Karen is a derogatory term often used as slang to refer to white women who are perceived as entitled or demanding beyond what is normal.
It’s often represented in memes depicting white women using their privilege to get what they want. Examples of this include demanding to speak directly to the manager or sporting a specific bob cut hairstyle.
Karen is a pejorative term used as slang for a white woman perceived as entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal.
Karen is a pejorative term used to denigrate middle-aged white women who are perceived as entitled or demanding beyond what is expected. It often has something to do with her signature blonde bob haircut and tendency to approach retail managers or restaurant staffers with complaints or demands.
Karen slang has gained notoriety through videos of white women engaging in behaviors seen as racist, such as calling the police on Black people or stenciling Black Lives Matter slogans on their neighbors’ homes. Examples online include Pool Patrol Paula, Dog Park Debbie and even “San Francisco Karen,” who called the cops on her neighbor for stenciling Black Lives Matter on his property.
Although its exact origins remain uncertain, it appears to have originated from social media shortenings and abbreviations. According to Dr. I.M. Nick – former president of the American Name Society and onomastic researcher – this trend may have its roots in culturally embedded associations of rude entitlement and racial bias.
Karen is one of a group of viral names, such as Becky or “BBQ Becky” and Permit Patti, that describe an entitled white woman who uses her privilege to subjugate people based on race. Other slang terms like “Golf Cart Gail” and “Chad,” have also been coined to express this sentiment.
Cleve Evans, an onomastic professor at Bellevue University in Nebraska, noted that although it appears the name Karen was shortened due to a general cultural trend, it could also have been used in an isolated context. Furthermore, some speculate it’s possible the term was coined due to the viral video showing white women calling the police on Black people barbecuing in a park.
In 2020, the term Karen became a widely used label to denigrate white women caught in videos engaging in what are widely perceived as racist acts. The Karen slang has since spread across the internet and even into politics; Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot recently used it to refer to White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
Karen is a slang term for a white woman who uses her white privilege to demand her own way.
Karen is a term often used as a derogatory to describe an arrogant, angry, entitled and often racist middle-aged white woman who uses her privilege to demand more for herself at the expense of others. These individuals frequently frequent stores, restaurants and parks where they can engage in physical confrontation with workers, managers or managers while exercising their white privilege.
This stereotype has long been present in the US, but it seems to be on the rise again. This trend has been steadily ascending for some time now with no signs of abating.
In early February, the term “Karen” first gained notoriety on social media. However, it wasn’t until Amy Cooper, a New York City “Karen,” called the police on a Black man in Central Park that it became associated with racism and racial policing. This video marked an important turning point for this term and exposed Cooper’s white woman-centered racism.
It’s an alarming trend that puts lives in jeopardy. In response, many municipalities are taking action against this slang. San Francisco Supervisor Lori Lightfoot even introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act as a way of safeguarding citizens from such incidents.
It’s encouraging that these women are being called out on their behavior, as it could potentially help shift their thinking. But it won’t do any good if we allow them to hide behind the label “Karen.” Racist white women must be called by their real names, and if they continue down this path, we must act together in order to put an end to it.
Karen is a stereotypical woman that parrots pseudoscience, appropriates identities and may be conservative in outlook. This stereotype of hers, though not new to society, is becoming increasingly popular.
Karens are active on social media, often posting videos to platforms like Tik Tok or Twitter. These clips tend to be popular because they showcase Karens in places where women still spend more time than men – like clothing stores and supermarkets.
Karen is a slang term for a white woman who is racist.
Karen is a term often used to denote a white woman who exhibits racist behavior. Typically, this white woman is middle class and entitled, using her privilege to demand her own way. Karens have been known to call the police on people of color, ask to touch their hair, and denigrate service industry workers with impunity.
Karens are often associated with white women who use their privilege to degrade non-white people, but that isn’t the only way a white woman can become racist. There are numerous examples of Karens in pop culture and online communities alike.
Recently, there has been an uptick in alliterative names given to white women who demonstrate racism through various behaviors. Examples include Barbecue Becky, Golf Cart Gail, Permit Patti and Talkback Tammy – just to name a few! These terms have also been used to describe those who use their privilege to impose it on those around them and call the police on them; leading to the viral hashtag “Social Distancing Karens.”
There is a reason for this phenomenon. The sexism, classism and ignorance that comes with being Karen can be devastating to anyone who comes into contact with one.
Particularly people of color who are the victims of racism. There have been instances where Karens have unjustly called the police on Black and brown people, alleging they were threatening their lives or perpetrating violence against them. Such conduct is indicative of a white woman’s racial agenda.
Therefore, society should be made aware of this kind of behavior so we can respond appropriately. We can do this by educating ourselves and other members of society about the racist attitudes being displayed by this particular group of women.
Despite this, some still choose to ignore or keep silent about racial injustice in our society and remain silent. This can have dire consequences for those affected by these racist attitudes, potentially leading them to feel targeted themselves. That is why it’s so important for white women to identify and speak out against those white women displaying these attitudes; doing so could be an essential step in helping prevent similar events from occurring again.
Karen is a slang term for a white woman who wears a particular bob cut hairstyle.
Karen is a commonly-used term in the United States to refer to an middle-aged white woman with a particular bob cut hairstyle. She often gets perceived as rude, obnoxious and entitled; furthermore, Karen tends to hold onto her opinions without consideration of others and will often engage in public tantrums over minor inconveniences.
Karens are often depicted in online memes that make fun of their entitlement and rudeness. Typically, they expect special treatment that they do not merit and demand loudly for a manager when someone attempts to interact with them.
Karen as a name is believed to have originated from Dane Cook’s 2005 comedy special in which the comedian made fun of friends who had “friends named Karen”.
Though Karen may be a common name among jokes, not all Karens are bad people. In fact, the majority of women named Karen in America today are Baby Boomers.
No matter if it’s a joke or not, the term “Karen” still serves as an insulting label for an angry white woman who makes unreasonable demands and requests a manager when someone attempts to engage her. In some cases, this can be seen as both racist and sexist in intent.
In 2018, a video of “Kidz Bop Karen” went viral, featuring the sexualless woman yelling at both a Lyft driver and his passenger for using their service.
Examples of this type of behavior can be seen in viral videos such as “Central Park Karen,” the woman who falsely accused a Black man birdwatching in Manhattan’s Central Park of threatening her. Another example is “Costco Karen,” who was filmed throwing a temper tantrum when required to wear a face mask.
Social media users in 2020 condemned and ridiculed these incidents, particularly as white women were shown engaging in what was deemed selfish or racist behavior. Through viral videos, this became even more of a topic of conversation.
