Karens who feel entitled believe their lives matter the most in society, regardless if that means wearing hair extensions with “Can I speak to the manager?” highlights or making unwarranted police calls on Black people.
Karens have become an ever-increasing threat for Black and brown people in an era where white privilege has taken root, as their self-evident right to act however they want in public allows them to force others out of places they do not belong.
1. They Think Their Lives Matter the Most
Karens have become notorious for their out-of-control, racist and entitled behaviors in public: often seen on Instagram posts and videos screaming their lungs out and throwing themselves down on the ground in anger. According to experts, such outbursts of fury stem from entitlement, dislike for being told what to do, and an individualistic outlook.
One of the more notorious Karens was a woman who mistakenly called police on a Black birdwatcher in Central Park for asking her to put her dog on a leash, prompting a viral sensation that became an internet meme and led to many calling this individual “Central Park Karen.”
Since then, “Barbecue Becky” and “Permit Patty” are commonly associated with white women who call police on Black people. Furthermore, this name can also be applied to other white people who have called authorities on Blacks for various reasons, such as calling for “permit Patty”.
These incidents aren’t isolated incidents; many have made calls to police that go undetected despite still occurring frequently; San Francisco Mayor Lori Lightfoot even recently referred to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany as being from “San Francisco Karen.”
Some of these calls have even reached the White House level. Last week, 57-year-old Steven Dudek called 911 on five Black and Latino men using the gym in their shared office building; during his call he shouted out “White lives matter too!” in reference to white people as well.
Other Karens have been caught on video threatening Black people in public spaces or making racist comments that later were denied by them. Some were arrested and charged with hate crimes but haven’t been sentenced as yet.
Karens may benefit from hiring a lawyer and fighting for their rights; however, being named and shamed puts them in an uncomfortable situation; either admit their racist behaviors or risk losing everything due to the identitarian movement’s witch-hunt mentality.
2. They Think Their Lives Matter More Than Others
Karens are middle-aged white women who exhibit behaviors indicative of privilege. These can include acting entitled, rude and obnoxious.
“Karen” has come to represent individuals who display racist, antisocial or otherwise improper behavior – such as harassing Black people in public spaces and calling the police on innocent victims without cause, while screaming unreasonably.
Some incidents have been caught on video and shared online, becoming viral YouTube videos or even making headlines in major newspapers.
As well as causing offence, many of these videos have also served to raise awareness of issues surrounding racism and microaggressions. One group known as #KarensGoWild has collected footage of this form of racism from all across the country and posted it onto Instagram.
Social media’s rise as a platform for documenting these racially charged incidents has resulted in an unprecedented surge of videos of these encounters going viral, particularly after Amy Cooper (known as Central Park Karen) was arrested for calling police on an African American who asked her to put her dog on a leash in Central Park.
Karen moments can also occur at businesses. For instance, Sainsbury’s, a UK supermarket chain, issued an apology over how its name “Karen” had been being used negatively by customers. They tweeted out: “We recognize some customers have used Karen as an insult; therefore we take this issue very seriously and aim to find an equitable resolution that does not violate customer rights”.
Recently, Domino’s Pizza’s promotion offering free pizza to ‘nice Karens’ in New Zealand received backlash and had to be discontinued after backlash ensued. As this promotion was considered offensive and discriminatory, it eventually had to be removed from their website altogether.
The hashtag r/EntitledKarens has become increasingly used to raise awareness about these types of situations and highlight any inappropriate Karen behavior that occurs. Unfortunately, much of it may go overlooked or unnoticed but action should be taken against it and addressed head on; there are now various initiatives underway which aim at doing just this.
3. They Think Their Lives Matter More Than Others’ Lives
Karen has become a cultural shorthand for middle-aged white women with entitlement issues who frequently appear on social media. These individuals tend to drive SUVs, spoil their children, and demand speaking with management when ordering products or services from businesses.
“Black Lives Matter” has come to symbolize an alarming new trend rooted in racism and classism, including a woman calling 911 on a Black birdwatcher for asking her to leash her dog; or an Asian man chalking “Black Lives Matter” onto his sidewalk.
These events illustrate just a handful of the racist, discriminatory actions committed by Karens. When calling police on young children or harassing neighbors on the street, Karens represent part of an increasing unhinged group in recent times – particularly since the coronavirus pandemic and #BlackLivesMatter movement has gained momentum.
Many of the Karens we’ve seen in viral videos use their privilege to act out as victims on others, which often leads to racial profiling and violence. Their ability to do this often represents an oversimplified transgression of an oppressive system which fosters entitlement and fear, giving them access to social benefits at an disproportionately disproportionate level.
Karen was once an extremely popular baby name in the US, reaching its highest popularity peak in 1965. Additionally, this name can also be found used as an occupational title among professionals such as nurses and doctors.
Recent years, “entitlement women” has come to be associated with white women who appear entitled, racist and privileged on social media platforms like YouTube. Their rage over perceived privilege has manifested itself through various viral videos such as Amy Cooper’s dramatic 911 call on a Black birdwatcher or Lisa Alexander’s racial profiling of her Filipino neighbor who wrote “Black Lives Matter” in chalk on his property.
These viral videos display an extreme transgression of power that should not be accepted; it contributes to an abusive system which places white entitlement and fear at an acceptable level; pain, fragility and humanity must not be dismissed outright as exceptional characteristics; this form of white privilege must be spoken out against so that all can move forward together.
4. They Think Their Lives Matter More Than Others’ Lives
Assessing how well you are faring in life can be tempting when trying to assess how others are faring, such as comparing income, lifestyle and housing size with those around you. But before making that comparison, take time to reflect upon whether or not your goals are being accomplished, relationships are healthy and passions being pursued – these should all be key indicators of your progress and measure of success.
Make sure that you consider how happy you are in life. Work and relationships should make you feel good; future prospects should excite and entice.
If you aren’t feeling fulfilled with life, this might be a telltale sign that it’s time to assess where things stand in terms of your overall happiness and what steps could be taken differently to alter their course. When stressed or unhappy feelings take hold, your chances of reaching your full potential diminish significantly.
While you should always keep a positive outlook, remember that there are other people worse off than yourself and who have more resources. While it may not be possible for you to change their situations directly, you can offer any assistance that might help them in any way possible.
As an example, you could offer to help them move to another state with more opportunities or offer them a loan so they can begin paying their bills – this will alleviate their burden and give them purpose in life.
Donating money to an organization they care deeply about or helping them find employment that pays more will not only make them happier but will help them realize their goals and realize their dreams as well.
So the next time you consider Karen too far away to be your friend, know that she might just be closer than you think and could even be you!
