Karen refers to a specific breed of interfering, hectoring white women who frequently call the police or request meetings with managers to address petty transgressions and often dismiss their anger as necessary component of patriarchal/postfeminist resilience.
1. Identifying the Karen
As anyone who’s spent much time online knows, it can be impossible not to come across an angry, dramatic and obnoxious Karen online. These women use their power as white women to assert control over everything in the world around them; using weapons even in defense of “being right.”
Karen quickly gained attention this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. White women were targeted as targets of ridicule for engaging in actions seen as selfish or racist during this crisis; others mocked them for failing to follow public health advice such as social distancing or wearing masks in public spaces – something many public health experts advised against doing for optimal health during an outbreak.
Both Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary define Karen as a white woman who exploits her privilege to get what she wants. Both source cite speaking directly to managers as one of her defining features.
Not all Karens are racists; however, many are. These white women often act in racist ways by coughing on people at bagel shops or calling the police on Black birdwatchers in Central Park; or by demanding to see the airport manager because their plane has been delayed.
These acts can be seen as being both offensive and insensitive, and demonstrate an insufficient grasp of how the pandemic affects people of color. Furthermore, such behaviors convey a distorted sense of entitlement among white individuals, who assume they will be free to travel, buy food and other essentials without restrictions or barriers being placed before them.
Not everyone who calls themselves Karen is racist; most are at least offensive and entitled. Not necessarily mental illness-driven, their irrationality could point toward an issue requiring treatment.
Angry Karen is but one of many victims of systemic oppression; and her reactions may only further illustrate this issue. We must address it before expecting our country to become safe for all its citizens.
2. Resolving the Conflict
Karens feel powerless to deal with life, leading them to exhibit anger due to a sense of inability. Their anger stems from men abusing them emotionally or physically and should always be remembered when trying to manage an angry Karen. Understanding conflict resolution techniques will assist with managing an Angry Karen and may help in resolving or preventing future conflict situations from arising.
The Karen meme has gained widespread attention at precisely the right moment when public health and racial social justice crises are creating change and uncertainty. Her figure crystallizes a constellation of white supremacy and class privilege that demands recognition.
Even though Karen has been adopted by those combatting misogyny online, it remains an insulting term used to denigrate women of color and working-class people. Philadelphia community organiser Gwen Snyder recently tweeted that white boys had co-opted the term as code for “bitch”. British feminist commentator Julie Bindel noted its use similar to how “Sharon” and “Tracy” were often targeted against young working-class women during 1980s Britain.
Removing Karen from your life may seem impossible, but it is possible. One effective strategy for doing so is separating the person from the problem – viewing someone as “Karen” can make it easy to blame them for feelings of frustration or powerlessness that you experience; viewing them instead as individuals who each face their own unique circumstances may prove more productive.
To successfully resolve a conflict with Karen, it’s crucial that all arguments are heard fairly and taken seriously. Compromise solutions should also be sought as hastily reached solutions can often result in further anger and frustration for everyone involved.
3. Dealing with the Angry Karen
If you work in the service industry, chances are you have come across someone like Karen at some point or another. A Karen is someone who acts rudely and arrogantly while making outrageous requests or being difficult. While these types of customers can be difficult to deal with, there are ways you can reduce their impact on your business.
One of the key steps you should take when dealing with Karens is staying calm. Doing this will prevent yourself from becoming drawn into their spiral of anger and is also beneficial if trying to end an encounter quickly as Karens often drag out confrontations so they can wear you down until they eventually give up and lose interest in engaging you further. If you can manage this effectively, she may eventually tire herself out and move on without you.
When dealing with Karen, it is crucial that a clear policy be in place. This will enable you to avoid giving in to her demands and protect your business from future issues. A great policy should outline expectations on both parties as well as possible consequences should these expectations not be fulfilled.
Establish a customer referral program. This will enable you to build trust with new customers while deterring Karen from ruining your business through negative reviews on Google Business. With PocketSuite’s smart campaigns feature, you can send all of your satisfied clients text messages asking them to leave positive reviews – helping establish an exceptional reputation while discouraging Karen from making waves online.
Karens can be difficult to manage in business environments; their unique temperament requires extra consideration when communicating with them. To stay calm and manage them effectively, speak your peace and let them know what expectations there are from them. If unreasonable behavior persists, call it as you see it: if necessary ask them to leave your establishment immediately – this may prove challenging but protecting your business from their fiery fury may be worth the trouble.
4. Getting Help
Social media users cannot escape the rise in videos depicting an angry, self-entitled white woman named Karen, who publicly displays her anger in public places and stirs controversy over racial insensitivity. Such actions have attracted widespread scrutiny and condemnation – raising alarm about potential racism on our streets today.
Karens are women who feel oppressed for various reasons relating to race or their experience as women, such as being unable to see other perspectives than their own and lashing out in frustration. These Karens can often be found at malls, restaurants, work and in everyday life situations.
Experts cite several characteristics that contribute to being a Karen: an individualistic tendancy and dislike for being told what to do are two primary culprits, leading them to explode and cause public meltdowns.
Central Park Karen is just the latest example of this phenomenon. Her viral video captures her having an argument with a black man over his request that she leash her dog where it is necessary. When confronted by this request, Karen called 911 citing she felt threatened by him – calling the police to report an act of intimidation against herself by him and reporting her allegations as being against the law.
Yahoo Life consulted experts to understand what appears to be driving Karen’s tantrums and their deep feelings beneath the surface. Their responses were both informative, disturbing, and yet hopeful all at the same time.
Change can be hard, but it is possible. “The best thing is to reach out and talk with [Karens], says Dani Weller, customer service team leader for Bionic. Weller suggests keeping a calm voice while emphasizing facts while showing an interest in hearing their side of things.
Stovall believes that these Karens are suffering internally. They feel as if they’ve been mistreated throughout their lives, carrying around unprocessed pain with them that needs to be dealt with; some might need the services of a therapist to address such concerns.
