If you work in customer service, chances are you’ve come across Karens. These entitled white women believe they have the right to demand what they want from life.
But what should you do when Karen comes knocking at your door? Luckily, we’ve got some helpful advice to help you manage these annoying clients.
Don’t stoop to their level
Karens are a particularly toxic breed of internet user. Their vitriolic attitude and inconsiderate attitudes are nothing short of demeaning to everyone around them – including themselves.
They tend to be white women who act entitled in public, and can be found everywhere from retail stores and restaurants to city streets. These annoying individuals pose a threat to everyone they come into contact with and often use their privilege as an opportunity for attention, control or power over others.
Karens have recently been seen demanding refunds from Burger King staff during a fire evacuation. Additionally, they’ve been seen throwing fits over masks at Target, Dairy Queen and Home Depot.
These powerful, self-important women have become a staple of viral video culture and they’re becoming more prevalent in the US. Sometimes seen in the wild roaming around cities and parks looking for an opportunity to strike, these wild cats often make appearances on video game consoles or computers.
There are a few strategies for dealing with rude and condescending individuals. One of the most successful tactics is not to lower yourself to their level.
To manage these emotions, you can employ a deflection technique. This involves not answering directly when someone says something that upsets you but instead asking why they are saying it.
The purpose is to reframe their behavior in such a way that they realize it’s unacceptable and can stop being offensive. While this approach may seem counterintuitive, it can be an effective strategy when approaching them.
This technique works best when Karen exhibits excessive emotional energy and acts like a child on the verge of tantruming.
People in a childlike state are more likely to react negatively to deflection techniques and may even begin crying.
However, when Karen acts this way, it’s essential that you keep your voice calm and composed. The last thing you want is to lose your cool.
By being aware of potential triggers for someone, you can help avoid upsetting them and ensure they don’t form an inaccurate perception about you. Finally, this allows for mature communication that doesn’t violate their dignity or rights.
Don’t mirror their behaviour
Karens are white women who often act entitled in public, demanding attention or engaging in heated arguments with service industry staff. Additionally, they take delight in violating other people’s privacy while using their white privilege to further their agendas.
Karens are generally not dangerous, but it is best to avoid them at all costs. These women tend to be extremely resentful and believe they’ve been treated unfairly. Although karens can be irritating and bothersome, dealing with them doesn’t need to put your life in jeopardy.
When dealing with a Karen, it’s essential to recognize they are not rational or even aware of what’s going on around them. They are likely in an emotional state of anger and resentment, meaning they lack the capacity to perceive reality as you do.
That is why it is essential not to lower yourself to their level, even if they are doing something wrong. Communicate calmly, remain rational and be firm but never argue with them as this only serves to exacerbate their anger.
It’s essential not to refer to these karma killers by their real names. Doing so may make the women feel less exposed and may prevent further acts of violence from taking place.
In fact, they might even become more confident and less likely to try to intimidate others in the future. That is why it is essential to address karens in a polite yet firm manner when they attempt to bully you, rather than ignoring or backing away.
Though you might feel it’s polite to let someone know they are being unkind, do not do this. Doing so could have negative repercussions. Remain calm and remember: when someone knows they are being ignored, it makes it much harder for them to respond positively.
If you find yourself dealing with a karen, remember that they aren’t alone in feeling this way. There are thousands of others out there who share the same sentiment – which explains why karens have such a prominent presence on social media and in the news media.
It’s essential to recognize that many of the popular videos featuring “Karens” in recent years have come from people of color. For instance, one video in 2020 went viral showing a white woman calling the police on an African American man while birdwatching; this outrage spread rapidly online, leading to widespread use of “Karen” as a term to refer to white women engaging in controversial behavior ever since.
Don’t engage in debate
Karens are a breed of entitled white woman who seem to get incredibly angry when not given their way. If something doesn’t go their way, they will call the manager and make a scene over even minor issues.
If you come across a Karen, it is best to avoid engaging in debate with them. Doing so could only aggravate the situation and lead to further aggression.
To avoid such behavior, keep your voice low and avoid calling them names or making fun of their behavior. Furthermore, try to be a good listener so that you can comprehend what they are going through.
It is essential to take time to comprehend why someone may be angry. Doing so will enable you to decide how best to approach them in the future.
Karens often express resentment toward a world that has let them down. They may have had an unpleasant experience or been the victim of racism in some way.
However, there are other reasons a person might become a karen. They could feel their life is in jeopardy or have been treated unfairly by someone else.
Lillian Glass, a communications expert who specializes in body language, believes these videos often show anger as an expression of personal and social issues such as the coronavirus pandemic, protests for racial justice or stress caused by job cuts or lockdowns. She believes these people may be responding to both personal and social issues through their expression of anger.
It’s essential to note, however, that there is no scientific correlation between a person’s name and their behavior. More likely than not, people have names which reflect their gender, ethnicity or cultural background.
According to Dr. I.M. Nick, former president of the American Name Society, one possible explanation for this trend could be due to the high prevalence of shortenings and acronyms in American English.
Some individuals may have a more commonly used name that doesn’t reflect their gender, such as “Karen.” In such cases, it could be easier for them to come up with a unique moniker without any negative connotations attached.
Don’t give them what they want
Karens are a type of rude customer who will do whatever it takes to get what they want. They think they’re above the law and thus, make for difficult customers to deal with; they will yell and scream and attempt to push you around in order to gain their desired outcome. It is best to avoid these types of customers at all costs.
No matter their race or ethnicity, a karen is someone who uses their privilege to demand more than what is expected. They may also be racist or openly misogynistic in nature.
The term karen is often used in online memes, depicting white women who take advantage of their privilege to control a situation or make demands that go against what society expects. They may even threaten people with police in an effort to get them to comply with their wishes.
As the karen phenomenon spread, many have sought a way to deal with them and prevent giving in. Karmacop97, 17, from California set up Fuck_You_Karen two years ago and started creating and sharing memes about it.
He named the subreddit after a now-deleted user who posted incendiary comments on another similar website. To consolidate all posts into one place, he created a forum which quickly gained popularity.
Attiah believes the term karen was first coined in black American internet culture as a satirical commentary on racism and oppression.
In 2020, the term “karen” gained new currency among those protesting coronavirus or using the pandemic as an excuse to oppress others. Often these incidents involve white women who engage in social distancing or anti-Black sexism and are labeled “karens” by their peers.
These instances serve as a sobering reminder of how white privilege can be utilized by others and how far we still have to go as a nation.
