Karens have become popular targets of online memes due to their trademark asymmetrical bobs and “I need to speak to the manager” haircut, often depicted as being closed-minded and entitled.
They frequently engage in arguments with service workers or call the police on people of color for seemingly trivial issues, triggering unnecessary arrests and fines.
What is a Karen?
Karen was one of the five most popular given names among girls born during the 1960s, yet has become widely associated with an entitled and privileged white woman who constantly needs to be right and is quick to criticize those not meeting her standards or following her rules. Karen can now often be seen online meme culture as representing a certain type of angry white female that always needs to be right while criticizing people not following these same guidelines.
Karens have their origins unclear; some attribute them to Black Twitter during the 2010s or a 2005 Dane Cook bit called “The Friend Nobody Likes.” In any event, Karens are typically middle-aged women with blonde choppy bobs who frequently ask to speak with management at stores. These “Karens” typically live in suburbia with children and pets and drive minivans; often appearing smug or critical on social media postings about coworkers, neighbors and government bodies.
Recent years, as part of this coronavirus pandemic, have seen the Karen meme become an increasingly popular way to embarrass white people who act inappropriately or unfairly. Real-life Karens have even made headlines due to their immature or selfish behaviors; for example calling the police on people of color, reporting immigrants, or coughing on others in public places – among many other activities.
As a result, the Karen meme has come under increasing criticism for being sexist and misogynist. In particular, it has been used to undermine female journalists, sometimes being labeled Karen in online shaming memes. Furthermore, people named Karen often feel ashamed to carry that name.
But is the portrayal of Karens as self-absorbed, entitled, privileged white women an accurate one? A quick check on Facebook shows that those with the name Karen — particularly women — are unpleased about being lumped together into such an oversimplified stereotype. Some feel this has damaged their reputations while others see it as a constructive way to highlight problematic behavior in media and society in general.
What is the difference between a Karen and a Kids Video?
Karens are often described as middle-aged white women who engage in close-minded and racist behaviors. Specifically, they’re known for their negative attitudes and aggressive demeanor when encountering children or teenagers – often prompting viral videos which serve to publicly shame these Karens for their actions; for instance “Central Park Karen” called police on a birdwatcher, and “Costco Karen” threw tantrums over COVID-19 vaccines.
Why are Karens so popular?
Karens have become the darlings of social media in recent weeks. Videos featuring people being labeled “Karens” have spread like wildfire, sparking outrage, curiosity and even retweets from users – yet no explanation as to their appeal has ever been provided. So who exactly are these Karens, and why have they become so popular?
Karen memes originated with white women with an exaggerated sense of entitlement, known for their pushy behavior and refusal to acknowledge they have privilege. These characters can often be recognized by having side-swept bobs with shorter back hair that always request to speak with management; and often demand speaking directly with said manager. Karens have also become notorious for making divisive Facebook posts against vaxxing beliefs as well as stigmatizing POC and immigrants.
Recent years have witnessed an explosion in Karen shaming memes. It’s easy to understand why: young people can use this trend as an outlet to vent their dissatisfaction at older white women who fail to acknowledge their privilege, including calling the cops on Black people, encouraging immigrants to return home or refusing to wear masks during pandemics – these actions from Karens are seen by some as abusive behavior that deserves punishment – which makes shaming Karens all the more fulfilling as it provides cathartic relief and often brings much-needed payback!
Critics of this meme have pointed out its racism, sexism and classism. They argue it serves as a way of degrading middle-aged white women more likely than men to act aggressively in public settings and struggling economically; as well as working-class women struggling in this economic climate. Some have even suggested it may constitute a form of racism; it only refers to white women.
Unfortunately, Karen is also associated with being a sexist stereotype that reinforces the idea that women’s issues are never their responsibility. Most Karens don’t care much for such criticism: all they care about is having their name back from being used by memes that depict them as entitled or sexist – enough of being made fun of! And they want recognition for their achievements and contributions instead of making fun of their name being associated with these toxic trolls; many parents now shy away from giving the name Karen to their children because so many negative associations exist between it being associated with these toxic trolls and this name being associated with these toxic trolls – something which many parents shy away from giving up when giving it back.
What can we learn from Karens?
Karens can be a major problem because they fail to recognize their privilege and use it against those they perceive as less privileged than themselves. When their rights have been violated, Karens may demand speaking with management, threaten a negative review, or call police as soon as they feel their rights have been breached – never ceasing until those they perceive as inferior have suffered enough.
As a result, Karens have become something of an internet meme, often used to refer to any white woman who displays excessive entitlement or goes beyond her bounds. While this meme has created some controversy online, its roots lie deep within African-American internet culture; its purpose was always intended to demonstrate how white women perpetuate racism through their behavior.
It’s understandable why this term became such a meme: the term is associated with white women who use their entitlement and social capital to act irrationally in public and manipulate others using manipulation strategies such as Facebook. But its widespread usage demonstrates many people are tired of watching white women take advantage of their privilege and act unreasonably in public spaces.
Karen the Complainer” is the name given to this white woman who called the police on a group of Black people barbecuing in Central Park because their dog did not wear a leash. Outraged and angered, she began screaming and accusing them of assault. Because of her insensitivity and unreasonableness, this led to many online critics dubbing her “BBQ Becky” or “Karen the Complainer.”
An unfortunate scenario involves when a white woman, usually mother, calls the police on a child for not adhering to school rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. These white women known as COVID Karens appear unconcerned with student health or safety and seem to use the pandemic as an excuse to unfairly police people they don’t know personally.
Karens can teach us that it isn’t okay to treat other people with disrespect. So the next time you encounter one, remember to smile and act courteously so they remember that everyone has unique circumstances that impact their actions and try understanding their point of view as best you can.
