It’s no secret that Karen, a term often associated with women who are perceived as rude or entitled, has had an especially difficult year. Between furloughs, layoffs and lockdowns, there has been an uptick in what have become known as “Karen incidents” over the past few months.
According to Lillian Glass, a communications expert in Los Angeles, there is an emerging type of Karen in the wake of the coronavirus: those who refuse to wear masks, won’t follow quarantine regulations and believe the pandemic is overblown. This anger often manifests itself through social distancing and sexism.
She’s a racist
Karens have become a familiar online label for middle-class white women who often act from privilege. Karens may demand service workers speak to them; have an entitlement complex; oppose vaccination; and even engage in racist microaggressions such as asking to touch black people’s hair.
As the country struggles to cope with the pandemic and confront systemic racial biases, we’re witnessing many viral video clips of Karens reacting to political events or news stories in potentially hazardous ways. This prompted many online creators to use the term as satire, drawing attention to dangerous actions Karens may take in public and emphasizing their detrimental effects on others.
For years, this phrase had only been heard on Twitter and Reddit forums; however, when the coronavirus pandemic hit America in late 2017, more anti-mask “Karen” videos began going viral on social media – leading to complaints about neighbors who didn’t wear masks or refused quarantine according to Jada Calvin from Flat Earth Society website.
When the term Karen first gained popularity, it was often associated with an arrogant sense of entitlement some women felt in response to the pandemic. But as Black Lives Matter and other movements that focus on combatting systemic racism began taking root across America, Karen came to have a different connotation.
The new meaning of “Karen” has not only stirred up discussions about racism, but it’s also deepened some people’s feelings of victimhood. This is especially true for those who are already struggling with oppression in their own lives or are regularly affected by racism.
Some people worry that these videos amount to harassment. They argue that these snippets compress someone’s life into one recorded moment, leaving them vulnerable to doxxing and other forms of attack from strangers.
She’s a sexist
Karen is a popular meme that depicts an extreme white woman using her privilege in extreme ways. This could include controlling other people’s behaviour or demanding to speak to someone higher up the chain of command, like a manager.
This term has become increasingly popular online and often refers to women who have had a negative response to political events or news stories that make them uncomfortable. Examples include white women in New York calling the police on Black men for asking her dog to curb its fur or refusing to wear face masks in coffee shops.
Karen memes have also become a way for white women to deflect their racist behavior away from others. While they may claim it’s out of concern for feminists, in reality they’re simply deflecting their attention away from themselves.
Over the past year, this trend has become especially prominent, with numerous examples of white women reacting negatively to news stories and political events. One such video depicting a New York white woman calling police on a Black man when he asked her to put her dog on a lead went viral.
These examples have led some to label the Karen phenomenon sexist, which is understandable. This misogynist stereotype should never be tolerated.
Another argument against the Karen meme is its exclusivity to women. While this may be true, many mistakenly assume they’re imitating a racist white woman when they do bad things – an unhealthy habit which has negative repercussions for both genders.
However, Karens don’t feel offended by this trend; they simply find it annoying when their name is used as a derogatory term.
That is why I’m somewhat dismayed that the Karen meme has become so widespread. It is an offensive, sexist, patronizing and stereotypical term that can be misused to deflect your racism away from others – especially when it could potentially hurt other women.
She’s a hypocrite
Hypocrites are individuals who portray qualities, beliefs or emotions they do not possess. These can include friends, coworkers and relatives.
Hypocrites often make promises to others which they cannot fulfill, leading to negative outcomes for those involved. Therefore, it’s essential to exercise caution around them and refrain from making commitments on their behalf.
Karen’s behavior reveals she is a hypocrite. Her reactions to political events or news stories are uncharacteristic of her, suggesting that she lacks perspective.
She often says things that may appear intended to cause hurt the other person, even if it is not her intention. Additionally, she tends to assign blame for one’s own mistakes without sufficient consideration of any repercussions for themselves.
On a recent episode of RHOP, she made it clear that she believes Huger to be hypocritical since Chris made her feel uncomfortable when she entered their hotel room to talk. It was an uncharacteristic reaction from her and many fans on Twitter took to her story with derision, labeling her an hypocrite.
Although some have condemned her actions, it’s not unheard of for white women to act in this way. It serves as an expression of white people’s frustration with racial issues.
But this is not all that’s wrong with her. It is also true that she has an immense empathy for those in distress and genuinely wishes to assist them.
She may seem like a hypocrite if she wants to help those around her even though she herself struggles with many issues. This makes her an especially difficult individual to work with.
Her mental health could also suffer as she is highly sensitive and easily hurt by something she doesn’t comprehend. Therefore, it is crucial for her to remain calm and not become overly emotional during such stressful circumstances.
She’s a classist
Karen has become a widely popular internet meme, especially due to the spread of Covid-19 – an emerging coronavirus which has made people feel the need to be extra watchful over their neighbors and not touch each other. This trend has spawned memes criticizing all kinds of “Karen-ish” behavior – from refusing to wear face masks or quarantining yourself when entering public places to making false police reports against Black people.
Millions have viewed these videos, prompting some city officials to pass the “Caution Against Racistically Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act.” But these Karens aren’t just any white middle aged woman complaining to store manager about something that doesn’t meet her taste; rather they represent a classist and racist group determined to gain power.
Recent video footage online has drawn the attention of social media users to a white woman named Amy Cooper calling the police on a black birder who attempted to fly her bird in Central Park. She claimed that the Black man was threatening her, even though there is no proof to back this up.
White people in America often exhibit this reaction, leading to violence against Black people and their pets. That is why it’s essential to examine this trend closely.
Many Karens are entitled and racist, so they’re willing to call the police or hire others to do their dirty work for them. This is a worrying trend that should raise concerns among people about this Karen meme.
Some Karens can be extremely hypocritical, as they may feel personally affected by an event or circumstance that wasn’t their fault. This might include personal or financial struggles which might prompt them to act out against others in a hurtful way.
Karens tend to be associated with certain types of people, so it’s not surprising that this name has been attacked for being sexist. Indeed, some white feminists have claimed the term “Karen” is a classist term and has gained prominence recently due to its growing popularity among this demographic.
