If you’ve spent any time online, then you are likely familiar with the Karen Meme. It features a middle-aged white woman sporting a spiky hairstyle who often complains and insults service industry workers for minor inconveniences.
Origins are uncertain, though many believe it originated with a joke Dane Cook made in 2005. Others point to Karen from Mean Girls, Goodfellas, 2016’s “antisocial Karen” Nintendo meme and an SNL skit from 2018 as potential sources.
Origin
The “Karen” meme has become a ubiquitous symbol of white women who are perceived as rude or entitled in public. Typically middle aged with an asymmetrical bob, this “Karen” poses a threat to service workers due to her aggressive, entitlement-fueled actions which stem from an incorrect ‘weaponized victimhood’ mentality.
This type of “Karen” has emerged amid a period of social unrest and upheaval in the United States that have led to an increase in racial inequality and classism. As people become empowered and gain access to wealth at the expense of those who are less well off, they have become less tolerant towards others’ needs.
As this ‘Karen’ has gained widespread adoption on social media platforms, she has been criticized as an ‘anti-white’ label that stigmatizes people of color. While this criticism can be applied to many internet culture motifs, it is essential to comprehend where this particular ‘Karen’ came from and how she has been characterized online in order to comprehend why her popularity has grown so quickly.
Over the past couple of years, Karens have been featured in several viral videos. These include a woman coughing on patrons at a bagel shop, calling police on Black man for birdwatching in Central Park and trying to reserve parking spots for herself.
Dr. I.M. Nick, a nomenclature scholar and former president of the American Name Society, notes that while these examples of “Karens” may not be seen as necessarily “racist,” they can be perceived to be so due to their focus on ‘weaponized entitlement’ and ‘racial bullying’ which contribute to what many perceive to be an overall problem with online culture in general.
The term ‘Karen’ has become a social media identifier and, while born out of an urge to label something invisible, has gained some resonance on the internet. For some people, posting about ‘Karens’ online feels like an outlet from real-world racial bullying; however, this approach only addresses symptoms rather than root causes.
Definition
Satires of the Karen Meme refer to social media posts and videos that mock the stereotype of a middle-aged white woman with an irresistible attitude. They are usually interpreted as harmless fun but also an attempt to subvert both middle class white women’s entitlement and racialized fear associated with treating people in service roles as though they owned them.
These behaviors are widely seen as the result of white privilege, particularly in America where there is a vast network of institutions that provide benefits to white people. Some experts speculate that this culture of entitlement contributed to the rise of Karen memes across America.
Karens have seen their popularity soar during the Baby Boom, becoming a ubiquitous trope used to decry various social behaviors. Similar to other pejorative catchall terms such as “Chads” or “Gammons,” the Karen term has become an effective means of mocking cultural and gender norms.
Karens are often described as people who act in ways perceived to be sexist, irrational or otherwise unreasonable, according to the University of Melbourne. The term is usually associated with middle-aged white women but can apply to people of all ages and races.
Karens can sometimes be perceived as threatening or dangerous when their behavior is recorded. For instance, calling the police about Black people in public parks or refusing to wear a face mask while at Starbucks are examples of Karens who pose serious threats.
People have taken to the internet in order to capture and post these incidents as viral videos, giving viewers a closer look at what Karen actually looks like and making her actions of aggression more visible to the public. It serves as an attempt to draw attention away from other media outlets while making Karen more visible to people at large.
The internet has made it much simpler than ever to capture this kind of obnoxious behavior. Not only is it a great source for satire, but also an effective tool in holding those responsible for such acts accountable.
Satires
Satires are forms of writing that poke fun at aspects of society, politics and human nature. These works of art can be found in literature, television and films and typically employ verbal irony, exaggeration and reversal to ridicule various topics from the viewpoint of one particular group or person.
When crafting satire, the tone and style you select can make a significant impact. For instance, humorous satires tend to be light-hearted and entertaining while serious pieces aim to draw attention to serious issues with greater intensity.
Satire can be found in novels, short stories, comics and news articles or essays. This literary device can be employed to criticize various subjects such as public figures, politicians, political groups, influential philosophies and popular culture.
Horatian satire, also known as comedic satire, is used to provide social commentary in a humorous tone. This form of comedy can be found on popular TV shows and movies and utilizes humor to critique various aspects of society while often touching upon current events in the media.
Juvenalian satire is more sinister and judgmental, focusing on moral judgements and potential social harm caused by certain individuals or groups. Although these works may be challenging to identify or comprehend, they typically elicit anger or indignation from viewers.
It’s an effective way to inform the audience on pressing issues that might not otherwise be discussed. Furthermore, it serves as a valuable platform for communicating the ideas of different cultures.
One of the best examples is The Colbert Report, which uses humor to poke fun at various political figures and current events. Saturday Night Live also frequently employs this technique when mocking major topics in society.
At the end of the day, it’s essential to recognize that satire and irony are two distinct literary devices that should never be confused. Satires aim to critique an individual, group, society or attitude while irony only applies when an author wishes to convey an alternate meaning or create a joke.
References
Karen Meme has come to symbolize a certain type of middle-class white woman who exudes privilege and displays racialized behaviors due to this position. These include demanding “speak to the manager” when making frivolous complaints, refusing to wear face coverings while shopping, asserting they are anti-vaccine, and engaging in racist microaggressions like asking Black people to touch their hair.
Though not a new practice, appropriating these images has gained increased attention recently due to numerous racially charged incidents. One particularly memorable case involves Amy Cooper – a white woman who called the police on a Black man in Central Park after they allegedly threatened her dog with harm.
According to Williams’ recent Berkman Klein event on the Karen phenomenon, these incidents are caused by systems of racial inequality. While these women typically do not intend to commit acts of violence, they may use their privilege to file false police reports.
Williams spoke to BKC fellow Allissa Richardson about the Karen phenomenon today and its use to “pull the pin on race grenades.” She noted that white women like Cooper can be seen as performing racialized fear, which in turn leads to displays of discrimination against Black people.
Although the exact cause of the appropriation of these images remains unknown, one possible origin could have been social media shortening. People employed in service industries – where Karen personas are particularly prevalent – could view this practice as an extension of their job descriptions or duties.
Employees who believe the Karen meme is having an effect on their workplace conduct or prompting discriminatory acts should consult an attorney about their rights under state and federal law. If an employee reports a discriminatory act to Human Resources, employers are obliged to investigate it promptly and investigate any complaints received.
Karen as a joke is not protected by these laws and it could lead to serious retaliation issues in the workplace. For instance, if an employee who is not promoted then makes a false police report, they could be charged with misdemeanor harassment.
