Karens have become a trend on social media. These white women frequently make racist claims against Black people in public spaces before calling the police to report them.
Recent viral video footage in Central Park in New York highlighted this event and coincided with the tragic murder of 46-year-old George Floyd whose killing spurred on the Black Lives Matter movement.
1. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
Racism remains an issue today, yet many remain unwilling to confront it directly for fear of appearing nosy or patronizing, or of upsetting coworkers and colleagues.
Problematically, however, this attitude tends to limit our conversations about racism. Even though most of us agree that racism still exists and knows it doesn’t serve anyone well, conversations about racism often fall within an unwritten set of rules which is too entrenched in society for proper discussion.
One rule states that it’s easier to be seen as “nice” than it is to address racism and inequality in society, with this concept especially prevalent within workplace environments where employees focus more on appearing “nice” than on actively combating racism and achieving more equitable results.
When dealing with racist Karens, it is crucial to ask questions. Doing so will allow you to build rapport and gain knowledge of culture surrounding you – leading to an inclusive workplace environment.
Engaging in dialogue will also provide you with valuable information on those being racist or discriminatory towards you, helping you be prepared if such conduct resurfaces in future.
Not knowing the right questions to ask can sometimes be challenging, so it’s advisable to pay close attention to a person’s body language and tone of voice to determine whether they feel comfortable answering your inquiries.
Timing of Your Queries When asking racist Karen questions, timing can be everything. Try asking at times when she won’t be upset so as not to cause too much emotional upheaval.
By acting quickly, this approach may help you sidestep any temptation to retaliate against them by making your complaint more evident or making their response harder; and can also avoid having any detrimental impacts on their confidence or morale by showing you care and are willing to listen to their concerns.
2. Don’t Take It Personal
At times, dealing with a racist Karen can be challenging. They may lash out with racist slurs, be rude to service staff in the workplace or restaurant and yell racist and sexist comments at you or those close to them – it is important to remember they may just be trying to protect themselves from getting caught or exploited by doing this. It’s important to keep this in mind as they could just be trying to defend themselves from being exposed as being racists themselves!
But this doesn’t mean you should ignore their behavior or act like it doesn’t bother you; taking it personally could result in an unhealthy relationship; instead it is important to show kindness when treating them with consideration and consideration.
“Karen” has become a common shorthand to refer to white women who exhibit racist and misogynist traits. This nickname can often be found both online and in mainstream media coverage of racist or misogynistic acts such as demanding to speak to service staff members, being anti-vaccine, or practicing sexism.
So it is essential not to take “Karen” personally when encountering one in person; taking offense could damage your feelings irreparably and should never be tolerated as part of normal discourse.
Instead of calling them out by name and criticising their behavior, it would be more effective if you addressed the situation directly with them. That way, they’d understand you were not laughing at or criticising their actions.
By doing this, we can gain greater confidence when speaking up against racism or protecting ourselves, making a tremendous difference to how we react towards those engaging in such actions.
Over time, we have witnessed similar incidences involving racist Karens being posted to social media in May 2014. That first video shows her loudly shouting insults at and making threats towards a Black woman in her video feed.
How this happened remains unknown, but ultimately a Black woman fought back aggressively with her fists against a racist Karen. Unfortunately this type of violence is all too prevalent today in America and must stop.
3. Don’t Give In
There’s a new film out this week about a middle-class white woman named Karen, played by Taryn Manning (Orange Is the New Black) as a racist who attempts to assert her entitlement through microaggressions against her new neighbors.
The trailer shows how she gradually worsens, harassing service industry workers, calling the manager of her new restaurant, becoming an anti-vaccine activist, making numerous racist claims on social media, and harassing service industry workers.
One viral video depicting Karen from Kroger was caught arguing back and forth with a Black woman at a grocery store, before their argument escalated into an argumentative brawl in which Karen beat up on the black woman without provocation from either party – leading some viewers to judge that white woman harshly; but it should be kept in mind that Karen has an ongoing history of racism which she uses her authority against those she views differently from herself.
Sexism stems from the fact that middle-class white women are still perceived to have greater power than people of color, giving them more clout when it comes to how much money they make or their choice in clothing and style. This sexist and ageist notion has permeated society for some time now and must not be accepted without resistance by anyone; especially a racist Karen demanding your submission when doing so may compromise your health, safety or make you uncomfortable.
4. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Most of us recognize our individual and professional responsibilities to combat racism; if you’re feeling confused about your company’s racial policy, don’t despair; there is still time. Simply reach out and ask for assistance – even asking your boss can go a long way towards improving employee morale and decreasing workplace conflict. Sometimes the best solutions come from those at the bottom of an organization chart – don’t be afraid to reach out! Take advantage of your human capital!
