. To prevent this from occurring, be firm but kind at the same time.
Karen, who often indulges in self-indulgence, can have an immense impact on others. To prevent this from occurring, let them know they’re not the center of attention and that everyone deserves respect and consideration. This will encourage them to refocus on the task at hand by offering discounts or free coffee as an incentive for positive attitude.
4. The Angry Karen
Some months back, a meme began spreading online that mocked certain anti-vaxxer moms. It quickly gained notoriety and was used in numerous contexts to address social justice issues like the coronavirus pandemic and protests for racial justice.
Karen memes began as symbols of Black Twitter during a turbulent time in social politics and have since evolved into emblematic representations of various ‘explainers’ and tropes such as white tears, fragility and the more racially charged ‘Becky’ trope.
As an example of ‘pandemic shaming, the ‘Coronavirus Karen’ provided a poignant illustration. At that time, people were still struggling to comprehend how this novel virus could possibly erode their sense of security – and so it was especially crucial that they felt free to publicly criticize other citizens’ behaviors.
It was only natural then that the ‘Coronavirus Karen’ became the poster child for an increasingly vicious form of public humiliation and anger. She refused to wear face coverings in shops, seemingly undeterred by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and thus became a symbol of this growing movement – one characterized by increasing intensity and popularity across various social movements.
Some critics of the ‘Karen’ video meme contend it is inherently misogynistic, aggressively shameing women who may be experiencing emotional difficulties or other problems as a result of the pandemic and its impacts on their lives. On the other hand, others contend the video serves as another manifestation of racism and other forms of harassment against members of a minority group in America; rather than being about shaming individuals, it highlights an underlying systemic issue which people of color must contend with on a regular basis.
It is essential to remember that people of color often face racial discrimination and other types of prejudice in employment, housing and health care settings. Unfortunately, these incidents are rarely documented on ‘Karen’ videos and usually involve much deeper issues than simply feeling upset when someone doesn’t comply with your demands in public spaces.
