Karen has become a popular online slur to describe middle-aged white women who post negative comments about other people on social media platforms such as Facebook. Many have condemned its usage as both sexist and misogynistic.
After an ongoing dispute between two Agoura Hills neighbors, one has labeled his neighbor Karen. Karen had complained about noise, drone use and home improvement projects.
1. You’re a racist
Have you seen women holding signs that read “My Neighbor Is Karen”? The term is often used to refer to middle-aged white women who hold stereotyped and intolerant beliefs about other individuals; such signs tend to appear near homes in which there has been some form of conflict in the neighborhood.
Although originally intended to be amusing, My Neighbor Is Karen signs have come to symbolize racism. These terms refer to white people who are rude towards other people – other examples being Permit Patty, BBQ Becky and Golfcart Gail.
Permit Patty is the name given to a woman who called 911 on a black man selling water to a family with children, while BBQ Becky refers to herself as the individual who threatened him on his bike and called police; additionally Golfcart Gail refers to herself as someone who called the authorities during a football game against one of his sons and called 911 on another black father known as Golfcart Gail.
These terms are rooted in stereotypes that arose over time as more incidents of white women harassing black people online surfaced, says Behavioural Science Researcher Odessa Hamilton from LSE. They’re also grounded in real world racism and oppression.
When a dominant race uses language or makes jokes that are offensive to a minority group that are outside its scope, this constitutes racism as there is an imbalance of power resulting in this sort of behavior. A dominant race typically has greater historical and institutional authority over other peoples groups.
White people engaging in similar acts are considered racist. While black and Asian individuals can use offensive slurs against one another without incurring charges of racism. However, when white people perform these actions it can be perceived as racist.
There can be various factors contributing to racist behaviours and it’s crucial that we fully comprehend why they may exist before discussing My Neighbour is Karen signs. In this article we’ll look at three such reasons – history, institutions and power.
We will also explore why people act this way and what steps can be taken to stop it. If you are a middle-aged white woman who frequently criticizes others’ treatment of others and often calls out others themselves for mistreating others, then perhaps it would be wiser for you to alter your behaviors to become more considerate – becoming aware of your thoughts and emotions as well as learning how to communicate respectfully with others, while avoiding sexism and ageism would all help in doing so.
2. You’re a sexist
If you live in America, chances are you’ve seen at least one viral video showing someone protesting when asked to wear a mask at a store or coffee shop. These people are commonly known by their moniker: Karens; this term refers to middle-aged white women who display entitlement and ignorance on social media.
Though the term Karen has long been around, its usage on social media as an insult against middle-aged white women who feel entitled has recently gained prominence and caused much outrage on various blogs and YouTube channels. According to Know Your Meme, viral videos such as Trader Joe’s Karen and San Diego Karen have even gone viral!
Twitter users have taken notice of an increasingly common practice: using “Karen” as shorthand for any type of entitled, racist and/or sexist behavior. One particularly sensitive situation occurred when Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot used it against White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
“Karen” has long been used as an insult towards Black women online, often used to mock or dismiss white people engaging in racist and/or sexist behaviors. According to Know Your Meme, its popularity can be credited to Black Twitter and has become an accepted term for such behaviors.
Karen doesn’t fit neatly into any one mold; but typically she is middle-aged and white with an unconventional haircut called the “can I speak to the manager” hairstyle – this style has become part of American culture through Generation X’s upbringing, even if many consider it less flattering than shorter curvier bobs.
When you encounter the My Neighbor is Karen sign, that means your neighbor is likely unkind, entitled, sexist or racist. While that doesn’t require her to wear face masks or get vaccinations – but rather that they could potentially make life unpleasant for others around her.
Your Karen may try to intimidate or diminish you, but instead you must take steps to meet her energy and convey that you do not agree with any of her harmful behavior.
3. You’re a narcissist
Recently, there have been multiple instances when people have displayed the My Neighbor is Karen sign to draw attention to any disputes with their neighbors. One man placed four such signs pointing toward his neighbour’s property on his cul-de-sac in Morrison Ranch Estates in San Diego area.
Signs were placed after the homeowner stated his narcissist neighbor had filed complaints to both the City and Morrison Ranch HOA against his renovation projects and drone use, along with antisocial behaviors like leaving waste build up in his yard and blasting music all night long.
Narcissists may make good neighbours, but it is vitally important that you establish clear boundaries with them so you don’t get drawn into their drama and they won’t harass you without cause.
A narcissist will always look for opportunities to exploit you, be it social media or following you around. They might call and text excessively in order to find out more about your life.
People like these can often cause chaos by getting you involved in their drama and pulling you into it – making living near them an unpleasant experience, yet often unaware of what they are doing themselves.
When confronted by a narcissist, one way to de-escalate is through keeping eye contact. Doing this shows them that you recognize them beyond their facade of superiority and show that you see beyond it all.
Staying calm during an encounter with a narcissist can also help de-escalate a confrontation, and refraining from any comments that could be seen as hostile, such as talking about how they don’t like you or how you have hurt their feelings in the past.
Doing this by being polite, courteous and professional will go far in helping them come down from their high horse. Once they realize you’re not being rude or disrespectful they will stop trying to bully you – ultimately this will lead to the best possible solution for all parties involved.
4. You’re a jerk
Karen is an insulting term often used against middle-aged white women who appear entitled and unreasonable in their demands on others. It often appears in memes and viral videos depicting these individuals acting out in racist ways or refusing to wear face masks.
Some believe the term originated with comedian Dane Cook’s 2005 comedy routine and quickly became an internet slang term used to refer to middle-aged white women. Unfortunately, however, Black Twitter activists and others have strongly denounced its usage as misogynistic and have called out its misuse in everyday speech as misogynist.
Know Your Meme has coined the term “Karen” to denote women perceived to be using their privilege to assert themselves over others and demand what they want from life, according to Know Your Meme. Often paired with specific hairstyles or physical characteristics – such as wearing a dress with low cut necklines – depicting white woman entitlement and aggression, such as using the term in relation to certain physical attributes like wearing an upper chest cleavage-baring dress – depicting this type of white woman as depicted by Know Your Meme.
Though most popular in the United States, “tweener” has recently gained ground worldwide – particularly in Europe. Additionally, “teen” can also be heard being used as an offensive, self-centered term describing white women.
Karen has become an ever-present term on the internet’s cultural lexicon as an insulting term against middle-aged white women who use their privilege to demand what they want from others and use this title to justify it, according to Know Your Meme.
Karens typically involve white women who require them to speak to another party before communicating directly with those they have issues with, often preying upon those she perceives to be easy targets.
Be mindful that karen is only acting in ways they deem acceptable and shouldn’t be held responsible. If they persist in harassing and invading your property regularly, legal action may need to be taken against them.
Befriending your neighbors can help you deal with Karens effectively; having friends who will stand by your side if a Karen attacks online or publicly will give you something of support when necessary, while it could even prevent future targeted by Karens since knowing they have someone in support may make them less likely to target you in future.
