The term “Karen” has come to be associated with white women who use their relative privilege to demand what they want. It’s used as a derogatory label, but also serves as an opportunity to discuss the casual racism and class tensions experienced by some of these same white women.
As social policing around the coronavirus pandemic in 2021 intensified, Karens became increasingly common. Karens became notorious for refusing to wear face coverings in stores and restaurants and verbally abusing service staff.
1. New York City
New York City is a vast metropolis with an expansive population of eight million people – the most diverse city in the world. The island of Manhattan divides the city in two, with Fifth Avenue separating west and east sides.
Historically, the city was a haven for immigrants and an epicenter of commerce. However, with the civil rights movement and subsequent economic and social upheavals in the 21st century, it has become home to an increasingly divided group of residents who feel left behind.
The “Karen” phenomenon has been a reflection of these socio-economic shifts. Furloughs, layoffs, lockdowns and the return of Black Lives Matter have further compounded feelings of disenfranchisement that has given way to an influx of entitled and rude Karens.
These entitled white women often take advantage of their supposed privilege to get ahead and police their behaviors with an air of arrogance and entitlement that belies their deep roots in white supremacy. Additionally, they’re prone to misguided suspicions and outright racism which has resulted in a steady flow of false accusations that have caught the attention of social media platforms as well as police officers nationwide.
Some Karens have become so entitled that they even resort to calling the police on themselves. A recent video depicts a woman calling police on an African American family barbecuing in a park after they racially accused them of being trespassers.
Another example is a video depicting white woman calling the cops on an 8-year-old Black girl selling bottled water outside her apartment complex to raise money for a trip to Disneyland. The clip went viral, having been viewed over twenty million times on YouTube.
In one particularly shocking instance, an unidentified woman known only as “BBQ Becky” racially targeted a black family for having a barbecue in a park and calling the cops. Luckily for her, this white woman was caught on tape and is now facing legal proceedings for discrimination against race.
2. Los Angeles
Recently, a disturbing trend of social-media videos featuring entitled and rude Karens has been making the rounds online. From one woman refusing to obey mask rules at a retail store to a white woman finding an UPS worker “suspicious” for delivering a package to an alleged Black man’s home, these rage-inspiring viral videos have caught everyone’s attention.
Though these videos may be entertaining, they have become a national topic with the FBI investigating one of them for assault. With San Francisco’s new law banning fake racially-biased emergency calls, authorities may soon be arresting these entitled women for various reasons according to Terence Fitzgerald – a sociologist who has spent years observing how mental health issues and socio-economic concerns intersect with racial acts in public spaces.
A phenomenon has gained national notoriety after a series of shocking incidents, such as the confrontation in New York City’s Central Park where Amy Cooper claimed she was afraid of a Black man who asked her to put her dog on its leash so he could view birds. She then called the police on him and was later arrested for felony assault.
Lillian Glass, a communications and body language expert in Los Angeles, believes the anger displayed in these videos is more due to personal and financial stressors than racism. Additionally, it’s an indication of the social pressure women feel to suppress their emotions.
Particularly Black women experience this barrier to self-worth when confronted with racist microaggressions and social injustice.
That has resulted in the Karen phenomenon. These individuals, who can be seen online under various identities, are representative of a broader system that discriminates against people of color compared to white Americans.
Denise Dudley, author of “Toxic People: 10 Ways of Dealing With People Who Make Your Life Miserable,” notes that this phenomenon is mostly limited to America but has a global effect on Black lives. It represents a generational transfer of power from white workers to Blacks and evidence that racial inequality still persists in America today.
3. Chicago
Recently, social-media videos depicting entitled and rude Karens have spread around the US. These clips, usually featuring white women in their twenties or thirties, have amassed millions of views online.
The video of “Karen” has amassed more than 2 million views on TikTok, the popular video app. In it, a white woman shouts racist slurs at a Black manager in a Ross clothing store. The manager calmly responds but the white woman persists with her outburst before asking, “What’s your name?”
Though it remains uncertain why she made such a vehement statement, her tone has already gained thousands of followers. Additionally, this video was seen by many people of color, serving as a stark reminder that Karens don’t just exist online.
Linda Clemons, founder of Sisterpreneur – an organization dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs – says the term Karen is a way for people to speak out against White privilege. She describes it as a human barrier that keeps White Americans apart from people of color, particularly when it comes to workplace discrimination and school inequality.
These incidents have been captured and shared online by social-media users, often unwittingly staring in these videos which can be highly disturbing or frightening. At the same time, these films also entertain and mesmerize viewers – which explains why they often garner tens of millions of views online.
It’s essential to remember that these incidents do not always stem from class differences; oftentimes they are the result of people dealing with stress and anxiety. That explains why they can be so upsetting for many, and why there has been an uptick in such videos following racial tensions.
An example was an incident that took place last year in Chicago’s Central Park and was captured on video. Karen was distressed that bird-watcher Christian Cooper had noticed her dog off the leash.
Karen then called 911 to report an alleged threat against her life. It was all very confusing for both she and Christian, who had never met Karen before.
4. Washington D.C.
The city is renowned for its majestic government and national monuments, as well as its diverse cultural offerings. No wonder why it attracts so many visitors from around the globe!
Washington is the capital of the United States and home to the president, Congress, and Supreme Court. It also serves as an international hub for business, trade, culture and politics. Washington’s economy relies on federal government contracts as well as those from contractors and nonprofit organizations.
Most residents of the District are employed by the federal government, with more than half of its workforce working for departments or agencies. Other industries supporting the economy include tourism, educational institutions such as Gallaudet University, Howard University, Georgetown University and Catholic University of America; law firms and lobbying firms; catering and administrative services providers; plus various professional and cultural associations.
Although DC is mostly a company town, there are still some neighborhoods that are predominantly poor and have crime issues. These include Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, Logan Circle, Shaw, and Le Droit Park.
Since 1990, the area’s population has seen a dramatic growth spurt, estimated at 712,000 in 2030. This rapid expansion can largely be attributed to an uptick in international travel – particularly by foreign governments and diplomats – which has created many job openings within the city.
In the District of Columbia, you’ll find several universities such as American University, Gallaudet University and George Washington University. Notable landmarks in this vibrant city include the White House, Capitol building and Washington Monument.
In Washington, there are a variety of professional and semi-professional sports teams, as well as four NCAA Division I universities. The Washington Capitals hockey team is one of the best in the league, playing home games at RFK Stadium.
In addition to being a major economic hub, the District is home to numerous public and private schools that are renowned for their academic excellence. Notable institutions include Johns Hopkins University, Corcoran College of Art & Design, Georgetown Day School, and George Washington University.
The district boasts a diverse selection of newspapers, such as the daily Washington Post and weekly Washington City Paper. Additionally, there are numerous smaller-circulation neighborhood publications with free distribution – most available online.
