White women whose racist tirades are captured on camera and spread like wildfire, often as videos, have been dubbed “Karens.”
Karens can range from those who harass black neighbors to those who refuse to follow social-distancing rules or wear face masks.
They may struggle with anger issues or mental health problems, but their racially charged tirades can still erode the bonds between family and friends.
Damages to Relationships and Families
If you’ve encountered Karen or Ken being racist on social media, you know the damaging effect their words and actions can have. Not only does this often cause a backlash and widespread condemnation, but it may also serve to fuel professional and financial repercussions.
In many cases, these rants are captured on video and go viral, giving the public an inside look into someone’s behavior that cannot be observed in everyday life. This form of accountability helps victims understand why they have behaved the way they have, potentially motivating them to change it.
Last year, a woman in New York who falsely accused an African American man of trying to strangle her dog was arrested and her job was terminated; another woman called 911 on a bird watcher in Central Park to report what she perceived as an attempt on her life and was promptly arrested with both dogs taken away.
Lillian Glass, a communications and body-language expert based in Los Angeles, believes these videos provide insight into the frustrations many Karens and Kens experience. She suggests that anger towards social distancing rules or people of color could be due to stress caused by other problems like furloughs, layoffs, or the coronavirus pandemic.
Relationship and family damage is a pressing concern, and activists are actively engaging on this topic. Deconstructing Karen, based on the book of the same name, tells a compelling tale of white women who are confronted by people of color about their racism and ultimately learn to stand up against it.
No matter your race or ethnicity, being the target of a racist rant can be an uncomfortable experience, particularly when it’s recorded and spreads online. According to educator Toni Clemons, such incidents serve as reminders of America’s deep divisions and serve as wake-up calls for those who haven’t yet advocated for people of color’s rights.
Video footage showing a Plano, Texas woman using anti-Asian rhetoric against Asian Americans has gone viral and led to the arrest of one suspect in connection with an ongoing hate crime investigation. Sabori Saha and her friends were targeted by an angry woman wearing a t-shirt reading “Asian Haters,” who then threatened them all with knives before shouting “You are Filipino idiots!” A witness recorded the encounter which has since been released as evidence in court documents.
Damages to Self-Esteem
The flood of viral videos and incidents featuring racist Karens is not only causing significant emotional harm to relationships and families, but it has also taken a toll on their self-worth.
Racist Karens can be seen as aggressive and sexist when their words are recorded on camera. This is especially true when they’re filmed arguing with someone on public transportation. These feelings may have caused them anxiety, anger or frustration and they may feel as though their communities have turned against them due to these behaviors.
Racially charged incidents have been documented and shared on social media, often by meme accounts like Karens Going Wild that broadcast these incidents to their millions of followers.
Though these racist rants are not unheard-of, it seems they’re becoming increasingly frequent. In some cases, these incidents have even sparked a police investigation.
In Livermore, California, for instance, a farmers’ market organizer resigned after her video went viral showing her telling a vendor not to hand out LGBTQ+ Pride flags at the market. Meanwhile in southern California, Lena Hernandez is facing investigation after her racist rants were captured on camera and circulated online.
Research has demonstrated that people’s racial identity can affect their feelings of self-esteem and psychological well-being. When individuals identify more with their racial group and evaluate it positively, they tend to have higher self-esteem levels, greater mastery over life events, and lower levels of depression. Conversely, when they do not identify or evaluate their racial group negatively, there are lower self-esteem scores as well as increased levels of sadness.
In the wake of COVID-19, many have labeled white women who were policing their neighbors “Karen.” From Barbecue Becky to Golfcart Gail, Permit Patty to Talkback Tammy – these women aim to cause everyone around them discomfort for no apparent reason.
These rants are not just irritating, they’re deeply offensive and sexist. They serve to remind us of the complex place white women occupy as victims of misogyny, gendered discrimination, possessors of privilege and perpetrators of racism.
Damages to Self-Worth
Have you ever witnessed a racist Karen being caught on camera, or heard about one going viral? You likely understand the damaging impact that such incidents can have on someone’s sense of self-worth. These incidents are typically classified as microaggressions and can stem from various issues like mental health issues or substance abuse problems.
Some people argue that these incidents stem from a toxic myth of female hysteria that still pervades society. Others suggest these are simply white women feeling out of their element or being pressured to live up to expectations they may not have set for themselves.
These videos can be heartbreaking and upsetting, yet they also reveal an intriguing side of race relations that often go unsaid. Furthermore, they serve as a way for the media to address racism without directly confronting it.
Recent events in Plano, Texas involve three Asian-American women eating dinner with friends at a restaurant when they were targeted by a woman who called them racist names. The incident was captured on video and is being investigated by police.
In some cases, racist Karens can get away with their rants without consequences for their actions. On the other hand, they could be charged with a crime and could potentially face jail time depending on the particulars of the case.
Terence Fitzgerald, who lives with his wife and two sons in a small rural community outside Dallas, believes these racist incidents are more frequent than he expected. He believes these Karen-esque acts are indicative of the persistent racial tensions in America today.
His sons struggle with these issues on a daily basis, and he’s often surprised at the number of white women involved in such incidents. It appears these women struggle with their own issues and are afraid to raise them for fear of what others might think or say about them.
Damages to Self-Confidence
People build self-confidence through various sources, such as education, skill development and positive feedback. When people lack self-assurance they may experience feelings of apprehension or fear; on the other hand, when they feel secure they feel energized and equipped to tackle challenges with assurance.
One of the most detrimental effects of racist Karens being caught on camera and going viral is their destructive effect on self-confidence. While confidence can be learned, it can also be damaged by negative criticism or neglect of one’s strengths.
Self-confidence is a critical element of emotional and physical well-being, helping people navigate life’s obstacles with success and avoid unhealthy behaviors such as addiction or depression. Unfortunately, its significance may often go overlooked or underappreciated by some individuals.
Confidence is a vital element of social interaction and personal success. When developed, it leads to greater assurance in others and greater personal achievement.
When not addressed, low self-esteem, poor performance and feelings of unworthiness may result. Furthermore, this lack of support in relationships and family life has a detrimental effect.
For instance, a woman may experience an offensive encounter with Karen and be left feeling depressed and worried about her personal future. She may not know what to do or how to resolve her anger and frustration.
Irrational, destructive behavior can lead to a loss of self-esteem and even suicidal thoughts. It also breeds feelings of inadequacy and shame that interfere with daily life, ultimately leading to the abandonment of goals and aspirations.
Parents play an essential role in helping their child build self-assurance. If they criticize without acknowledging their strengths, the child may lack self-belief and experience negative emotions toward their parents.
Some women have been attacked by racist Karens and Kens, with some even facing violent threats. When these kinds of events take place, those affected tend to develop feelings of fear and dread which may lead to other issues like substance abuse, mental health problems, and depression.
