Karen became a ubiquitous term after viral stories created its definition. Though some critics claim its misogynist implications have been widely debated, Karen also garnered notoriety as a means to examine how white privilege can be misused against people who don’t recognize its existence.
The Innocent Karen
If you enjoy stories in which young, innocent women are forced into humiliating and demeaning experiences by unscrupulous men, then this ENF tale might just be perfect! Karen, an innocent college freshman unaware of what’s to come, agrees to be examined more thoroughly by five members of Triple-Delta fraternity – only later do she realize what will unfold!
But the predatory Psi Kappa’s aren’t content with simply studying her; they plan to completely devastate her! And won’t stop until their mission has been accomplished!
But Karen is not the only victim of this ill-advised Reckoning. Virtually every major claim of racial hatred and violence have since been shown to be nothing more than lies: from Jussie Smollett’s hoax hate crime, through Covington kids who never attacked or attempted to take away an elder Native-American’s rain drum, and BBQ Becky calling the cops false reports were all dismissed as spurious claims of racism and violent behaviour.
The Real Karen
The Karen meme, first popularised online in 2018, has quickly become a widely used shorthand for obnoxious white women who use their privilege to ruin the lives of people around them. First appearing on reddit as part of the r/F—YouKaren subreddit created to lampoon Gosselin’s fictional character, her name eventually entering urban dictionary definition in 2018. Karen can often be found wearing middle-aged clothes with straw-blond hair in an asymmetrical bob, demanding to speak to manager after any minor setback; often religious and politically conservative she’s often religiously conservative as she despises immigrants and POC alike while demanding her privilege be upheld at any cost.
Real life is full of people like Kyle, Becky and Chad who could be classified as this or that type. No one exhibits these behaviors quite so consistently or egregiously as Karens do – their offensive and inconsiderate behavior being a major contributor to America’s current racial tensions.
Many prominent recent examples of this trend involve white women calling the police on black neighbors for minor infractions, oftentimes without cause. “Karens” have also become notorious for road rage incidents and public policing such as when one went viral for her remarks against Black Lives Matter protesters in St. Louis or when one called 911 on someone walking their dog nearby in Central Park.
As the term has gained more and more mainstream usage, public opinion has divided on its response. Some are critical of its misuse and feel it diminishes scores of other people who display similar behaviors; others argue it’s necessary to highlight such actions that are embedded in systems of racial inequality that have long shaped today’s world.
Karens can be found everywhere, and it’s crucial that we recognize them for what they are: privileged individuals with bigoted views who believe their actions are always right. Let’s hope more people use their privilege for good rather than using it against those around them.
