Karen is a term often used in reference to white women perceived as entitled or demanding beyond what is reasonable or expected of them.
It often refers to women who assertively approach managers about matters that would normally go ignored by most balanced individuals.
Social media posts about “white women with short blonde haircuts and an attitude of entitlement” have become popular, often depicting white middle-aged women with this trait and depicted with an expression that may appear humorous but represents a specific racial stereotype.
1. She’s a jerk
If you have spent any time on social media, chances are you have encountered Karen. It is an internet slur used to describe middle-aged women who act entitled and rude, expecting special treatment they don’t necessarily deserve.
Karens have narrow-minded perspectives and tend to throw public tantrums over even minor inconveniences, often using their privilege to make racist microaggressions that put themselves ahead of all others.
Recent months have been filled with viral videos featuring Karens. From “coughing Karen” who coughed on customers at a New York City bagel shop to calling the police on her neighbor for writing “Black Lives Matter” with chalk on his own property – Karen has become a familiar term on social media platforms, likely having something to do with common bob haircuts and an inherent sense of entitlement.
According to Matt Schimkowitz, senior editor of Know Your Meme, this slang name refers to any white person perceived to be acting with privilege and entitlement, such as refusing to wear face covering in shops or ignoring rules in an exercise blitz. It can also refer to anyone seen acting against vaccination programs, refusing to adhere to shop security requirements, refusing a vaccine vaccination schedule or failing to adhere to an exercise blitz’s schedule of restrictions and requirements.
But now there’s a variation of Karen known as Coronavirus Karen: she refuses to wear a face mask, believes the pandemic situation is exaggerated, and doesn’t adhere to exercise blizzard rules.
Although being a Karen isn’t illegal, engaging with such behavior shouldn’t be encouraged as it represents white arrogance and white entitlement that should not be tolerated.
2. She’s entitled
Karen is a self-absorbed white woman who acts in such a way that seems to give her permission to do whatever she pleases, anytime. She expects that whatever it is she desires – whether a parking spot or seating at the bar – should come her way without question or resistance.
The Karen meme first surfaced over a year and a half ago as an engaging and humorous depiction of white women who act privileged in public settings, spreading virally after one woman called police on another for being involved with Black man and his dog in Central Park.
As national discussions on race relations and Black Lives Matter protests unfolded nationwide, it quickly became evident that Karen-ing was not solely limited to service workers but affected people from all backgrounds – leading to instances of White women calling the police for no legitimate reason and harassing Black families or calling it for no apparent reason – such as one pulling a gun on peaceful protestors in St Louis or calling over Black birders in Central Park according to Christian Cooper.
Karen feels entitled due to her privilege as an upper middle-class white woman with access to things most Americans will never have access to.
But she has also experienced feeling powerless over her circumstances, leading her to act in such ways. Many people can relate to this struggle of some sort or another.
Those in public-facing jobs have likely met Karen – that annoying white woman who goes ballistic when they feel mistreated and demands to speak to the manager immediately when she feels she has been treated unfairly. A Karen’s anger stems from misplaced victimhood and an overinflated sense of entitlement.
3. She’s obnoxious
Karens are middle-aged white women who believe they deserve special treatment, often coming across as arrogant or pushy. When faced with inconvenience, these Karens tend to throw tantrums or call store managers immediately – prompting a host of store managers to call a timeout on them.
When meeting Karens, try not to lose your temper and allow them to provoke an argument or disrupt your fun. Don’t give them any cause for conflict; that will only increase tensions and hinder having fun!
Karen is typically a middle-aged white woman from Generation X (the generation between baby boomers and millennials). She’s usually busy and likely has been to this location multiple times before.
She loves being the center of attention, and doesn’t take well when people get in her way. She feels entitled, believing she has every right to call the manager over any small infraction she feels needs addressed.
These unruly women can be found anywhere: stores and restaurants where they flaunt their white privilege and look for ways to gain attention; city streets and parks where they search out anyone they think might provoke an argument with them; even strangers.
After the coronavirus pandemic and protests for racial justice, Karen became an increasingly common slur against white women engaged in racist or selfish behavior, such as calling police on Black people for asking to leash their dogs in Central Park or pushing casinos without social distancing measures to open.
This sexist and racist term should always be avoided in every context – not only when used humorously. It serves as a stark reminder that some individuals use their privilege to cause others harm.
4. She’s rude
Karen is a white middle-aged American woman who is sure of herself in life, acting snobbish and pushy when necessary, reacting with entitlement, feeling entitled and occasionally racist towards service staff.
She can be quite rude in demanding that she has her way regardless of what’s best for others and can sometimes become aggressive if not in her element.
As such, service industries across the world now shudder whenever Karen requests to speak to their manager – this has caused panic among many managers when Karen requests an audience. Karen’s Diner has become an extremely popular pop-up restaurant both in the UK and Australia.
“Karen” has long been used in social media as a derogatory term, from Reddit posts and Mean Girls skits to comedy act Dane Cook’s 2005 skit about it.
“Slur” has long been used as an insult against white women who demand their own way and use privilege to get what they want, often at the expense of other classes of people. Feminists have widely condemned this trend as well as its association with an increase in class prejudice.
Linguists have done extensive research into where Karen originated; however, no clear answer can be provided. One possible theory suggests it originated as a Black meme that refers to white women who spy on children’s lemonade stands.
Cleve Evans, professor of onomastics at Bellevue University in Nebraska, asserts that proper names have long been used as a means to cast aspersions on certain groups; when people see someone with a name they like they may associate it more easily with that group.
As a result, people frequently use “Karen” to describe anyone who exhibits annoying or negative behavior – an emerging trend which will likely continue to spread until eventually it becomes synonymous with negativity.
5. She’s selfish
Karen may appear to be helping, but often does not care about what’s best for the other person or their feelings. Instead, she’s more focused on getting what she wants when she wants it.
This attitude stems from both privilege and powerlessness – she has access to money and an upper-class lifestyle, but feels she is being treated unequally by both employers and family members.
Karen often takes to threatening, verbal abuse and harassment in response to her anger; these acts can prove harmful and even deadly for those she targets.
The Karen trope has long been used in popular media, from shows such as Mean Girls to movies such as Goodfellas. Both depict her as being arrogant or self-indulgent while simultaneously showing that her behaviors stem from racism or classism.
As a middle-class character, she enjoys many privileges that allow her to act aggressively and rudely in public; yet her aggressiveness often misfires against people not like herself.
Karen’s behavior encapsulates a much broader issue within society: She believes her privilege and status as a white woman justifies being racist and selfish, using this status to induce white men into undertaking dangerous work in her name and on behalf of protecting her interests.
This mindset stems from generations of violent white women who used their power and victimhood as weapons against others, such that Karen quickly becomes someone who doesn’t hesitate to use physical force against people she sees as inferior or disrespectful. Karen can become an oppressive dictator or bully with no hesitation to hurt people around her.
