The Karen stereotype has become a widely-used internet meme in the last year or so. It refers to women who exhibit their sense of entitlement by demanding things from others.
This article delves into the history and definition of this sexist term, considering its relevance in a society where racism remains an entrenched part of everyday life.
Origins
Karen used to be a derogatory term for middle-aged white women who were overly demanding and had an unattractive bob cut. But in recent years it has come to symbolize those women who engage in racist behaviors such as harassing police officers or making police complaints against Black Americans.
Robin Abcarian, a writer for The Los Angeles Times, believes the Karen nickname has its roots in sexism and an attempt to exert control over Black people. She believes it’s a reaction to rising racism in America today.
In the early 2000s, as white people gained wealth and privilege, they viewed themselves as having more power than their black counterparts. The stereotype of Karen emerged when stories about privileged white women behaving in ways that sucked life out of people of color were reinforced.
Abcarian notes that Karen became an example of white privilege, often seen as “overly aggressive and self-serving” in public. She stated, “It’s their way of making themselves appear powerful while having their needs met at the expense of others.”
The Karen name has seen a comeback on social media, fueling an anti-sexism stereotype of black people for not salting their food properly or being too hysterical.
Many believe this sexist-based stereotype originated on social media and has gained in popularity over time, but experts suggest it was created offline as well. It has been linked to Karmacop97 – a Reddit user who started the subreddit Fuck_You_Karen two years ago.
After one redditor posted an offensive rant against his now-deleted ex-wife, Karen became widely used as an epithet for villainy online. It quickly gained notoriety as a popular pick among internet trolls.
Dr. I.M. Nick, a name expert and former president of the American Name Society, has compared Miss Ann and Mister Charlie – names popular in African American culture during the 19th century – to arrogant white people who saw themselves as superior to Blacks. These epithets depict arrogant white people who felt superior to those of color according to Dr. Nick’s observations.
Meaning
In recent years, the Karen Stereotype has gained notoriety for depicting white women who act as though they have the right to demand things of others. It has become so prevalent that it even has its own subgenre of internet humor – “Pool Patrol Karen” and “Dog Park Debbie.”
The term, which originated in the US and has now spread worldwide, refers to a middle-aged white woman who displays behaviors rooted in privilege. Examples include demanding to speak to the manager and being racist.
At a time when there was widespread media attention to racial justice and police brutality, Karens were linked to incidents where they threatened black people, such as Amy Cooper’s video of Christian Cooper in Central Park in 2020. This incident drew widespread media coverage and stirred up public concern, followed by other instances of “Karen-ing,” like when a white couple pointed guns at peaceful protesters passing their house in St. Louis, Missouri.
In an age of pandemic fear and anxiety, a new version of Karen has arisen: the Coronavirus Karen (see Figure 1). This kind of Karen refuses to wear face coverings in shops, won’t follow quarantine regulations, and believes the whole pandemic thing is overblown.
These actions constitute a form of “pandemic shaming”, in which the “Karen” is cast as the morally righteous victimless white woman who refuses to be silenced by face coverings or quarantine. Jennifer Weiner (2020) notes that this action comes at an especially timely moment as twin crises related to public health and racial social justice have recently come into public discussion.
Theories have been proposed to explain why the Karen stereotype has become so ubiquitous. Dr. I.M Nick, a nomenclature scholar and former president of the American Name Society, suggests one possible cause is due to social media platforms’ use of shortenings and abbreviations for shortening names and addresses.
Another possible origin may be the popularity of naming children after characters in movies and TV shows, according to Professor McBride. These shorter names tend to be easier for people to recall than traditional options like “Sharon” or “Tracy,” she notes.
Significance
Racism often creates difference (real or perceived) as natural in order to exclude and marginalize a social collectivity within certain hierarchies of power. It does so by downplaying or exaggerating differences between individuals (or members of an ethnic minority group) based on physical characteristics or other markers; and through social practices which marginalize members of ethnic minority groups in order to maintain the status of the majority group.
Racial divides can take many forms, such as discriminatory laws and practices, discriminatory attitudes and expressions, discrimination against individuals and groups, and exclusion of ethnic minority groups from public life. Its most significant manifestations include racial violence and discrimination, segregation, and social dominance by the majority group.
Racism is a dynamic process, its effects varying over time and space depending on factors such as the dominant society’s political context, culture, education system, economic structure and presence of ethnic minorities. It is an intricate multilayered issue which has serious negative repercussions for social wellbeing such as self-worth, physical health status, support networks and life satisfaction levels.
Racist beliefs can have a detrimental effect on children’s self-esteem, particularly during their formative years. Additionally, they may increase the likelihood of low educational levels, unemployment and low income levels for individuals as well as hinder job search efficiency (Miles, 1993: 101).
Social constructs such as power imbalances and wealth disparities can be used to justify and reinforce existing social rules, such as power differentials. Examples of this include using a proper name to represent an archetypal or stereotyped character like “Uncle Tom,” who stands in for an affluent old man; or using “Stepin Fetchit,” to depict an ambitious woman with money problems.
Karen is the victim of racism on a regular basis online, where it’s used as shorthand for white women who engage in behaviors perceived as sexist or racist. These include calling the police on Black people for allegedly breaking the law or asking store employees to speak with their manager about any inconvenience that arises.
References
The Karen Stereotype is a term used to describe middle-aged white women who demonstrate class privilege, usually described by their blonde bob hairstyle and signature phrase: “let me speak to the manager.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, videos emerged online of people refusing to wear face masks in stores and restaurants and often verbally abusing service staff. These videos quickly went viral on social media platforms.
As the epidemic continued and protests for racial justice were ignited, it became increasingly apparent that many of these incidents were committed by white people. Thus, the Karen Stereotype gained popularity as a shorthand for sexism, racism and antisocial behavior in America.
Karen Stereotype: Not only a sexist identifier, the Karen Stereotype also serves as a powerful reminder of US exceptionalism – where power is not earned but asserted. As such, it’s been adopted by generations from millennials to baby boomers as an insult against those who haven’t kept up with modern times.
Karen reached its height of popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, with some sources suggesting it remains widely used by members of that generation today. Though its use has fluctuated since then, Karen remains one of the most common baby names.
It has often been compared to other names in pop culture, such as “Sharon” and “Tracy,” the characters from Birds of a Feather. These terms are often used to disparage younger, working-class women without necessarily being racist.
Reporter Rachel Bindel noted the rise of the Karen meme in a tweet, noting its similarity to how “Sharon” and “Tracy” were used in Britain during the 1980s to dismiss working-class girls. She further added that people are using it to describe young white women who don’t speak up or fight for their rights.
Although research suggests that changing social norms can help reduce racism, it may not be easy to affect large-scale behavioral shifts. According to psychologist Amy Ropp, the most crucial step in combatting this problem lies in understanding why people engage in such behaviors in the first place.
