Over the past few months, Karen, a white woman from Alabama, has gained notoriety for doing things most people consider rude. She opposes vaccination, demands to speak with the manager and requests people touch her hair.
Karens have felt increasingly vulnerable and unsafe amid furloughs, layoffs and lockdowns, according to Lillian Glass – a communications and body-language expert. “Kansans may feel insecure and threatened as Black Lives Matter returns,” she noted with concern about their “exhibited anger” in public.
National Organization for Women (N.O.W.)
NOW Foundation typically participates in between 10-20 amicus curiae briefs annually across a wide range of legal cases, many of which address discrimination against women, persons of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
NOW has a long-standing record of activism and organizing in support of civil rights causes, including joining a contingent for the 2005 March for Black Women in D.C. Members also stood behind Shirley Chisholm – the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 – as well as New Orleans civil rights leaders after Hurricane Katrina.
Karen is a term used to describe someone who, while usually white, believes her way of thinking is correct – whether that means grilling in public parks, calling the police on people, or simply demanding to speak with a manager when she doesn’t get what she wants.
Karens are often seen as extensions of a centuries-old white supremacy view of the world that has fostered racial prejudice, Jim Crow laws and violence against African Americans. At NOW we are dedicated to ending this dangerous legacy of white supremacy in all its forms.
National Organization for Black Women (N.O.B.W.)
In 1896, the National Association for Black Women (NACW) was founded in Boston with a mission to elevate Black women and girls. Their motto: “Lifting As We Climb,” served as an inspiration to its members throughout their endeavors.
NACW members were also suffragettes who advocated for equal voting rights for all Americans. NACW suffragists had been fighting against insurmountable literacy tests, high poll taxes and grandfather clauses that prevented Black men from casting their votes.
Over time, “Karen” became a byword for this type of entitled, rude and racist behavior. A white woman often demands to speak with someone higher up in order to gain her desired outcomes.
These videos incite a great deal of anger and frustration. They make people of color feel like they’re the ones being targeted, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Organizations supporting the movement against entitled, rude and racist Karens include the National Organization for Black Women, National Black Women’s Health Imperative and National Black Women’s Justice Institute. These organizations run evidence-based programs and campaigns to improve the health and lives of Black women and girls.
National Organization for Asian Pacific American Women (N.O.A.P.A.W.)
Organizations Supporting the Movement Against Entitled Karens
There can be no doubt that the coronavirus has intensified tensions between those who feel entitled to do or say things they don’t like. This rage has spilled over into public spaces, as evidenced by viral videos showing people verbally abusing staff at stores and restaurants.
One slang term to describe these incidents is “Karen,” which derives from the phrase “speak to the manager” and has become widely used as a derogatory label for middle-aged white women who act entitled.
This term has come to refer to a range of white women who act racist or unjustly, from an NYC woman who coughed on bagel patrons and called the police on her neighbor for writing “Black Lives Matter” with chalk on a park bench to one in California who parked her car in a spot Black residents were allowed to use.
Three possible explanations exist as to why some people have been given the name Karen. One theory points out that “Karen” is an offensive slur, often associated with racism and misogyny. Another suggests some women may have felt empowered by being named Karen despite its negative connotations. Finally, another possibility suggests some women feel insecure about their power or privilege and seek ways to demonstrate it by behaving inappropriately.
National Organization for Latinos/as (N.O.L.A.)
Established in 1969, Chicanos por la Causa is one of the largest Hispanic nonprofit organizations in America. Their mission is to build stronger communities throughout the Southwest by providing health and human services, housing solutions, educational initiatives and economic development initiatives.
Latino political engagement has grown over time. Now, approximately 200 Hispanics hold local, state or federal office – including New Mexico’s Bill Richardson as governor; three U.S. senators; as well as numerous state and local representatives.
This surge of political engagement marks a dramatic departure from earlier decades of U.S. history, when Latinos typically voted individually or for parties that excluded them from the electoral process.
Due to recent high levels of immigration from Latin America and the Caribbean, Latino communities now share a political agenda with other ethnic groups. This trend can be partially attributed to elite efforts to unite them by national origin but it also stems from elite efforts at uniting them as one unit.
Many Hispanic organizations work to create an equitable table for all Latinos and harness collective action by uniting partners to improve our environment, elevate voices of low-income communities, and train future leaders. By supporting these Hispanic organizations you can help us bring about positive changes in your world as well as beyond it.
National Organization for Men (N.O.M.)
In the US, the National Organization for Men (N.M.) is one of many groups supporting a movement against entitled, rude and racist Karens. According to their website, N.M. works to protect men’s and boys’ rights.
Their mission is to “promote a culture of masculinity and respect for individual difference in the United States” while also working against sex-role restrictions in schools, businesses, and society.
However, their website is filled with anti-gay rhetoric and calls for homosexuality to be removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s list of mental disorders. They refer to same-sex marriages as “Frankenstein creatures” and have drawn comparisons between LGBT advocates and Nazis.
NOM is facing a series of financial troubles, including losing more than half its income since 2012. Its tax filings reveal a nearly $2 million deficit. Furthermore, its charitable education arm – the NOM Education Fund – loaned the organization nearly $1.7 million in 2012 but has yet to be reimbursed. This has raised concerns that National Organization for Marriage may be merging its 501(c)(3) charitable education organization with its political operation.
National Organization for Men and Boys (N.O.M.B.)
Organizations Supporting the Movement Against Entitled, Rude and Racist Karens
One of the leading groups involved in this movement is the National Organization for Men and Boys (N.). Based in Springfield, Illinois, N. organizes events across America. As America’s largest men’s-oriented organization with over 6,000 members, N. has an influential voice within this space.
The NAACP has a rich heritage, having been formed in 1909 as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People by Mary White Ovington, William English Walling and Henry Moskowitz. Ever since then it has played an essential role in civil rights movements throughout the 20th century.
The group boasts several prominent members and has been highlighted in many media stories for its good works. Most notably, it was involved in the Scottsboro Boys case – a landmark legal battle regarding African Americans’ civil rights – as well as other significant victories such as ending death penalty discrimination against blacks.
National Organization for Men and Boys and Girls (N.O.M.G.)
Established in the 1970s, NOMAS was an unorganized association of men committed to feminism. They advocated for gay rights and opposed sex role restrictions.
The organization’s national task groups addressed issues such as reproductive rights, fathering practices, men’s health concerns and anti-sexism. Furthermore, it campaigned against racism, classism and homophobia.
Rebranding was a crucial exercise that demonstrated to the public that this organization would take an egalitarian approach, placing women and men at the forefront of its work.
At the time, this may have seemed like the right decision; after generations of slave labor, Black workers had become largely scapegoated for white Americans’ economic and personal woes. But there is also another side to this movement against entitled Karens: some videos contain racially charged language with anti-Black sentiment infused. It will only take time before more people wake up to what’s happening and take action to address it.
National Organization for Women and Girls (N.O.W.G.)
In the past, some white suffragettes have been labeled Karens – an expression used to refer to those who are entitled and racist, often with feelings of entitlement or rage.
Over the past several years, this term has gained momentum, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic and demonstrations for racial justice. It’s also used to describe white women who engage in behaviors considered rude or selfish – such as asking for a free cup of coffee at Starbucks US:CA or calling the police on Black people for things like trying to leash their dog in Central Park.
Some feminists contend the term Karen goes too far and is indicative of misogyny, aggressively shameing women for having a bad day or suffering emotional problems. Others contend it trivializes the anger and economic disenfranchisement experienced by working-class white Americans which propelled Trump to presidency in 2016.
