As soon as someone develops an enormous sense of entitlement, it becomes challenging to keep them under control. This is especially true with people bearing names such as Karen — which has come to be used as a term of abuse to describe obnoxious white women who think everything should go their way.
Karens have earned the internet’s disapproval over recent incidents such as calling the police over mislabeled prices or becoming upset over TikTok dancers wearing bikinis – actions taken that have earned their dislike by many online users.
1. This Karen Wanted to Call the Police
If you’re familiar with reality TV star Kate Gosselin, chances are you have come across the Karen meme that mocks her. Created in 2017, the r/F—YouKaren subreddit now boasts over 600,000. Many have criticised this misogynist and racist depiction as well as its popularity.
Karens are typically depicted as middle-aged, suburban white women who constantly complain and expect that everything should go their way. These women tend to embrace what’s known as Karencore fashion & aesthetic, which typically involves bob haircuts, minivans and playlists of 2000s-era pop/rock songs on Spotify.
Though most Karened individuals don’t engage in harmful behavior, some can still pose a danger – particularly those using their privilege to target vulnerable populations such as “Kidz Bop Karen” who threatened black birders in Central Park with law enforcement intervention.
2. This Karen Wanted Free Swimming Lessons
The internet loves a good meme, and while there are an infinite number of Kyles, Beckys, Chads, and Karens to mock online, the entitled I want to speak to the manager angry middle-aged woman has become particularly prominent this year. Numerous viral outrage incidents during the coronavirus pandemic were traced back to Karens; chances are you have encountered one!
But just because someone fits the profile doesn’t mean she is bad; in fact, this study explored which countries and states you are likely to encounter Karen-like people and provided tips for dealing with them if that ever becomes necessary. Click through and be surprised at what you discover!
3. This Karen Wanted to Screw Over Her Ex
Anyone who uses social media will inevitably come across Karen or someone like her. Karen can be described as a white woman who abuses their privilege to exploit others; often with an arrogant and condescending tone.
“Karen” may have come from nowhere, but it has quickly become a viral meme to describe people who act rudely or selfishly, often white women who perpetuate racism through abusing their privilege.
At times, Karens overreact and call the police on people of color over minor disputes; one such instance was when Central Park Karen called the cops on a black man for asking her to leash her dog in Central Park – this incident was captured on film and caused quite an uproar!
4. This Karen Wanted to Block a Car Parade
Karen is no longer an easy name to be bestowed upon someone, for what began as a generic moniker for middle-aged busybodies with blonde choppy bobs who demanded to speak to management has become an emblem of entitlement, privilege and racism. Over the past several years, stories about entitled white women has turned Karen into an internet meme representing every time an entitled white woman used her privilege against someone else.
Memes of Karen are often associated with individuals engaging in low-stakes acts in public, like throwing tantrums at Starbucks or refusing to wear masks during coronavirus season. But some recent Karens, such as Cooper in Central Park, have used their privilege to exert power over others and it’s problematic that these people continue being given viral names that provide some degree of anonymity.
5. This Karen Wanted to Wear a Mask
Under the coronavirus pandemic, the name Karen has emerged as a widely used nickname for white women who abuse their privilege by maligning service workers and claiming ignorance about themselves and their own status. It originally emerged in African-American internet culture to expose racism and misogyny; today however, the term is used by middle-aged white women sporting “Speak to the Manager” haircuts as a descriptor.
An internet video showing Shelley Lewis lashing out after being asked to wear a mask at Gelson’s Market has gone viral, prompting an employee of Gelson’s Market to confront her about it and even force Lewis spit upon a worker essential worker!
Real-life Karens may not receive as much scrutiny in the media than Becky, Kyle and Chad from Hollywood films; however, that doesn’t prevent them from becoming targets of memes; some even make appearances in subreddits such as r/F—YouKaren!
6. This Karen Wanted to Call the Police
Karen often contacts the police over any perceived miscommunication between herself and management, demanding to speak to him immediately while assigning blame elsewhere. Furthermore, she often uses false victimhood as an excuse for her bad behavior.
Know Your Meme estimates that the r/F—YouKaren subreddit, established in 2017, now boasts over 600,000. However, some critics of its meme claim it is misogynistic and classist; one Philadelphia community organizer recently tweeted, “Karen is both women-hating and sexist!”
In 2020, the Karen meme gained greater traction, with white women who displayed selfish or racist actions being ridiculed online and called out as Karens – for example by refusing to wear masks at stores such as Trader Joe’s or restaurants; declining requests from neighbors for co-op supplies; or exacerbating misunderstandings as seen with this Central Park Karen video.
7. This Karen Wanted to Block a Car Parade
Karens can often demonstrate an air of entitlement. For instance, one Karen erroneously called the police on a black man in Central Park because he asked her to leash her dog. And there are even racist Karens like “Covid-19 Karen”, who brawled with Red Lobster staff.
Meme-wise, Karens are often depicted as white middle-aged women wearing an asymmetrical bob cut hairstyle and emitting an air of peevishness. People who take an unfavorable view of Karens may use her name as an insult against older adults they believe hold narrow views regarding social issues.
Though some critics may use “Karen” to disparage white women who act problematically, others view it as an effective way of calling attention to their behavior and initiating change. We’ve all known a Karen at some point or another!
8. This Karen Wanted to Wear a Mask
As anyone who spends much time online will know, Karens are an increasingly common sight on social media. The term refers to an entitled white woman who often posts negative remarks about people of color; its usage has become widespread online and has even inspired memes.
Some believe the name Karen comes from a Dane Cook bit about being the lamest girl in her group of friends, while others attribute it to Mean Girls or Goodfellas as its inspiration. Furthermore, Karen may simply be used as a play on words; its presence can sometimes serve as an ironic reference.
No matter what, the Karen meme has created an attitude of entitlement that can be detrimental to people from all ethnicities – particularly black people. If you identify as Karen yourself, stop it immediately; otherwise learn to be more considerate – we all deserve better!
9. This Karen Wanted to Call the Police
Its origins remain obscure; some speculate it could have come from middle-aged white women who demonstrate entitlement, while others see similarities with characters from Mean Girls or Dane Cook comedy routines. Either way, “Karen” has become an innocuous nickname used for individuals whose behavior warrants criticism.
One of the signature behaviors of Karens is exaggerating minor disagreements into major disputes. For example, this Karen became angry when a stranger blocked her car in a parking lot; she thought that person should be arrested.
Male versions of this behavior is known as “Kyle-ing.” Even though real people named Karen don’t necessarily view this behavior as being offensive, it can still feel personal to them; one told CNN she felt disappointed to have her name attached to such unjust actions.
10. This Karen Wanted to Screw Over Her Ex
Karen was once a popular baby name of the 1960s, and today it has evolved into an internet meme character associated with middle-aged white women who feel entitled. Because of this association, it has often been used as an insult against those engaging in selfish or racist behaviors – such as Central Park Karen who threatened a black man in the park and made up a police report; Kroger Karen who blocked a black woman’s car so she couldn’t leave their grocery store; or San Francisco Karen who called the cops on an individual for just writing “Black Lives Matter.”
While it’s okay to make fun of Karens, we should not allow them to hide behind the name. Instead, we must identify these individuals by name and expose the racism, entitlement and privilege that drives their behaviors; then maybe they’ll change.
