Recently, there has been an uptick in the use of “Karen.” As it becomes more widely accepted, many are left wondering: what do these memes really signify?
Karen is a term commonly used to describe an arrogant white woman. She typically sports an asymmetrical bob, appears snarky and entitled, and displays an attitude that’s downright rude towards service workers.
Origins
Karen memes are an emerging form of discourse that has spread through social media platforms. They represent an engaging yet often contentious online culture with potentially devastating repercussions in the political sphere.
The term “Karen” has become a derogatory label applied to middle-aged white women who are seen as entitled and demanding beyond what is expected of them. This usage has become an increasingly contentious issue in recent years, with many criticizing its sexist stereotype.
These monikers often derive from common workplace behavior, like asking “can I speak to the manager?” when complaining about something at work. These designations have raised concerns over retaliation in the workplace.
While using monikers can be problematic, they can also be beneficial to those who feel unfairly treated in a given circumstance. For instance, if someone is being fired for making a racist complaint about their manager, using the moniker “Karen” might help convince their employer that their complaint is valid.
However, it’s problematic to use such labels on women who have committed overtly racist or sexist acts – particularly when these terms are employed in viral videos.
For example, a woman who went viral for unjustly calling the police on a Black man in Central Park was labeled a “Karen.” She later found herself guilty of both falsely reporting someone to police and assaulting that individual.
This poses a problem, as it suggests these offenses are minor in nature. Furthermore, using derogatory terms to describe women who commit these alleged offences grants them an air of anonymity which can have detrimental effects.
Furthermore, monikers tend to be overused and can create an impression of entitlement among users – particularly when combined with terms that have negative connotations such as “Karen.”
Karen” can be a positive attribute to many, yet it has become highly contentious on social media platforms. Those named Karen have expressed their displeasure with how the name is being used, labeling it an antiquated sexist stereotype.
Meaning
Social media users are sure to have come across the iconic “Karen” meme. This iconic image shows a middle-aged blonde woman with an asymmetrical short haircut and an attitude of entitlement arguing with service industry workers and demanding to speak to the manager.
Karen has long eluded interpretation, but its recent use in satirical videos and online discourse has caused much controversy. Its association with white privilege-obsessed real-life women demanding things they shouldn’t have to is now raising serious eyebrows.
One example of this is CrinkleLuvinASMR on YouTube, featuring “Karen,” a character who gets easily annoyed over minor inconveniences like an iced skinny vanilla latte with too many ice cubes. The creator behind the series, Rachel (using her pseudonym), explained to me that with the politicization of the Karen meme she has had to make significant changes in her character.
The Karen meme serves as a timely reminder that white people are increasingly being used as mocking archetypes in other types of humor, particularly when men make fun of women. This trend is especially prevalent within the predominantly white men’s rights movement.
According to a recent study, white people are the most frequent targets of mocking humor when it comes to gender, sexuality and race. Furthermore, the research revealed that white people tend to be perceived as entitled more often than black or brown people.
Dr Lauren Rosewarne from the University of Melbourne noted that this phenomenon is particularly common among middle-aged white women, who often exhibit an unearned sense of power and entitlement over others. Dr Rosewarne warned against such “white fragility”, which could have detrimental consequences for those around you.
Dr. I.M. Nick, a nomenclature scholar and former president of the American Name Society, suggests that this trend could have its origins in something other than just “Karen.” According to him, social media’s increasing tendency for shortening and abbreviating names may be behind it;
Symbolism
The Karen meme has become a symbol of white privilege that has gained momentum in 2020. Initially, it was just meant as an insult against people who were self-absorbed and persistent when communicating with others; however, its meaning evolved as its popularity spread throughout the spring, mocking social policing around Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter protests.
Caricatures of white women with an arrogant sense of entitlement over those around them, particularly those working in service or retail industries, are often depicted as “Karens.” These women typically utilize their positions of power to harass and bully those less powerful than them.
Social scientists have suggested that Karen Memes represent an attitude worthy of shame, even if it’s only to make a humorous point. One researcher, Dr Lauren Rosewarne from the University of Melbourne, suggests Karens are often used as caricatures of white women who tend to be overbearing and self-absorbed.
She notes that Karen Memes have caused much concern among users, particularly due to their sexism and ageism as well as racism underlying them. But according to Karen, these memes have their roots in black American internet culture and attempt to find humor within the reality of white supremacy.
Karen Memes can also be used as satire by “Karenizing” other images, such as Kate Gosselin wearing a mask on her face. This type of treatment of people, animals or planets is known as’meta-memetics’.
When we asked our survey respondents if they’d ever seen their name in a Karen meme, almost 70% said that it made them laugh; only 16% felt annoyed and 6% expressed sadness – an unusually high level of negative reactions when compared with other namesake memes.
Our survey asked women if they would complain directly to a manager or someone else if they had an unpleasant experience at a store, restaurant, or gas station. While complaining directly to a manager was still the most popular option, more than half of Karens and Susans indicated they would use other methods – whether that meant speaking with a line cutter or another customer.
Etymology
Etymology is the study of words – their history and origins. Words can spread between linguistic families, or change spelling and pronunciation to make them simpler to say. Additionally, words may be adopted from distant places or foreign languages.
Words often start out as juvenile and one-dimensional, but eventually mature into adults with distinct meanings. Over time, words may move among different linguistic families or alter their spelling and pronunciation in order to be easier to say.
Word etymology is essential to its popularity and can provide us with insight into how words develop and change over time. Additionally, it’s helpful to remember that unlike animals, words never stop growing.
Words can morph and change so dramatically that they could be considered “invented” by someone. It is this process which gives words their shape and significance.
The Karen meme is an example of this trend. What started off as a humorous image has now become ubiquitous online conversations.
Middle-aged white women often encounter this derogatory phrase: “Can I speak to the manager?” This combination of words can be confusing and has been accused of being sexist.
Although its exact origins remain uncertain, some speculate that it was inspired by an internet meme from 2004’s Mean Girls movie. Many have linked its name to a line from that film: “Oh my God, Karen — you can’t ask someone why they’re white.”
Roly Sussex, an emeritus professor of applied language studies at the University of Queensland, believes that using “Karen” is both sexist and ageist. Additionally, it has become associated with actions perceived as racist such as unjustly calling the police on Black people.
This type of behavior is often motivated by privilege, so it’s essential to comprehend how these words can be used to stigmatize marginalized groups. Furthermore, the Karen slur is a weaponized version of class prejudice that allows white middle-class women to treat people of color and service workers like they own them.
