The term “Karen” has become a ubiquitous way to denote white women who are behaving badly. After several viral videos featuring Karen figures threatening police retaliation against people of color, this label has become something of a cultural touchstone.
Not just middle-aged white women are being labeled “Karen,” but also people of color and LGBTQ+ people. It serves to de-personalize and dissociate harmful behavior from its perpetrators.
The Origins of “Karen” Memes
Recently, you may have come across the “Karen” meme. This popular term describes middle-aged white women who are depicted as arrogant, entitled and racist. Recently, it’s been used to call attention to specific behaviors — like calling police on black people and refusing service at Starbucks — which could be seen as manifestations of racism.
Karens are often portrayed as entitled customers who demand to speak to a manager, have anti-vaccine beliefs and commit racist microaggressions. But there’s more to this popular moniker than just being an entitled middle-aged white woman with an attitude.
Different theories explain the origins of these viral nicknames, including one where women use their privilege to criticize others. It could also be a sexist retort against someone with a very similar name – this was the case for an outraged Reddit user in 2017.
Although its exact origins remain uncertain, Karen is believed to have originated from a Danish word meaning “pure” or “honest.” As such, Karen became a common choice for white women during the 1950s and 1960s; over time it has come to be associated with older white women who became politically engaged during their 60s.
However, the earliest versions of these memes weren’t about calling out specific individuals but rather depicting an entire group of women. It’s a popular trend in American culture to repurpose names as symbols for certain behaviors or groups.
One of the earliest versions of the “Karen” meme began on Reddit when high schooler karmacop97 created r/FuckYouKaren to mock at his former wife’s now-deleted user account. Originally, he simply wanted to make fun of redditor’s bitter comments about Karen; however, quickly discovered that others shared his enthusiasm by creating memes about Karen and her antics.
The forum that emerged quickly gained traction, though it wasn’t without controversy at the time. Some users felt it was offensive to use real names for real people while others said it was an effective way to show those being mistreated that their words would be taken seriously by those online.
The “Karen” Video Trend
On the Internet, there’s a growing video trend of white women known as “Karens” behaving entitled and racist in public. Videos typically showcase an angry white woman at a coffee shop or restaurant asking the manager to come over and speak with her; she often uses tears for emotional gain.
Karen has been around for some time, but it only recently gained notoriety when a Twitter user posted video of herself engaging with the manager at Starbucks. From there, the term spread like wildfire online.
Karens are usually middle-aged white women who appear entitled in public. She usually sports a particular haircut, known as the “speak to the manager” style.
Theories as to why this term evolved exist, but one common idea is that it serves as a general description for any middle-aged white woman with an attitude. Think of those irritating characters from Mean Girls or Goodfellas – types you wouldn’t expect in real life!
Another possible origin for “Karen” could come from social media shorthand, which commonly abbreviates names to make them easier to remember. That’s likely what happened with “Karen,” a term used to describe someone with an uppity attitude according to Dr. I.M. Nick – a social media researcher who studies slang.
But the term has now transcended social media and become a culturally-accepted slang for white women who act racist or selfish in public. It has even been used to shame those involved in controversial behavior, like when a white woman called police on a black birder in Central Park in 2020.
It is an essential reminder that the internet can have a profound impact on culture, including race and racism perceptions in America. That’s why it’s essential to comprehend the context behind this new slang.
The “Karen” Meme’s Impact
The “Karen” meme has become a cultural phenomenon that appears to have spread like wildfire. It depicts middle-aged white women who feel entitled to be outraged about everything and use their privilege for personal gain.
This trend spawned numerous memes, videos and internet groups dedicated to sharing these images. One group, F*ck You Karen, boasts over one million members.
Though this trend may appear harmless, its potential negative consequences cannot be underestimated. Utilizing birth names to dehumanize people can have grave repercussions.
It is especially true in online culture, where a single name can be used to generate negative stereotypes about an entire group. While this has happened before, it has only grown more prevalent with the rise of the internet.
Due to the popularity of “Karen” memes, women who are called by their birth names have experienced an uptick in harassment from strangers – including people they’ve never met face-to-face. Many have reported receiving harassing messages and remarks from complete strangers on a regular basis.
Karen-named women have experienced harassment not just online, but in grocery stores and pharmacies as well. In some cases, people have even told them to change their names or commit suicide.
What’s most alarming, however, is the effect it has had on real women named Karen. Many have experienced harassment from strangers due to their name and some have even had their legal status in the US altered.
These incidents are an extension of the internet craze that has spread worldwide. But they also demonstrate how a trend can have real world repercussions.
Despite the positive effect that “Karen” has had, some feel it makes it harder for people to move past negative stereotypes about certain groups. Some are even advocating for a ban on using birth names in internet memes and social media posts that could foster negative stereotypes about certain demographics.
As it turns out, the name “Karen” has reached an all-time low in England and Wales. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, only 14 Karens were born within those borders in 2019.
The “Karen” Meme’s Endgame
When the “Karen” meme gained momentum, many criticised its sexist and misogynistic nature. They claimed that the term was an insulting way to denigrate middle-aged White women.
Though this argument is important, it fails to take into account how name politics work. Most often, name sexism does not automatically equate with being inherently sexist – in fact, the opposite can often be true!
For instance, while “OK Boomer” has long been associated with ageism and it still persists today, it has not gained as much notoriety as the Karen meme due to its inability to accurately reflect an individual’s actual age; instead, it simply symbolizes their place of privilege or entitlement.
Karen has become increasingly popular as a slang term among white people who call the police on Black people or groups of people when they feel they are acting inappropriately and/or racistally. This form of white cop-caller nickname has seen an uptick in recent years.
The origins of the slang term “Karen” are uncertain. Some claim it originated on Reddit when a high schooler created r/FuckYouKaren after feeling embittered by his ex-wife’s rants. Others point to a Dane Cook comedy special from 2005 as its source.
No matter if it was intended to mock an angry, put-upon middle-aged White woman or not, the character of “Karen” has become a beloved online persona. Author Rachel Green of Know Your Meme encyclopedia noted that over time the persona of “Karen” has changed and evolved.
Green’s presentation provides various examples of the persona’s evolution and shows that the Karen persona can be seen as a combination of various online personas. She observes that many “Karen” images depict middle-aged white women with short asymmetrical haircuts who express frustration over some perceived slight or inconvenience.
Her opinion is that the “Karen” meme is sexist, as it has been specifically designed to target middle-aged women. However, while this may be true, the Karen slang term is not inherently sexist; rather, it has been employed by Black communities as a way of mocking clueless, privileged and unreasonable White women.
