The movement against racist, entitled and rude Karens who have been captured on video is growing in strength. But how do people feel about it?
In recent years, the ‘Karen’ meme has gained notoriety, depicting middle-class white women who exhibit behavior associated with classism and racism. Examples include calling the police on Black people, monitoring nonwhite people’s activities, and demanding to speak to managers or higher authorities who can assist them in getting their way.
Public Opinion
The outrage surrounding the racist, entitled and rude Karens who have been captured on video is a hot button issue. According to a recent report by The Guardian, many people are dissatisfied with their actions.
Social media’s widespread accessibility has allowed us to easily monitor bad actors and their unique behaviors. A quick search on Twitter for “Karens” yields thousands of posts, many accompanied by provocative photos or video.
Social media has taken notice of Karens, but its extent among a general population remains uncertain. But one thing is certain: their rise has not been an isolated occurrence.
According to Andre Brock, associate professor at Georgia Tech and author of The New York Times bestseller Uncivil Wars: Race and Class in American Society, names like “Becky” or “Karen” have become associated with certain stereotypes. These terms serve as reminders to Black folks that they have inherited certain privileges from their white counterparts – such as entitlement – which Andre Brock believes contributes to an atmosphere of entitlement among African-Americans.
Why has this name gained such momentum so quickly? In short, it’s the name of a stereotype that has been around for centuries.
Karens have been around since slave times, making them particularly appealing to the far right. These examples demonstrate how whiteness continues to be used as an excuse for violence against black people and how racism has become institutionalized in America; making Karens just as dangerous for black people as their white counterparts.
Activists
Following the tragic murders of countless Black and brown people, many white Americans are confronting how systemic racism has been perpetuated in their systems. As a result, an increasing number of young white women are speaking out on social media about racism and holding their white classmates accountable for systematic oppression.
However, they often neglect to mention one thing: their whiteness. This part of their identity leaves them vulnerable to abuse or discrimination from others and also gives them power dynamics which may lead them into dangerous outcomes.
Due to this, the rise of racist, entitled and rude Karens is alarming. These new white women are abusing their privilege and resenting their non-white neighbors.
Malavika Kannan emphasizes the significance of understanding “Karen,” a term commonly used among middle-aged, white women of middle class backgrounds. Not only is it an annoying catchall for mothers who want to “speak with the manager” or wear particular bob cut haircuts, but Karen itself is actually a racial epithet denoting white women who take advantage of their privilege and are aggressive about it, according to Malavika Kannan.
Many women are not only calling the police on their neighbors but also perpetrating violence against them. A recent example is Amy Cooper, a New York woman who called the police on a Black man in Central Park.
In 2020, numerous incidents across the country made national news, prompting many to link such behavior with systemic racism. Suddenly, a white woman who calls the cops on someone of color is labeled a racist.
Recently, the term “Karen” has become a derogatory label for white women who use their privilege to demand their way, sometimes at the cost of Black and brown people’s safety. While it can be an effective tool in elevating racial justice discussions in public debate, overuse could prove damaging.
Social Media
Social media has provided people with a platform to express their emotions, thoughts and experiences in real-time. It has also become an outlet for individuals to connect with friends and family.
White Americans have been forced to confront their systemic racism in recent years, especially following a string of brutal murders of Black and brown people. Utilizing social media as a platform, they have begun holding other white people accountable for their institutionalized racism.
Many of these white people are young. They take to Twitter to expose their racist classmates, organize “diversity panels” and attend Black Lives Matter rallies.
Recent social media trends have elevated the term “Karen” to represent middle-class white women who are seen as entitled and demanding special privileges. Karens often escalate the situation when someone in their group denies them what they feel is rightfully theirs; additionally, they use false victimhood as a weapon, often breaking down authority figures with tears while exaggerating or lying about their experiences.
In the United States, there has a longstanding tradition of cisgender white women using their privilege in subtle and not-so-subtle ways to uphold a system of white supremacy. These actions are known as “Karen” syndrome behaviors and they have significantly shaped how society views cisgender white women generally.
Recent videos of racist, entitled and rude white women have gone viral in recent weeks. Examples include a woman coughing on customers at her bagel shop and another who leans on a car in a parking lot.
These actions constitute a violation of basic human rights and civil liberties, as well as the laws of the United States. Furthermore, they could cause public embarrassment and financial or professional repercussions for those caught on video.
It is essential to remember that anyone caught on video can become the target of criticism and the media, even if their actions were deemed insensitive or uncalled for. Therefore, some are trying to differentiate between the person whose image has been captured on film and those who may have made the mistake of assuming they were Karens simply because they had heard of or used the term negatively.
Video
Recent video footage on social media shows an uptick in white women, commonly referred to as “Karens,” who are perpetrating acts of racist violence against Black and brown people. Although there may be other factors at play here that have caused these violent incidents, one factor is clear: white privilege plays a significant role.
This privilege often leads to strong emotions, particularly anger directed at people of color. This anger often fuels violent and threatening Karens who seek to dehumanize Black and brown people in pursuit of personal gain.
These videos often take place in public settings, like school board meetings, dog parks, subways and basketball games. This makes them particularly disturbing.
One video depicts a white woman verbally abusing a Black man who is rooting for his team during a football game. She shouts at him for being rude and repeatedly attempts to strike him with her finger as she leaves. Her significant other appears passively threatening her at one point in the exchange.
These women are abusing their white privilege by being aggressive and violent towards people of color, creating further division in society. Additionally, they show white people that racism is not a thing of the past but still very much alive in our culture today.
Additionally, these videos demonstrate that the Karens sometimes fail to accept responsibility for their own actions and may not even realize they are being racist. Instead, they act out of anger and frustration.
This can be a dangerous trend, as it could engender more racially motivated violence against Black people. University of Kentucky student Sophia Rosing recently attacked Black freshman student Kylah Spring with physical violence coupled with the use of the N-word.
In addition, the video of a white woman spray-painting a monument to York – the sole Black member of Lewis and Clark expedition who died during their journey – serves as another reminder that “Karen” has become synonymous with racial slurs and destruction of Black history. Therefore, it is essential to call out these white women for their abusive behaviors and use of the n-word.
