If you’ve been on Twitter in the last couple of days, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed an uptick in “Karen public freakouts” videos. They appear everywhere from Target and Home Depot to Dairy Queen and more.
Karen’s trend has gained steam on social media and within certain circles of right-wing politics. However, some call it a sexist slur while others maintain that it does not accurately reflect real life Karen’s behavior.
The Trader Joes Karen
Karen from Trader Joe’s is a white middle-aged woman who often displays aggressive behavior when denied her desires. She often appears in viral videos sporting an adorable bob haircut and demanding to speak with the manager.
She can be quite assertive and outspoken, but she also has a sweet side that shines through. In one video clip, she yells at an employee of Trader Joe’s when they asked her to wear a mask in the store due to her medical breathing condition – something which she refused. She then threatens them with legal action for discriminating against her.
Karen types can be found at grocery stores, fast food joints, restaurants and public parks where she seeks to attack workers, gain attention from managers and use her white privilege to feel powerful and in control. While she may just want a chance to yell in front of someone’s face, remember that her actions have long-lasting effects on those she targets.
Karens are notorious for their aggressive nature and superiority mindset. It’s not uncommon for them to make false accusations and threaten violence against those who don’t share their beliefs.
If you witness Karen being disrespectful towards another kid at the playground, it’s wise to show her with words how unacceptable her behavior is and offer your kind reply. Furthermore, encouraging your children to respect others and treat them with compassion can also be a beneficial exercise. For instance, if young Karen acts rudely towards another boy at school, give him some feedback and explain that being kind and compassionate towards others should be her model for behavior.
You can teach your children to look out for animals who need assistance or protection. Make it fun by taking them on a field trip and having them pet the animals.
No matter your age, everyone should be prepared for running into Karens when out and about. Chances are good they won’t come into contact with you directly, but it’s essential to be aware of who can be out there and how best to respond when someone does.
The Cafe Karen
Karen is a middle-aged white woman who enjoys getting involved in other people’s affairs and creating issues. She usually wears activewear, has blonde hairstyle and always has her hands full with groceries. You can always spot Karen because she always complains to customer service managers or shares stories on social media platforms.
What lies behind Karen?
A few weeks ago, an online debate erupted over whether Karen is a sexist slur. However, it should be noted that this debate isn’t simply about Karen or misogyny – it goes deeper than that.
According to author Claire Shrugged, the perceived sexiness of Karen is actually a misconception. She writes: “Karen is an anti-feminist slur that stereotypes and degrades women as stupid, entitled, and lazy – it’s the antithesis of the N-word.”
This isn’t the first time a word or phrase has become associated with sexism. The term ‘Chad’ was popular on Twitter during the presidential campaign, while ‘Kyle’ is an offensive sexist name which has gained widespread use on Reddit.
The ‘Karen’ meme has been around since 2005, when an anonymous Redditor complained about his ex-wife’s “inappropriate behavior.” It could have started as a Black meme used to refer to white women who complain on children’s lemonade stands, but is now widely used on Twitter and Tik Tok as an everyday expression.
One of the most prevalent Karen-related activities involves calling the police on innocent individuals who made a wrong turn or were threatening to run you over. This type of sexism can be seen online, where abuse against women is commonplace.
Recent research by Amnesty International revealed that men send an average of 30 messages to women on Twitter each second – many of them sexist insults. It’s likely many are Karen-related too, as Karen is the most commonly used name on the platform and continues to gain momentum.
The McDonald’s Karen
If you’ve ever been in a restaurant, it’s no secret that rude customers can cause havoc on the service staff. These pesky individuals – often referred to as Karens – tend to be overly demanding and will shout at managers in order to get their way.
Businesses and employees alike face a major problem when it comes to this type of behavior, but it’s especially prevalent on social media platforms like Instagram. According to Amnesty International’s study, women on social media receive an average of five harassment or abusive messages daily.
The term “Karen” has come to be associated with overly assertive white women who harass police officers and other innocent people of color. It has been used as a way to label those individuals, leading some critics to label the term as an anti-feminist slur.
Although it’s a derogatory term, it does have some validity when applied to white people who act inappropriately. Examples of this type of behavior have been reported, including when white women called the police on Black men selling water on sidewalks or when a woman attempted to curb her dog in Central Park.
Recent years, many incidents have been recorded and shared on social media. But it’s also possible to witness these actions taking place in real life as demonstrated by the recent incident at Burger King in St. Louis that saw its restaurant completely consumed by fire, while Karen demanded a refund while it was burning – according to Forbes magazine.
These events have ignited an intense debate over whether or not “Karen” is a racist slur. The debate centers around a sex-based stereotype of white women who act overly assertive and harass people in public settings such as restaurants.
Initially, the phrase was used as a joke that ridiculed white female entitlement. Now, however, some are criticizing it as racist. Nonetheless, many of these critiques came from those who hadn’t heard of the meme before and thus didn’t understand its full significance.
The Starbucks Karen
Karens can be an issue for customer service personnel at many fast food establishments, from Chick-fil-A to McDonald’s. On social media too, Karens have become well known as the notorious “Ketchup Karen.” As evidenced by a TikTok clip featuring one such Karen, there’s no shortage of them out there!
The term ‘Karen’ has become a worldwide phenomenon, denoting an arrogant white woman who attempts to stomp her foot and shout in the faces of diners. Whether she’s a loudmouthed mom, entitled teenager or just out of patience with people, Karens have become pariahs in many restaurants and public spaces – as evidenced by last year’s viral video featuring one such confrontation with McDonald’s employees.
As the Karen meme has gained notoriety online, some have argued that it is inherently sexist. They contend that because it contains a gendered sex identifier, it serves as an anti-feminist insult against all women in general.
Unfortunately, this argument fails. Not only does it not provide a convincing case against sexism, but it’s unclear why people would use the word in such an offensive manner.
It’s possible the original word was chosen with class in mind, as people often attempt to link Karen with some sort of working-class identity or stereotype. But names aren’t always connected and using ‘Karen’ as an insult for an entire group is incredibly misogynistic and we should all be wary when using language on social media platforms.
Karen the Burger Chef is encouraging people to unleash their inner Karen by complaining until the cows come home and demanding to speak with the manager at “Karen’s Diner,” set to open in St. Louis early next month.
This restaurant’s rude waiters spew insults and sarcasm when you order anything, and require ID for free drinks. The menu isn’t extensive, but offers an assortment of beef and chicken burgers.
