Karen has become a ubiquitous part of everyday conversation for all the wrong reasons. It’s an insulting term used to refer to an arrogant woman who believes she has earned some sort of entitlement.
Recently, this term has become increasingly popular and some have argued that it’s a misogynistic slur. On the other hand, others argue that it simply refers to an established cultural association with rude entitlement.
Times when Entitled Karens Looked Stupid
The Karen phenomenon has recently spread across the internet. This term, which can be found in articles, artifact-ridden JPEGs and Twitter rants, refers to middle-aged women who request speaking with a manager or employee after displaying various annoying behaviors.
Karens have become widely described as “pejorative terms for women who seem entitled or demanding beyond what is acceptable” (Wikipedia). This term was popularized online by millennial socialists and has since spread like wildfire among social media users.
This stereotypical white woman with a bob-haircut is often depicted as entitled and rude. She may also hold anti-science beliefs, engage in deceptive practices with pseudoscience or appropriate other people’s identities for her own gain.
When I first encountered the Karen meme — a video of an elderly white woman being rude to a police officer and threatening to take her kids away from their mother if she didn’t allow her dog in the park — I was horrified. This was an outrageous attempt to discredit generations of women who were fighting for equality during the 1950s and 1960s; thus, I called out this idea on my blog but was fortunate that it didn’t gain momentum.
Karens were likely never called this in their lives, yet that doesn’t make them any less deserving of being painted as moany, racist blobs based on race, gender and class assumptions. It’s an offensive caricature of white women which should be condemned, not condoned.
There is a long and troubling history of white women reacting to their own racism by taking it out on others, often through veiled language and anger. These suppressed feelings can lead to shortsighted selfishness and an absence of empathy – making this legacy particularly hazardous for future generations.
For instance, the pandemic of 2011 created an ideal platform for entitled individuals to wreak havoc on society and its citizens. Kylie Jenner especially was guilty of this; she posted bikini pictures throughout Black Lives Matter protests but never donned a mask or maintained social distance.
Times when Entitled Karens FREAKED OUT in Public
If you’ve been on Twitter in recent years, chances are you’ve encountered the Karen meme. This slang term describes an irritating White woman who acts entitled and gets easily riled up.
Karens have become a major issue on social media and often exhibit the kind of outbursts that make you want to punch them in the face.
There has been an uptick in middle-aged women having emotional meltdowns in public places, such as gyms, restaurants, little league games and T.J. Maxx stores.
Some of these outbursts have been so offensive that they’ve gone viral. We’ve had the Soho Karen who was recorded cursing a Black man for not helping her at the grocery store and even Mid-Flight Karen who called 911 when an airline attendant blocked her aisle.
Karens have sometimes acted so irrationally that they ended up in jail. One such outburst took place in New York’s Central Park; it’s not uncommon for Karens to call the police when feeling uncomfortable in public spaces, but this incident was especially outre and captured on video.
We’ve also encountered Karen the gas station employee, who insisted that she wasn’t required to wear a mask when asked. When confronted by another customer behind Karen, who documented the entire exchange, the employee was appalled by her actions and refused to believe what had transpired.
Another irrational outburst came from California, when Karen went berserk at a Starbucks for not wearing her mask. She then demanded to speak with the manager.
She became so frustrated that she launched into a tirade against being denied service at the coffee shop. Her entire rant was captured on camera, forcing the cafe to take her aside to speak with a manager.
Furthermore, there have been multiple instances in which Karens have gone ballistic during a pandemic crisis. These outbursts should never go unchecked and must not be allowed to continue unchecked.
Times when Entitled Karens Won’t Stop FREAKING OUT
Entitled Karens are an increasingly popular phenomenon on social media platforms. Often seen having meltdowns in public, these individuals express their needs and desires without apology.
Karens are not only loud and rude, but they use their white privilege to get what they want. Whether it’s asking a retail manager to voice complaints or demanding refunds, Karens always puts their own needs and desires before those they should be caring for.
Even more outrageous, they’re usually racist. Last year, for instance, a woman named Karen threatened a gay man at a baseball game and Jewish lawyer who tried to join a school committee was ridiculed as “Karen” by her colleagues.
A common trope used to criticize privileged white women who don’t always treat others with the utmost respect is “white privilege”. Unfortunately, how these characters are depicted in popular movies and shows may not always accurately reflect reality.
Unfortunately, this trend doesn’t provide us with much insight into how the Karen model functions at its core. While videos of Karen in Central Park may be funny, they don’t give us much insight into her real feelings.
Worse still, this distracts attention away from what truly bothers Karen: her own selfishness and racism. That is why it is essential to recognize the specific issues raised by Karen’s behavior and implement policies that address them directly.
If you live in a city where Karens are on the rise, reach out to your local leaders and inform them of how an ordinance that could classify discriminatory 911 calls as hate crimes could impact them. It’s an easy step but one that could make all the difference in how Karens are treated across America.
There are other solutions to address the problem, and we’ll be exploring them in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, here are some memorable moments when entitled Karens would freak out in public.
Times when Entitled Karens Are a Terrible Thing
Karen is a derogatory term used to describe an entitled white woman who uses her privilege to demand what she wants. Typically, this involves belittling service employees and making demands beyond what society deems reasonable or necessary.
Karen is a term from the internet lexicon that refers to a white middle-aged woman seen as entitled or demanding beyond what society considers normal. Depictions of Karen range from slurs and racist behaviors they have been associated with to their specific traits such as having blonde bob-haircuts and an apparent tendency towards entitlement.
People often laugh at Karen’s narcissistic behavior, yet these women can be incredibly problematic. Not only are they often unable to manage their own emotions, but they may be extremely aggressive when it comes to protecting either themselves or their children’s wellbeing. It is easy to understand why people find this woman’s antics humorous; however, it is also incredibly dangerous.
When women become frustrated, they often act out in unjustified and potentially hazardous ways. From shouting or yelling at other people to driving an SUV or van without wearing a mask in public and demanding to speak with their managers, these women have the potential for serious harm to those around them.
Therefore, these women pose a severe danger to society at large. They have a history of suppressing anger and use their power to abuse others – even those they don’t admire.
Women who have ever encountered an arrogant Karen can attest to how horrible it can be to deal with them in public. It’s especially difficult when they act inappropriately towards you.
One woman recently had to contend with an extremely loud and out-of-control Karen while shopping at Trader Joes in North Hollywood. Karen was unhappy about the store’s policy requiring customers to wear masks while inside, and threatened to sue for discrimination against the grocery chain.
Karens have a history of behaving badly in public, and it’s important to remember that all these incidents could have been avoided. If you ever find yourself harassed by an arrogant white lady, don’t let it ruin your day – take action instead and put an end to harassment today.
