Karens are individuals who manifest entitled and demanding behavior. While entitlement can manifest itself across various backgrounds and age groups, Karens tend to be older white women.
“Pushy behaviors,” such as seeking to speak to managers and calling police on those they disagreed with, quickly become associated with this term, leading to its widespread usage and creating a meme that remains influential today.
1. Privilege and Social Status
We all know someone like Karen: that person who believes everyone owes them something. Whether she coughs on you in the coffee shop or calls the police on you for stenciling “Black Lives Matter” in your driveway, her behavior can be so offensive she warrants a meme. In recent years, this term “Karen” has become common on social media to refer to white women who act entitled in public spaces like Facebook or news websites; now you can’t log onto either platform without seeing another instance of her bad behavior!
Karens can be identified by their inflated sense of entitlement, from blonde bombshells with overpriced designer labels to white girls at the mall with perfect spray tans – they’re easily recognized by their demands to speak to management if they don’t receive service or attention that meets their standards; these Karens use false victimhood as a shield by complaining of wrongdoing by others or even accusing their victims for having caused damage themselves.
In today’s coronavirus world, the Karen meme has taken on new significance due to viral videos showing white privilege. By showing that Karen-style behavior can be both offensive and discriminatory against minorities. Covid-19 has exasperated existing class divisions by giving middle-class whites leverage over those without these advantages, reinforcing existing inequities by showing how wealthier whites use resources as forms of power over those without such advantages.
Unfortunately, many of us have come to associate Karen with certain kinds of people; this is not who we are! Instead, we should strive to be as civil and respectful to strangers as we are with those close to us – however many individuals, including those without this name Karen themselves, end up acting like Karens from time to time.
2. Lack of Empathy and Self-Awareness
Karens tend to come from privileged backgrounds and hold positions of power within society, leading them to expect preferential treatment when this isn’t forthcoming. When this doesn’t occur, Karens may take to acting out or believing their own erroneous assumptions about people of color that could even justify calling the police on those not directly threatening them.
This sense of entitlement and increased focus on self may also result from a lack of empathy or self-awareness, leading Karens to disregard experiences and perspectives of others. If she has been successful in getting special treatment or resolving an issue by being assertive and demanding, Karen may become more confident with herself than other perspectives, decreasing openness towards other viewpoints.
While these traits may affect any gender, race or age group, “Karen” has come to represent white women who engage in selfish or racist behaviors. Over recent months it’s become almost impossible to visit social media or the news without coming across yet another example of an overly aggressive or racist Karen going viral for their overly aggressive or racist behaviors – from shouting down Trader Joe’s workers or blocking parking lots, Karens can be found everywhere!
Instagram page @Karensgoingwilds released a recent compilation showcasing some of the most outrageous examples of Karen-like behavior, from demanding that she speak to management over poor service to refusing a flu shot and then accusing police of discrimination and screaming at Black families for walking in front of her car.
This viral meme has ignited conversations about what it means to be a Karen, and why these women feel entitled and angry. Whatever their origin may be, their behavior should be condemned for what it represents: white privilege and racism.
3. Self-Esteem
An inflated sense of entitlement often results in an elevated sense of self-importance and arrogance, where individuals tend to see other’s opinions or actions as inferior or less worthy of their consideration, leading them to believe they have every right to have their way regardless of the repercussions for those around them. Furthermore, those with such attitudes often exhibit defensiveness which shows their unwillingness to consider alternative viewpoints.
Entitled Karens often lack empathy and self-awareness, perhaps as a result of low or negative self-esteem. Karens may find it hard to recognize how their actions impact others, which may cause them to behave rudely and aggressively – such as insisting on speaking to a manager without taking into account how this could affect employees or customers at a store. Confirmation bias also plays a part: seeking information which validates existing beliefs; for instance, someone who believes vaccinations are harmful may only consume content from anti-vaccine sources which further entrench convictions.
Karens may exhibit anxiety over losing control, which may prompt them to be pushy and demanding in order to maintain a sense of dominance. For instance, Karen might demand speaking with a manager when told she cannot reserve parking space at a restaurant.
Though Karen is often associated with women, there are also men who exhibit these behaviors. The meme originated from a comedy sketch by Dane Cook in 2005 and quickly spread online following incidents like Central Park incident and Covid-19 hysteria where entitlement-related situations surfaced.
Use of this term can be controversial as it stigmatizes women who act rudely or possess an entitlement complex. Furthermore, its usage reinforces sexist assumptions that some women are more “Karen-like” than others – something which is unfair and defamatory towards all women. Furthermore, grouping all Karens together and suggesting they are all racist should also be avoided for best results. Therefore it is crucial that careful consideration be given before using this term.
4. Anxiety
Recently, YouTube videos showing white women throwing temper tantrums over perceived unfair treatment has proliferated online. Dubbed Karens by many commentators, these women all seem to share similar feelings of anxiety that leads them to act out publicly and exhibit such behavior.
Entitled individuals often lack empathy and self-awareness, leading them to believe they deserve special treatment due to their status or social standing, or that they deserve preferential treatment over those without as much power and privilege in society. Furthermore, these people frequently fail to consider how their actions and behavior impact others, often responding aggressively or violently when experiencing perceived injustices.
The Karen trend has been deeply concerning as it has been supported by both men and whites alike. Advocates and commentators alike have denounced it for its misogyny, characterizing it as woman hating and classism based. Recently, writer Julie Bindel likened it to how white boys used “Sharon” and “Tracy” from Birds of a Feather to denigrate working-class women on television sitcom.
As this meme has gained momentum, its use has inspired an entire industry of books, workshops and consulting services aimed at helping individuals address entitlement issues – which demonstrates just how widespread the issue truly is in our culture.
Importantly, entitlement can affect any gender, race or age group; and its causes vary widely; but in the context of Karens specifically.
At first glance, the answer seems straightforward–Karen refers to any white woman who feels immune from criticism or being held to higher standards than other individuals. But there can be numerous causes behind Karen-ism; her name simply serves as a proxy.
