“Karen” is an insulting term often used to denigrate middle-class white women who display behaviors seen as indicative of privilege. It has gained increasing acceptance on social media in recent years.
This umbrella term has come to symbolize a certain group of women: those who demand to speak with managers, harass service industry workers, are anti-vaccination or commit racist microaggressions. It has even been used to condemn women like Amy Cooper for calling the police on an unarmed Black man in Central Park.
1. Self-Entitled White Woman
Karen Managers are entitled white women who don’t prioritize customer service and become easily irritated. They’re frequently found in restaurants, demanding to speak to a manager even for minor issues like getting the wrong salad dressing or being rude to the hostess when seated at an inappropriate table.
Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at Know Your Meme, believes the Karen character originated from an internet joke about getting cut off at the barber shop that asked to speak to the manager. It became a popular online meme that spread rapidly during 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing protests for racial justice issues.
The phrase has become a derogatory label used for any white woman who engages in racist or selfish activity in public. It’s also been used to shame those who advocate for the reopening of casinos in Las Vegas or make police complaints against black people for minor violations like calling the cops on a birdwatcher in Central Park.
Although many ‘Karens’ do not intend to physically harm black or brown people, they still use their privilege to abuse power in harmful ways. For instance, Karens may falsely report that a black person is threatening them or their dog which could lead to arrest of the victim; or call the police on Black people for ‘non-emergencies’ which is more dangerous than making a complaint to law enforcement.
Schimkowitz warns against labelling white women ‘Karens’ and the racism that lies beneath their actions. The Karen has been linked to numerous acts of racial terrorism and deaths of Black people throughout history, including slavery; therefore, some ‘Karens’ may be using their privileged position to commit atrocious acts against black or brown people within their own countries.
However, Karen slang continues to gain popularity and it’s increasingly common for women to use their “Karen” names to discuss social issues in real life. For instance, Philadelphia community organiser Gwen Snyder recently tweeted that she’s seen the “Karen” name being co-opted by “white boys”, leading her to worry that it is being used as a degrading term against women.
2. Angry Shopper
Karen Managers are angry customers who complain loudly and throw tantrums when not getting what they want or being treated with respect. These self-entitled, whiny complaining first world problem women live off of demanding to see their manager, often seen screaming at employees or store owners online.
They’re often seen at supermarkets like Sainsbury’s in the UK. Generally wearing brightly-colored t-shirts with a large logo on the front that indicates their brand name.
Their gazes are fixed on the cashier, who they complain about not treating them right, being placed at the front of the line, or not having ever been served better before.
CSU Fullerton professor of marketing Sean Dorsey believes this trend has created a “shopper fury” industry, in which some customers take offense at local stores and write false reviews on social media platforms. As a result, some local stores are facing increasing customer backlash online.
His research has demonstrated that shoppers who feel angry about their experience at a store or restaurant tend to be more satisfied with their purchases than those who feel sad, fearful or neutral about what they bought. Anger also tends to focus on goals and make goal-oriented choices.
One study found that shoppers who felt angry were more likely to take steps to enhance their shopping experience than those feeling neutral.
One group of women looking for a massage at the local spa were uncertain whether or not they’d be allowed in. After being assured they’d be taken to their private area for their treatment, they eagerly accepted.
3. Anti-Vaccination
Vaccinations have been heralded as one of the great advances in modern medicine, yet some people opt out due to mistrust of science or fear about side effects. They may also feel guilty about government overreach.
The Anti-Vaccination Movement is a collective group of people who oppose vaccinations for various reasons. They may be motivated by religion, politics or personal experience; additionally they may worry about side effects from certain vaccines or wish to avoid toxins present in some vaccines.
Though there have been numerous efforts to curb opposition, it still plays a significant role in public health. It can be used to spread harmful false information and put individuals at risk.
In 1998, British doctor Andrew Wakefield published a paper alleging there to be an association between autism and the MMR vaccine. This research, its media coverage and online chatter ignited the modern anti-vaccine movement.
Other factors contributing to opposition include mistrust of science and distrust of pharmaceutical companies that manufacture vaccines. Many people hold that scientists and doctors simply want to sell them drugs regardless of any adverse reactions they may cause.
According to Nigel Durbach, professor of social and behavioral sciences at the University of Utah, mistrust can lead to vaccine hesitancy or resistance. “They believe that the government doesn’t have a right to tell them how to be healthy,” he explained.
Some people opt for natural remedies that do not include vaccines. This includes those who practice naturopathic and alternative medicine.
They believe the government is trying to take over their bodies and lives by forcing them to obtain various medications.
These individuals tend to be more religious than others, which makes them more likely to oppose vaccines based on their beliefs. For instance, they may feel that vaccines are taking away their faith and putting them in jeopardy.
Anti-vaccine activists have the advantage of access to money, influence and wider audiences than they would otherwise have. They use their power for good on local, state and national levels while building momentum towards their cause.
4. Racist
Karen Manager” is a middle-aged white woman who displays extreme entitlement and expects others to do things for her – often at the expense of others. She is also notorious for being an irrational sexist and racist who calls the police on black people or throws tantrums in restaurants.
Recent years, this term has gained recognition and is used to refer to a type of problematic white woman. She often opposes vaccination and engages in racist microaggressions such as asking to touch black people’s hair.
Karens have often been accused of harassing people of color in public, calling the police on them or stating that they will run over someone without cause. This behavior is especially prevalent in America where racism is an endemic issue.
Some believe Karen Managers have become so prominent on social media that they are causing major problems for society. People have been unable to exercise in their local parks, install patios or even go out for birthday dinner due to the constant harassment Karen Managers are causing.
Some people believe these incidents are simply the outcome of the current US climate, and are mostly caused by a lack of awareness among middle-class white women. They believe most women who identify themselves as “Karen” don’t actually possess that much power but simply misappropriate it.
Keep in mind that Karen is an extremely popular baby name in the US. It reached its peak around 1965, so the actual population of women with this name may be much greater than what appears online as Karens.
Karens have become a staple on the internet, with videos of some real-life incidents making headlines. Notable examples include a Central Park Karen calling the police on a black birder and a San Francisco Karen stenciling “Black Lives Matter” onto her neighbor’s property.
