Karen” is an internet meme that depicts white middle-aged women who believe they have the right to do whatever they please. But the term has gained increasing controversy recently, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
Recently, there have been viral videos labeling women “Karens” who behave inappropriately in public. These videos sparked an intense dialogue about white womanhood, entitlement and accountability.
1. The Super Karen
Super Karen is a woman endowed with extraordinary powers. Her telepathic abilities allow her to hear others’ thoughts, making her an incredibly powerful superhero who can use her intellect to solve crimes and combat evil forces.
Karen may not be the most beloved character in Marvel Universe, but she certainly holds a special place among fans. Additionally, Karen has acted in several films such as Wonder Woman (2017) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
Karen’s outgoing personality often leads to extreme reactions, so it’s no shock that her name has acquired a negative connotation over time. According to Robin Abcarian from The Los Angeles Times, Karen has become associated with sexism and ageism.
Thankfully, the internet has helped combat this stigma. Its collective mind has created memes, jokes and satires about Karen – some of which are truly funny!
Karen has quickly gained notoriety online: She’s a woman who feels like she doesn’t have a voice and never hesitates to stand up for herself – especially when confronting racism. It is easy to see why Karen has become so popular online: She stands up against injustice with gusto.
But it’s not just her racist views that make her so problematic; she also exhibits a dangerous sense of entitlement, as well as having an extensive record of public intoxication and drunk driving arrests.
Karen is adept at asserting her power, and her frustration often stems from an inability to meet her own expectations. This leads her to act out of frustration in an unreasonable manner, leading to unnecessary harm done.
2. The Black Karen
The term “Karen” has become a controversial issue within the Black community, often used to refer to white women who harass Black people. These individuals are frequently accused of making racially-motivated calls to police or using offensive slurs.
Many Karens feel resentment not only towards President Trump, but also due to the economic hardships that have befallen working-class Americans since his election. With furloughs and layoffs coupled with an intensifying social movement against racism, many people are under immense strain.
Karen and Ken videos that have gone viral online showcase this tension. The videos often display resentment towards what they perceive as entitled behavior by white people. Some claim the videos trivialize the anger felt by a group of working-class Americans which helped propel Trump to presidency.
Others, however, argue that the Karen moniker has been an effective response to the current political climate. It allows white women to be publicly condemned for their racially-motivated actions without risking personal harm.
One such instance is the story of Karen Hernandez, a white woman who called police on three Black men for allegedly stenciling “Black Lives Matter” in chalk outside their homes. This incident prompted San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim to introduce the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act – a bill which would make it illegal for anyone to falsely report a crime in order to avoid arrest.
Karen, or the concept of a racist white woman making life miserable for people of color, has been around for some time but only recently gained popularity on social media platforms. In Karen’s case, she’s an elderly white woman who believes she must police everyone else and will do anything necessary to uphold that rule.
3. The White Karen
Over the past few years, “Karen” has become increasingly popular to describe entitled white women who use their privilege to racially target people of color. Unfortunately, this reaction to the recent wave of Black Lives Matter protests has led many white people to finally acknowledge and work against oppressive systems they depend on and depend upon.
Karen is a middle-aged, white woman who feels disempowered in her life and uses her privilege to get what she wants or control others’ behavior. When unhappy, The Karen often calls the police on people of color – leading her to act out violently towards those of color.
Karen has become a beloved character for comedy and satire, yet it is important to remember she remains an extremely dangerous individual in real life. She often fails to realize the harm her words and actions cause, making those whom she has targeted feel like they were wronged.
Karen Alexander has caused much outrage with her confrontation of a Black man writing “Black Lives Matter” in chalk on his property and threat of calling the police on him. Although she eventually apologized to him, her behavior still leaves much to be desired.
Karen, a white woman, often experiences racism and ageism as they feel they have no control in their own life. Additionally, their sense of entitlement leads them to use their privilege for personal gain or controlling other people’s behaviors. Although this cycle is detrimental, it has been around for centuries.
4. The Female Karen
Karen, commonly referred to as The Female Karen or simply ‘Karen’, has become increasingly well-known for her public freakouts. In comics, movies and TV shows she is typically depicted as an entitled white woman who demands her own way.
She’s often seen sporting a bob cut hairstyle and demanding to “speak to the manager” when her needs aren’t being met. Despite her apparent entitlement, she may be an older woman feeling powerless in the world.
Her most remarkable characteristic is her control of telepathy, which was unleashed when the Lazarus Resins entered her world. The hero Omen helped guide her in developing these abilities but it’s early in their relationship as they still work to master each other’s unique gifts.
Power Girl has achieved great success in her current run, developing an array of unique powers. As the first Super-Family member to possess both Superman-like strength and telepathic perception, she still has much to learn about these newfound faculties.
Her power set is quite unique, setting her apart from the others in the DC Universe. Additionally, she can use her telepathic abilities to communicate with people she’s never met before, making her truly exceptional and special in this universe.
Her public outbursts are often racist, often targeting people of color. Her need to meddle in other people’s lives stems from both her own sense of helplessness and society’s view of white femininity as fragile and susceptible to misfortune. Her “speak to the manager” attitude is not only demanding and obnoxious but also exploits other people’s privileges in pursuit of her own goals.
5. The Male Karen
You may have encountered the Karen, a sexist term often used to refer to overzealous middle-aged white women. These individuals tend to yell at managers and harass police officers in public. The Karen usually sports a pixie cut with blonde streaks and is known for being highly assertive when pointing out others’ shortcomings.
Although the exact origins of the Karen remain uncertain, many believe it originated with Dane Cook’s popular comedy routine. Since then, it has become part of online culture; you can now see it tagged onto photos of overzealous women on social media platforms.
Karens are notorious for calling the cops on Black people, usually out of racism. This is particularly problematic because police should never be called for non-emergencies.
Calling the police on a Black person can land you in jail for up to one year and be punished with a fine. In some cases, this could even result in your license being suspended, so be mindful when doing so.
If you can’t get away with that kind of Karen behavior, there are other less offensive forms available. Examples include road rage and sub-Karens like Pool Patrol Paula and Dog Park Debbie; as well as some viral ones such as the couple from St. Louis who took matters into their own hands when a Black Lives Matter protester stomped through their upscale neighborhood.
Karens are often dismissed as sexist stereotypes and racist tropes that ignore the ignorance of middle-class women about race or racism. Instead of striving to understand more, they often act out by being disrespectful and overbearing towards anyone who isn’t White or Christian.
