When videos emerge on social media showing an entitled Karen behaving rudely, people typically respond in one of two ways. Some are indifferent and don’t give a damn about the behavior, while others call them out for their sexism and misogyny.
Karens have experienced a dramatic shift in social reactions over time, yet many remain unaware of what these individuals truly stand for or how they get on people’s nerves. It is essential to comprehend Karen culture so we can better understand how best to respond in the future.
History
Over the years, people have responded differently to videos of “Kens” behaving badly. While some may find these videos disturbing or captivating, many find them captivating and captivating.
Over the last couple of years, Karens have become Internet celebrities for their seemingly outrageous behavior. They typically wear sunglasses, demand to speak with a manager, use hate speech and violence against others while engaging in other inappropriate or embarrassing actions. Unfortunately, cameras often capture these women and they are frequently called out on their outrageous antics.
Denise Dudley, a workplace consultant and author of “Women’s Thrills and How to Get Them,” notes that Karen-style anger seems to stem from other issues in these women’s lives such as furloughs, layoffs or lockdowns at their workplaces. She suggests these women may be dealing with emotional voids due to these hardships.
Karens have earned a bad reputation for shouting at people of color, especially Black people, and it can endanger the safety of those they are criticizing. That is why the Central Park Karen incident in May 2020 was so shocking: a white woman calling police on an African-American bird-watcher after she asked to leash her dog in public was such an upsetting scene.
This trend of white women being perceived as rude and entitled is nothing new, but it is becoming more prevalent due to the current climate of racial inequality. Many White Americans struggle with understanding why people of color become upset or angry with them.
Therefore, entitled White people have created a scapegoat for their racism and misogyny: Karen. This allows them to get attention for their outrageous behaviors without being seen as the bigoted or misogynist they truly are.
Some critics of these entitled Karens assert that they act like children, yet this is not the case. Most of these Karens are probably in their mid-20s or early 30s.
Present
Social attitudes toward rude and entitled Karens have changed over time, the most notable example being the Central Park incident of 2020 which caused many people to label a certain type of white woman who displayed racist behaviors as “Karen.”
Terence Fitzgerald, an author and workplace consultant based in San Luis Obispo, Calif., notes that Karen-esque microaggressions often stem from racial profiling, cultural “redlining” where white people attempt to keep access to public spaces exclusive, as well as plain old entitlement. He adds that such behaviors have existed throughout America’s history for decades.
Karen-style microaggressions have become a worldwide sensation on social media platforms. Some videos, like one of a white woman preventing another driver from getting their desired spot in a parking lot, are obviously racially motivated; however others address issues related to mental health, socio-economic disadvantage and substance abuse.
These incidents raise larger issues about class inequality in a country that still has an overwhelming number of working-class white Americans. Furthermore, the Covid-19 outbreak ignited further discussion over how public shaming should be conducted as a response to this novel coronavirus.
The Karen meme made a major impact and has become widely used to label any middle-class white woman perceived as acting entitled in public. According to The New York Times, it has also become a vehicle for sexism and racism; an example of how white privilege is being erased along with systemic racism.
These terms and concepts have a rich, complex history that dates back to the American Civil War. Although they have evolved through the centuries, their relevance as tools of social commentary remains unchanged.
It can be difficult to pinpoint why some entitled Karens behave badly on social media more than others, but there are likely several reasons. According to Denise Dudley, a psychologist in San Luis Obispo, California, one’s perception of themselves and level of social privilege are important factors in this phenomenon.
Future
Karens have become emblematic of an overreaction to social issues, particularly racism. They’re often seen as entitled and determined to assert their political power at the expense of others.
Karens or Kens are notorious for their angry outbursts and often over-the-top comments. These individuals tend to be filmed and shared on Twitter, Facebook US:FB and Instagram.
These types of videos have been appearing more and more frequently over the last few months, primarily featuring women. One popular Instagram account called “Karens Going Wild” has been collecting footage showing people behaving badly in public spaces – from calling the police on an innocent person to blocking people from leaving a parking lot.
They’ve also been caught harassing service industry workers. Furthermore, a new version of Karen has arisen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic: This version refuses to wear face coverings in shops or adhere to quarantine restrictions; additionally, they share conspiracy theories about it on social media platforms.
A representative for Reddit suggested the social media platform may have fostered this trend indirectly. He pointed to a post from several years ago which went viral, mocking how young people don’t call each other “Karens.”
The meme suggests that some parents feel entitled and over-zealous in their expectations of their children’s success, leading them to act irrationally when it comes to pushing themselves further up the ladder. When this occurs, they become over-exuberant and often irrational – especially when it comes to their own success.
They may not realize their expectations cannot be fulfilled and it takes a great deal of effort from everyone involved, yet they persist nonetheless.
As our school systems struggle to address these problems, we could see more of this kind of behavior in the future. Furthermore, Karen parenting may have an even more detrimental effect on teachers and schools than it already has.
We can expect this kind of behavior to become increasingly common in the future, making it even harder for members of the public to comprehend why these people act this way. These irrational and unjustified outbursts aren’t directed at specific individuals; they often stem from feelings of entitlement, disenfranchisement or anger. This creates a challenging environment for teachers who may find themselves unable to perform their jobs efficiently if at all.
Conclusions
The conclusion of your article or paper should provide a sense of closure and remind the reader of the main argument and how your research addresses it, or by drawing parallels with other research studies. Furthermore, it’s wise to emphasize the significance and impact of your findings.
Over time, social attitudes towards rude and entitled Karens have been shaped by various factors. Racial discrimination remains the most significant.
Since slavery, white people have been seen as more entitled than people of color; this attitude persists today in our society and manifests in acts such as sexism, harassment and anti-blackness.
These attitudes have precipitated a litany of racial offenses, from police calls on Black neighbors to accusations that Asian Americans brought the coronavirus to America and other incidents which have become iconic to society.
One such case occurred when a woman identified as “San Francisco Karen” approached a Black man writing “Black Lives Matter” on a retaining wall with chalk and shouted at him for trespassing. This incident sparked widespread public outrage and worldwide condemnation of the woman.
The video of the “San Francisco Karen” incident served as a wake-up call for many, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area. But it’s just one example of what Terence Fitzgerald, a psychologist and writer in Los Angeles, calls “Karen-esque microaggressions.”
Clemons attributes these actions to white privilege and a “spirit of entitlement,” she states.
Karen-esque microaggressions can be especially harmful to children, who may not have the maturity or resources to advocate for themselves. Additionally, these incidents may exacerbate issues like mental health, substance abuse and socioeconomic disadvantages which may cause a lack of self-worth and lead to feelings that they are not valued in society.
To prevent a Karen-style situation, businesses should have policies in place that discourage patrons from engaging in these behaviors and motivate employees to treat them respectfully. To do this effectively, create a rule that anyone acting in an intolerant or aggressive manner will be refused service.
