Karens can be an ongoing headache for customer service personnel. These customers, often angry and disgruntled over perceived injustice or poor service, can become extremely demanding of service delivery personnel.
If you are dealing with Karen, there are ways to defuse the situation without calling them names. This article will offer tips to avoid being the victim of their anger and resentment.
1. Don’t Take It Personal
When encountering Karens, it’s best not to take it personally. Many people on social media have taken to using “Karen” as shorthand for middle-class white women who display behaviors thought to stem from privilege, such as demanding to speak to managers over seemingly minor errors and calling the police on black neighbors for minor violations. This term has come to be seen as dehumanizing women with privilege; many social media users refer to these women as Karens.
Recent years have seen increased use of this term “Kidz Bop Karens,” with many being called out for their actions – for instance a white woman in St. Louis threatened to call the cops on Black Lives Matter protester who stenciled her balcony; and an attack from one in California when her car jerked during their ride.
Karen can be viewed both as an offensive name and part of an ongoing dialogue about white privilege and its effects on marginalized groups. Because of this, many cisgender women named Karen — including CNN correspondent Karen Sun — are concerned by its use.
Researchers suggest it might be related to how many parents name their children with an emphasis on shortening and abbreviation; others point out social media shortenings and derogatory language as potential explanations.
Many parents who name their children choose names that reflect the notion of an independent and strong individual; this way they give them something that will empower rather than scare their offspring.
Though there is no definitive answer to your question about why to choose Karen as a name, it’s worth bearing in mind that Karen is an ancient name used for both good and evil people alike. A name such as this could help guide how you interact with those who might not always treat you well in life.
2. Don’t Let Them Enter
Avoiding Karen is your best way of handling them and can save you from sticky situations that could cost your job, reputation and life.
Los Angeles woman caught on video refusing to allow delivery guy into building while she was out has since gone viral, with some residents criticizing her behavior and others hailing it as proof of female superiority.
Another viral video depicting similar scenes has recently gone viral, captivating the attention of people from Australia to Africa. It tells the tale of a deliveryman trying to deliver Postmates order to his mother when he encounters an arrogant white woman who refuses entry despite him trying. The clip has generated intense online discussion; with many commenting that its depiction was even more misogynist than its real life equivalent.
As more of us compete for low costs, it’s refreshing to see people make the extra effort to be considerate towards others and do what’s right. Reminding ourselves to be more thoughtful toward each other is the key to doing just this.
3. Don’t Let Them Enter Without a Mask
Karen has become a social media staple, used to refer to white women seen as acting entitled. This may be someone with soccer mom responsibilities, an anti-vaxxer agenda or someone using their privilege beyond what’s expected of her.
Many so-called Karens have experienced meltdowns when asked to wear masks. Videos featuring their reactions were uploaded onto social media, leading some to call them the ‘Trader Joe’s Karen’, the ‘Costco Karen’ or even the ‘San Diego Karen’.
Some Karens can become aggressive and even violent when confronted by those wearing masks, leading to some very interesting and bizarre incidents.
Bunnings store in Australia recently attracted attention after it announced on their website a policy mandating customers wear masks upon entering. A video has gone viral of one staff member patiently explaining this policy to Karen when she arrived without wearing one – showing their staff member telling the woman she cannot enter without one.
Resurfacing in the US recently is the phenomenon of Karen who threatened to kill a fellow runner not wearing a mask, leading to widespread public debate and inflaming racism among many black individuals.
No doubt their resistance stems from both prejudice and ignorance – they may not understand why wearing a mask would help protect them against Covid-19 virus which has caused widespread illness and deaths across America.
4. Don’t Let Them Enter
Karens can be challenging to control, and you don’t want them to become an issue in your front yard. One effective strategy to deter Karens is making every effort not to approach them at any time when they appear nearby; keeping your door locked will also deter them from making a mess of your prized possessions!
Keep a keen eye on their whereabouts, and be ready to move or call the police if they make a show of themselves if necessary. No one needs someone snooping around your home while you’re not around!
As they’re rare and many of us have yet to meet one in person, let’s all keep our fingers crossed that Halloween will go smoothly and safely for you and all involved. Perhaps the above TikTok video may just be one of the sexiest ever created; let’s hope so for our own sanity’s sake.
5. Don’t Let Them Enter Without a Mask
Karens are defined as White middle-class women who use their privilege and entitlement to make unreasonable demands and complain about service they receive, often using this privilege to police others’ behavior – especially those from different backgrounds or cultures.
Since their emergence, Karens have become a hot topic of discussion over recent years. They’ve become shorthand for groups of women perceived to act entitled in public; similar to how Chads and Gammons became commonly recognized terms years prior.
Amber Lynn Gilles, of San Diego, California made headlines for refusing to wear a face covering at Starbucks and filming herself throwing a tantrum, which went on to be watched millions of times and raised over $93,000 in tips.
Karens have earned the moniker due to their insistence on demanding whatever they desire in public – regardless of reasonableness or necessity. These individuals may also be anti-vaxxers with strong opinions against vaccination.
These people can quickly become irritating if their anger management skills are poor; they might try to intrude on your personal space, scream at you or call the police on you over perceived slights.
As these people may not accurately reflect the majority, and may indicate racism or discrimination, it’s wise to try your best not to let them in your building without wearing protective gear such as masks.