Common Slang Terms Related to Entitled Karens
A derogatory term used as slang for white women who are seen as entitled or demanding beyond what is normal. This concept is often illustrated through memes depicting white women using their privilege to demand their own way.
In 2020, the term “viral outbreak” saw a meteoric rise in use online – particularly alongside coronavirus outbreak and racial justice demonstrations. Now it serves as an iconic way for calling out selfish entitlement, racism and inequality with clarity.
Karen
Karen is often used as a derogatory term to refer to a white woman perceived as entitled or demanding beyond what is expected. On social media platforms, these women have been called out for calling police on small children, harassing neighbors and even brandishing guns at protesters in public.
Karen has become a widely used phrase in recent years, though its exact origins remain uncertain. Experts speculate that it could have originated with either Dane Cook’s 2005 quote that was turned into an internet meme or from shows such as Mean Girls and Goodfellas.
Another hypothesis is that Karen originated due to socially constructed stereotypes of middle-aged white women in the US. According to Social Security data, its peak popularity occurred during the 1960s.
In the United States, a coronavirus pandemic has broken out. Some people are refusing to wear face coverings in stores and restaurants as a way of protecting themselves. They’ve also spread anti-vaccine misinformation on social media and berated service staff for not donning masks.
It is an intricate issue, closely tied to racism.
What causes these women to experience such extreme emotions? Yahoo Life sought advice from some experts about the potential causes of these emotional breakdowns.
The response was insightful, disturbing and yet ultimately encouraging. They noted that these women’s anger and frustration is deeply rooted in a long history of racism and misogyny.
They claim the slang has gained acceptance since Black Twitter exploded in the 2010s, providing Black people a way to make sense of the racist behavior around them. Furthermore, Andre Brock, associate professor at Georgia Tech, explained that using this slang can give people solidarity, call out discrimination and even laugh at it if one chooses.
Ken
Ken is an insulting term used as slang for a white woman seen as entitled or demanding beyond what is normal. It typically depicts middle-aged, white women with blonde bob haircuts who complain to retail or restaurant managers about anything and everything.
Karens often feature in videos of aggressive, petty behavior such as blocking people from an open car space so their friend can park there or screaming at retail workers about refund policies. Her actions represent an extreme strain in US exceptionalism where power is not earned but asserted.
Slurs against names have been around for centuries, but their use as insults is becoming more commonplace lately due to the increasing use of social media as a platform for self-expression – with names being one of the most effective ways to do so.
Slang terms are a frequent way for people to make jokes and share stories on social media, and names can often be used as an attempt at creating an identity for oneself without disclosing true feelings. “Karen” is one recent example, but other names have been used as metaphors or insults on these platforms as well.
Slang terms that target an undeserved group of people should be avoided at all costs. That’s why it’s essential to know when using terms like “Karen” or other offensive slang phrases.
Slang terms can be an effective tool to express an opinion, and if used sensibly, can be a fun way to connect online with people. However, it’s essential that these slang terms never be perceived as racist; rather they should only be employed to call attention to specific behaviors.
Permit Patty
People have begun labeling white women who exercise their privilege in an unreasonable and aggressive way as “Permit Patty”, after she was caught on video threatening to call the police on an 8-year-old selling water outside her home.
On Tuesday, TreatWell Health CEO Alison Ettel (dubbed Permit Patty) resigned her position as owner of a California medical marijuana company. On the day that they brought on a crisis manager and declared her departure effective immediately, Ettel took her own life.
On Saturday morning, Erin Austin, Jordan’s mother, posted video of Ettel selling water without a permit on Instagram with the caption: “My little cousin wasn’t selling water and didn’t have a permit so this lady decided to call the cops on an 8 year old.” Within hours, Twitter gave the woman in the video the hashtag #PermitPatty.
Though Ettel later denied making the call, a recently released 911 call reveals she did so. On this call, Ettel pretended to call police on an eight-year-old black girl who was selling water illegally outside her house.
17 seconds later, Ettel’s call to an emergency operator came to a sudden end when they asked her for someone and then transferred it to police department. It remains unclear whether Ettel hung up or if the dispatcher accidentally disconnected her connection.
The viral incident is yet another example of middle-class white women behaving with privilege, such as demanding to “speak to the manager” over minor inconveniences, believing in disproved theories about coronavirus outbreaks, and engaging in racist micro-aggressions. These actions are seen as detrimental to others’ health and causing social unrest.
BBQ Becky
“BBQ Becky” is a derogatory term used to denote a white woman seen as entitled or demanding beyond what is normal. Typically, this type of individual is depicted as racist who utilizes her white privilege to oppress those less fortunate.
In April 2018, a video of a white woman calling police on two black men barbecuing at Lake Merrittt went viral. It spawned numerous internet memes and led to the arrest of Jennifer Schulte (nicknamed “BBQ Becky”), later identified as Jennifer.
Authorities have released 911 calls from an incident four months ago that ignited a national controversy: the woman known as “BBQ Becky,” who called police on two black men using charcoal grills in an Oakland park. On both calls, a dispatcher asked the woman to identify herself; however, she declined.
These calls also reveal her aggressive nature toward men barbecuing at the lake. They claimed she owned the park and threatened them with legal action if they continued grilling.
Last year, “Cornerstore Caroline” made headlines when a woman claimed that a nine-year-old black boy swiped her book bag at a Brooklyn playground. Unfortunately, this case turned out to be a hoax.
In 2020, this trend has seen a meteoric rise in popularity due to an uptick in racial protest movements and increasing emphasis on COVID-19 health guidelines. As such, we are seeing an exponential spike in social media posts and videos featuring “Karens,” individuals recorded displaying racist and entitled behavior.
This trend is alarming and serves to demonstrate the systemic racism experienced by people of color in America. Sadly, it often results in these women being harassed on social media, leading to their job losses and ruining their social standing in society.
Golf Cart Gail
In the United States, a derogatory term that has become popular for white women perceived to be entitled or demanding beyond what is normal has become known as “Karen.” This term originated after an incident at Central Park birdwatching in 2020 but gained steam when social media users mocked those using their privilege to demand their way.
Karens are often depicted in memes as white women who use their privilege to control other people’s behavior, such as calling the police on a black person for no apparent reason. This has led to numerous social media threads and forums dedicated to criticizing this phenomenon, such as r/FuckYouKaren and r/EntitledKarens.
One recent example came from Ponte Vedra, Florida where a soccer field marshal was immortalized online as “Golf Cart Gail.” She was captured on video calling police to an event while driving her golf cart around. Apparently she also called police on a black father for allegedly shouting at his son to obey a referee’s call during a teen soccer match.
Ultimately, the marshal’s call went unanswered and the man was not arrested or charged. However, he broke down in tears upon hearing of their indiscretions, according to First Coast News.
Other variations of this infamous slur have been directed against those who spread coronavirus disinformation and conspiracy theories on social media, disproportionately impacting people of color. Furthermore, it has been used to decry the lack of protection from the virus for those who do not wear face coverings when out in public.
