Urban Dictionary’s definition of Karen has evolved over time. Initially, it was a pejorative slang term for an arrogant, angry, an entitled, and often racist middle-aged white woman who used her privilege to get what she wanted or police other people’s behaviors.
Karen is often stereotyped with a blonde bob haircut, asking to speak to retail and restaurant managers to voice complaints or make demands, and being an anti-vax Generation X soccer mom. But as Black Lives Matter protests and the Covid-19 pandemic continue to intensify, what is meant by “Karen” has become much more pointed and racially charged.
Origin
Karen is a derogatory term used to describe an arrogant, entitled, and often racist middle-aged white woman who makes unreasonable demands and attempts to control others’ actions. These women typically exhibit traits such as anger management issues or possessiveness towards certain items.
This slang term has gained notoriety recently, especially during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and subsequent protests for racial justice. It gained notoriety due to videos circulating of white women engaging in behaviors commonly perceived as selfish and racist – such as complaining about Covid-19 lockdowns or enforcing policies at stores requiring people to wear masks.
According to Know Your Meme, the term Karen originated in a Dane Cook comedy routine and has now come to be associated with women who engage in these kinds of actions. It’s similar to other slang terms like Permit Patti, Golf Cart Gail, and Chad which refer to white people who take advantage of their privilege and act like they don’t deserve certain things.
Many have argued that these women deserve to be called out on their abusive behavior, yet calling them Karens isn’t the correct approach. Indeed, some argue that using the name Karen is offensive as it’s only applied to white women and it carries with it an inherent misogynistic connotation.
Karen, as defined by The Urban Dictionary, is a middle-aged white woman who displays her privilege and entitlement by making unreasonable demands or trying to control other people’s actions. This individual usually sports a short haircut and frequently complains about minor inconveniences or perceived slights.
Karen is also the name of a prominent member of the anti-vaccine movement from the 1970s. Furthermore, Karen has become a common nickname for white women who struggle to let go of their privilege and find excuses to complain about everything.
Karen is not only a derogatory term, but it has long been associated with racism and class prejudice. While many white women do not identify as Karens, they remain part of the movement because they believe their race makes them particularly vulnerable to discrimination.
Symbolism
Names can convey a range of meanings depending on how they are used. First names provide us with important information about someone, such as their gender, age, ethnicity, religion, and social class.
One example is the word “Karen,” a derogatory term that deigns middle-aged white women with privilege. Karens tend to be angry and entitled individuals who use their power for personal gain or control over others; according to Urban Dictionary, Karens also engage in bullying and racism.
Recently, the word has become a widely shared social media meme. What began as an innocent joke has since evolved into an emblem of white supremacy.
The term is often applied to white people who abuse their privilege to make demands on others or exaggerate a situation. Examples include asking to speak directly to retail and restaurant managers when they don’t like something, calling the police on black people for minor offenses, or demanding that ketchup be delivered directly to a table.
Although it’s not unheard of for people to ask to speak to a manager when they don’t like something, there have been several instances where this has been taken as offensive. For example, one woman reportedly requested speak to the waiter when she wasn’t satisfied with how much ketchup was served to her.
In some cases, businesses have taken these requests seriously. Restaurants and coffee shops in particular tend to take these requests seriously when customers demand access to speak with the manager about their complaint or make demands about prices.
No matter how these requests are handled, Apryl Williams – an assistant professor at the University of Michigan and fellow at Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard – emphasizes how essential it is to respect others’ rights. This sentiment is especially pertinent in a world where white people hold disproportionate power.
When a movement narrows its focus to just a few demands, power tends to be concentrated in the hands of a minority and marginalized individuals are left out in the cold. This is especially true in countries like America where there are many wealthy and powerful people who can easily make demands and then police their own actions.
Memes
Karen, which was coined from comedian Dane Cook’s 2005 comedy special, has become a pejorative term to describe those with privilege who exhibit behaviors such as demanding to speak to the manager, wearing blonde bob haircuts or being racist.
These negative stereotypes have become popularized through various means, including a subreddit dedicated to “Karen” memes. While some view this as an insulting term, others use it as an opportunity to emphasize the pervasive impact of white privilege in society.
Recent examples include the “Wall of Moms” movement, which some activists view as a protest against systemic racism and classism that Karens are often associated with.
In the case of the Wall of Moms, many women are speaking up to advocate for those who feel left out. Although this movement has been around for some time, its popularity has recently seen a surge.
The Karen meme has also been utilized in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, which disproportionately affects black Americans. This has sparked accusations of “COVID Karens,” individuals who are refusing to wear face masks in order to protect themselves and others or spreading harmful misinformation online about the disease.
Memes featuring Karen often feature images of someone sporting a blonde bob haircut. This hairstyle is usually chosen by women perceived to be privileged or entitled, and can be paired with eye-catching colors like platinum blonde to draw attention.
Kate Gosselin, a reality TV star known as one of the ‘original Karens’ due to her iconic bob haircut, has become the face of this trend and the source of many classic Karen memes that poke fun at how women can be denigrated by this term.
The term ‘Karen’ originally described a group of friends with one least popular member, but has since become a pejorative label applied to certain middle-class white women who demonstrate behaviors characteristic of privilege. Examples include demanding to speak to the manager, opposing vaccination and engaging in racist microaggressions.
Context
Karen has become a widely used slang expression in the past two years to describe obnoxious, ignorant, difficult or offensive white women. It also serves to call out older adults considered narrow-minded or sexist.
When considering this term, there is much to consider. First used by comedian Dane Cook in 2005, it has come to be associated with various negative behaviors over time and been referenced in memes and social media as a symbol of rude entitlement.
Karens are often white women, though they’re not the only ones labeled as such. There’s also BBQ Becky, Permit Patti, Golf Cart Gail and Chad who fit this description too.
These names share a set of patterns common to those who use their power to subjugate others and police their behavior. They are all connected by racist microaggressions and resentment towards those who are different than them.
Karen is a white woman who advocates for charcoal grilling in parks and policing nonwhite people’s behavior. This isn’t simply due to their race; they believe they have the right to do so.
This has serious ramifications for how racism and classism are perceived in America. As more Karens from other parts of the world rise, we can expect to witness an uptick in violent incidents against Black and brown people.
In 2020, Karens became a widely discussed online slang term. This was likely due to their humorous antics on Tik Tok and Twitter.
One reason is that it was being utilized in a new context. A different culture had made it more popular than ever before.
