If you’ve been around social media in recent years, then you likely noticed a lot of videos featuring women with middle-aged white names throwing temper tantrums or calling the police on black people for asking them to leash their dogs.
Some have described the “Karen” meme as a vehicle for discussing casual racism and privilege among some white people, but others have pointed out that these videos address less about racism than other issues facing communities during this period of economic hardship and social unrest.
1. A Woman Gets Offended by a Karen
In recent years, you may have encountered many memes about “Karens,” a term that has come to be associated with rude and self-entitled white women who act out in public. And it isn’t just about getting the wrong meal at Applebee’s; some of these women are known for abusing their privilege in harmful ways and exerting power dynamics that can cause great harm to others.
Contrary to what some on social media might believe, Karens are not racist or misogynistic. According to Stephanie Younger – a Black feminist activist – this phenomenon is actually an effort to draw attention to racism and oppression within the context of sexism.
Contrary to popular belief, many “Karens” find it quite acceptable to engage in sexual activities with their name. This may not come as a shock since most women who get labeled a Karen are baby boomers.
One of the most famous Karens was a woman who went viral in 2020 for calling police on Black people while birdwatching in Central Park and refusing to wear face masks to protect herself against COVID-19, an extremely deadly coronavirus that’s made its way into America. Both incidents were captured on video and she and another woman were labeled “Karens.”
In some instances, videos of these encounters aren’t always directly related to race – they could be about entitlement or disenfranchisement, rage or anger. Nonetheless, they tend to be more visible on social media due to people’s willingness to capture and share them.
Another possible explanation for the popularity of these videos is that a toxic myth of female hysteria still prevails in society. As such, some women are more prone to getting irritated in public than men, leading them to behave in unladylike ways.
Finally, the name “Karen” tends to be associated with white women more than men, possibly due to our tendency on social media to shorten names. This could be simply due to its ease of remembering but could also suggest an elitist connotation.
2. A Teenager Shuts Up a Karen
As a teenager, it can be challenging to find your place in the world. While it’s natural for teenagers to want to explore their independence, it is essential that they recognize they are still developing their identities and that having boundaries is acceptable.
Teenagers tend to take risks and act in ways that may seem unethical or wrong to others. This is because teens are still developing the front part of their brains, which controls impulse control and decision-making; it won’t fully develop until they reach their 20s, so it can be challenging for teens to know when it is appropriate to stop.
Many teenagers adopt these behaviors out of a sense of empowerment and independence, but parents can help protect their child from such behaviors by setting limits, serving as an encouraging role model and providing security.
Parents must take responsibility for ensuring their kids don’t engage in racist behavior. This can be accomplished by reading anti-racist literature or attending Black Lives Matter protests.
White girls in particular are growing up during a time of increased awareness about racism. The recent murders of so many Black people have forced many white Americans to confront the oppressive systems to which they have been exposed throughout their lives.
Social media often labels those who challenge racism with “Karens.” In fact, Amy Cooper of New York City who called police on a black birder after they got into an argument in Central Park last year is often labeled a Karen.
The slur has also come under attack from feminists, who contend it is misogynistic. Julie Bindel, a British feminist writer, tweeted last month that it is an outdated sexist term which white people have adopted to denigrate women of color.
Nowadays, the term “Karen” is frequently used on social media to denote middle-aged white women who display behaviors indicative of privilege. Examples include demanding to speak to a manager, being anti-vaccination, or engaging in racist microaggressions.
3. A Karen Asks a Teenager for Money
Karens are women who act entitled, get angry quickly, and expect special treatment. Typically this term applies to white, affluent or middle-aged women but can also be applied to anyone acting aggressively petty according to Know Your Meme, an online meme encyclopedia.
The term “Karen” first surfaced on Reddit in 2017 when a user ranted about his ex-wife Karen and her annoying behavior, according to Know Your Meme. Soon after, the term became popular as an Internet meme to mock self-absorbed white affluent women who get angry or demanding.
Karens were identified in several viral clips, such as one who attempted to reserve a parking space in Central Park and another seen wearing a mask at a coffee shop. In the case of the Starbucks barista, her video garnered much attention and raised $93,000 in tips.
However, the “Karen” name has become increasingly controversial in recent years due to its often associated with sexist and racist messages online. While some consider it a slur, others simply attribute it to being an everyday generic name that gets bandied about frequently.
In the premiere season of Stranger Things, Karen is an aspiring writer and mother to her two children Ted and Holly. She also works at Hawkins Post newspaper as a reporter. Karen and Ted have been together for over ten years, though their marriage is far from perfect.
She is the sole main character in Stranger Things who knows little about the Upside Down, its inhabitants or the superpowered kids at Hawkins Lab. She doesn’t believe her daughter is a superhero nor that Hawkins has anything to do with the supernatural world.
But Nancy and Mike’s relationship has improved somewhat, and she now helps Nancy when she goes out with Steve. Additionally, Nancy can sleep over at her house for the first time ever and Mike shows more patience towards his father.
4. A Karen Asks a Teenager for a Date
Karen is often stereotyped as an uncompromisingly rude woman, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Karen can be kind and confident; in fact, she might even flirt a bit!
Karens tend to be middle class white women who demonstrate behaviors indicative of privilege. They may be anti-vaccine, disparage service industry workers, commit racist microaggressions or simply act entitled.
She may sport a bob haircut and display traits of being arrogant or possessive. She’s likely from Generation X (the generation between baby boomers and millennials), and in her late 30s or 40s.
“Karen” has become a ubiquitous meme, symbolizing many sexist tropes that have become more common online. It often appears alongside videos of white women engaging in petty and aggressive behaviors – like blocking people from open car spaces or screaming at retail employees about refund policies.
In 2020, the phrase “Karen” gained widespread recognition on social media after several viral clips showed white women engaging in selfish and racist behavior. Examples included Central Park Karen – a white woman who called the police on a Black man while birdwatching at the park.
The term was popular during the Coronavirus pandemic, when people began disparaging white women who refused to wear protective masks during a flu outbreak. It spread rapidly, becoming applied to various types of middle-aged white women across America.
Some were concerned that “Karen” was a sexist slur, while others countered by saying the term erased systemic racism and white privilege from the conversation. Ultimately, “Karen” came to represent all middle-class white women who are entitled yet obnoxious.
In fact, many teenagers on Instagram are adopting the “Karen” name to live their lives as if they’re celebrities. One group chat on the social networking site features nearly 30 users all using this moniker; they discuss everything from their “Karen” e-mail addresses and Instagram accounts to actual careers in real life.
