Have you seen any videos online lately featuring Karens? Chances are it features them demanding special privileges or services and calling the police on people who don’t give them what they desire. These women have become notorious for demanding special treatment and privileges from others and calling police on those who don’t give them what they demand.
Karens’ behavior has been labeled racist by some, but others take a more general view. Whether they’re angry over anti-vax conspiracy theories or someone of color they encounter on the street, experts believe these people are often motivated by their perceptions of power dynamics and feelings of entitlement and privilege.
1. The Central Park Karen
One year ago this week, an American named George Floyd was fatally shot by a police officer for no other reason than that he was Black. It served as both a somber reminder that in America, white people can just as easily cause harm to a Black person as they do to any other minority group.
As we mark the one year anniversary of that murder, let us not forget another shocking racist act that made national headlines: The Central Park Karen.
On May 25, 2020, Amy Cooper (the woman known as Amy Cooper) was walking her dog in Central Park’s Ramble. She encountered a man bird-watching nearby and was asked by him to put the pup on a leash – an ordinance in the park.
The video of a white woman calling the cops on an African American man for no apparent reason quickly went viral, earning Cooper the moniker “Central Park Karen.” As a result, she lost her job at Franklin Templeton Investment Firm in New York City.
She made a mistake in calling 911. The officer who responded to her call was Black, and the 911 call recorded by video was clearly false.
It’s not the first time a white woman has done something harmful and entitled with a Black person in public space, but it is the most recent instance of someone using their privilege to harm someone of color. It is an upsetting and painful situation which has caught the attention of society; unfortunately, it appears likely to continue doing so.
Finally, we must ensure that white women like this never do it again. The only way to ensure this is by clearly communicating to them that they are not welcome in our communities.
2. The New York City Karen
Karen is a term used to describe any white woman whose behavior is considered inappropriate, rude or entitled. It often applies to middle-aged white women who challenge social norms in an inconsiderate way, according to Know Your Meme – an online meme encyclopedia.
The Karen nickname originated from a derogatory haircut called the “speak to the manager,” which had become increasingly popular around 2014 and then spread like wildfire on social media in 2016. But recently it’s gained notoriety as an epithet for people who engage in harmful and entitled behavior, particularly when it involves racism or classism.
On July 7, New York City police arrested the “New York City Karen” after she pepper sprayed four Asian women during an argument at a flower installation in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. CCTV footage captured Karen picking fight with the four Asian women and accusing them of harassing her before pulling out a can of pepper spray and shooting one in the face.
She shouted at them that she would “never be friends with that person” and then threatened them, shouting, “I’m going to kill you!” As she exited the scene, another witness who witnessed the altercation filmed it. The New York Police Department is currently investigating this woman’s actions as a hate crime.
Karen monikers have seen a recent resurgence, though this could be more due to an emerging form of racism than just wanting a name for a pushy white woman. According to Denise Dudley – author and workplace consultant from San Luis Obispo, Calif. – they symbolize how some white people feel they possess an invisible barrier which keeps them from reaching success in certain fields. These barriers represent white privilege which can be used as tools of oppression against people of color and maintain power within a socio-economic structure dominated by white people.
3. The California Karen
Karen-like incidents often stem from personal and financial difficulties, according to Lillian Glass – a communications and body language expert in Los Angeles. As many Karens and Kens feel threatened and insecure due to furloughs, layoffs, lockdowns and the return of Black Lives Matter movements, Lillian advises that these situations must be addressed immediately in order for resolutions to take place.
Karens who disobey store rules can be seen online in videos such as demanding to see the manager for not wearing a mask or accusing a worker of stealing their phone. According to Aram Sinnreich, an associate professor of communication at American University in Washington, D.C., this behavior often has a racial undertone and often ends in hysteria.
Karen phenomenon may be indicative of a larger, systemic issue. These instances of people acting out in public places may raise issues about mental health and substance abuse, possibly connected to the coronavirus pandemic that has recently spread through parts of the United States.
According to Denise Dudley, an author and workplace consultant in San Luis Obispo, Calif., these people tend to be white. There is some evidence that they may not be as vulnerable to racial profiling or cultural “redlining,” which denies non-white people access to certain places due to their race, according to Dudley’s analysis.
However, she contends that they are more prone to engaging in harmful and entitled behavior. They often seek out opportunities to be on television or in the spotlight and use their white privilege as justification, she contends.
California Karen, who harassed Black families at Discovery Bay, was arrested for her harmful and entitled behavior. The ordinance she was charged with violating is the Caution Against Racially and Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act which bans fabricated emergency calls to 911 made by anyone with a bias against people of color and requires those making discriminatory 911 calls to register with police.
4. The Florida Karen
According to Insider, a woman in Florida was arrested for her apparent racist and entitled remarks. She allegedly called Black women who wear face coverings “good little slaves,” and even ordered police to break up her sign when asked for identification.
In a video shared online, she can be seen waving her arms in frustration when told to wear a mask at a grocery store. Her outburst led to her arrest and booking on disorderly conduct charges.
The Florida Karen was one of a string of international arrests of entitled Karens that made headlines this year on social media. She was among a group of women who protested a law in Palm Beach County that made wearing face coverings mandatory.
It’s not uncommon for entitled Karens to use self-righteousness as an excuse to discriminate against people of color. Yet these women often have personal histories of oppression themselves, so they may feel the need to act justly in order to move past their difficult childhoods.
Families that have been under constant pressure to perform well often suffer as a result. Karen parents for instance expect their children to excel academically; if not, they could face disappointment and potentially lose their job or home.
Karen women often display harmful and entitled behaviors due to these pressures, often coupled with a lack of self-worth and confidence.
Fortunately, this problem can be alleviated with the right support. BCHS bicultural staff devised and tested a five-step strategy that went beyond translation to take into account Karen community values, norms, and frame of reference. This included creating contextually specific information resources, training community members in disseminating these resources, as well as offering assistance to Karen business owners as they implemented COVID-19 safe practices.
5. The Texas Karen
In Texas, a school board candidate was arrested for her harmful and entitled behavior. She was white, and made the mistake of calling police on an 8-year-old black child selling water “illegally” on the sidewalk.
As a result of her unruly behavior, Bell was charged with harassment by a Texas prosecutor. Her behavior had been widely ridiculed on social media, and footage of her arrest was shared across the internet.
The Texas Karen, popularized by Kate Gosselin on “John & Kate Plus Eight,” is a term for white women who get frustrated over unpaid bills at the grocery store or impatient managers at Red Lobster. It serves as an umbrella term for all entitled white women who want their way no matter the cost to others or themselves.
Karen has become a term that’s become the basis for an entire genre of memes: sexist putdowns directed at vocal, middle-aged white people. The generic Karen phrase often includes other offensive language such as shrill or loudmouthed.
Karen serves as a reminder that racism and white privilege exist, even if we may not always be aware of them.
Karen was a junior lieutenant working as a public affairs officer for the military medical center at the Pentagon. She stood tall, wore green class Bs to work, and had an affinity for sweet treats. Karen enjoyed going out to lunch with her friends from HR; however, Karen wanted to switch up her diet too.