Sociologists have proposed theories as to why Karens act in such rude, racist, and entitled ways. These explanations often involve a combination of racism, sexism, and selfishness.
One sociological theory that has recently gained attention is one based on white privilege. This theory often explains why middle-aged white women will yell at Black people in grocery stores or call 911 when a Black man asks her to leash her dog.
Rude
Sometimes it can be difficult to comprehend why Karen acts the way she does. We see videos on social media of her calling the police on an 8-year-old selling water on the sidewalk or slamming a store clerk trying to give her a refund. While these are all examples of Karen going off the deep end, remember they are simply people who have become angry and frustrated with life.
Thus, they may believe that the only way to make themselves feel better is by hurting other people. This not only leads to dangerous outcomes for them personally but it can also have long-lasting negative impacts on those involved with them and their behavior.
Karens have long been mainly women, but more and more men are adopting these traits as well. Unfortunately, some Karen-bashers display an irresponsible level of contempt towards others without apparent cause.
Karen’s type of behavior can be highly toxic to others, particularly those in service roles. If Karen gets into an argument with a service worker, it will likely be difficult for them to walk away unscathed.
These individuals tend to be entitled and insecure, with a strong urge to speak to managers or other authority figures about everything. That is why it is so essential to be respectful and calm when conversing with a Karen.
Another way to understand why some individuals act the way they do is by considering their past experiences. These individuals have gone through great hardship in their lives and have developed resentment towards the world as a result.
Society must address and prevent this problem as much as possible. Doing so is the only way to break the cycle of anger and frustration that causes these types of people to act this way. These individuals can be a major hindrance for those trying to live their best life, as well as an immense threat to anyone they come into contact with.
Racist
Karens are individuals characterized as unreasonable demanding, rude and entitled. Usually seen with short blonde hair and sunglasses, these individuals complain a great deal about their situation. Additionally, they demand to speak to managers often leading them to take inappropriate and embarrassing actions in search of resolution.
Sociologists believe these behaviors are indicative of a superiority mindset rooted in white women who use their privilege and victimhood to oppress others. They can be likened to Carolyn Bryant’s false accusations against Emmett Till, which ultimately led to his lynching.
Racist Karens have been known to falsely call the police on Black men, alleging they were endangering their lives or property. This behavior has sparked national conversations about how making such calls is considered a criminal misdemeanour.
Karens may be the product of classist society, with upper class people perceiving her traits as exclusive to working class individuals.
Another sociological theory suggests these traits may be indicative of how much people from lower economic backgrounds have been discriminated against in the past and how that impacts their attitudes toward racism. This hypothesis also suggests that stereotypical Karen may be more vulnerable to racism than other individuals if they have been raised with negative stereotypes about white people during their formative years.
No single answer exists to this question, but it’s essential that we consider the nuances of our society as we try to understand why some people act the way they do. Additionally, this helps us recognize when someone may be acting inappropriately – an invaluable tool in avoiding racism or discrimination in our own lives.
Entitled
Have you ever glanced at your social media feeds or logged on to your computer and seen an entitled Karen? These women are loud, shrill, and always demanding. They call the police on Black and brown people, harass their neighbors, and always strive for what they want – no matter the cost.
It’s no wonder the internet is full of entitled Karens – they lack empathy and an ability to recognize their own privilege. This lack of comprehension makes the entitled Karens so frustratingly entitled.
Thankfully, sociological theories exist to explain their behavior. One of them suggests they’re simply trying to cause trouble.
It is not only common, but also indicative of their lack of empathy towards others. Entitled individuals typically strive to ensure everyone sides with them and does not get knocked off of their privileged status.
Another explanation for why entitled Karens act the way they do is because they lack self-worth and don’t believe in their abilities to succeed. This leaves them incapable of handling things like having a disagreement with someone.
Karen is the epitome of victim-blaming culture. They lack awareness of their own shortcomings, believing they can pick fights with anyone who annoys them and then use this as an excuse to criticize others.
These entitled Karens are so blinded by their own prejudice that they fail to recognize its connection to the rise in racist and anti-Black behavior in this country. They simply see a group of people with different skin colors and are determined to make them feel guilty for being mistreated by instilling in them the idea that they are the ones at fault for their mistreatment.
It is a common trait among entitled people to act selfishly and with little consideration for others, making their behaviour both irritating and frustrating. Unfortunately, they lack the capacity for good deeds or respect towards others; often unaware that this leads to some being pushed off their privileged status. As such, it’s essential to watch out for these individuals when they’re around and offer assistance where possible.
Misogynistic
In the early 2000s, a phenomenon known as “Karen” emerged on social media platforms. It became a term to denote entitled white women who think they’re better than everyone else and demand their rights while instructing others how to perform their jobs.
Karens tend to be self-righteous and racist, as well as possess narcissistic tendencies. The character ‘Karen’ in Game of Thrones epitomizes this stereotype: she values herself above all else yet will go to any lengths to maintain her status.
Many Karens don’t intend to cause harm; rather, they are trying to cope with their own feelings of worthlessness and insecurity by acting out.
When we observe these “Karens” on Twitter or in real life, their attitudes seem so superficial and one-dimensional that it’s hard to comprehend why they act this way. They act like spoiled brats who never got disciplined in school and are simply bored and frustrated with their circumstances.
But this resentment of other people’s choices is also motivated by class hatred. When middle-aged white women say that “Karens” are “sexist, classist and ageist,” they’re displaying an explicit expression of class hierarchy.
In the US, it’s more common for middle-aged white women to identify as Karens than black women or other racial groups. This trend began during a time when racism was experiencing a resurgence in America.
The growth of ‘Karens’ over the years is a testament to how far this American culture has evolved, demonstrating that ‘Karen’ is no longer just an amusing joke. The Karen phenomenon has become an accepted cultural trope with its own sociological implications and serves as an effective way of drawing attention to the entitlement prevalent in our society today.
The term ‘Karen’ is an outdated and offensive caricature of white thirtysomething married women that doesn’t need to be humorous in order to be offensive. Its use to describe all thirtysomething white, heterosexual couples is just as offensive as any other sexist stereotype of that group of people. This form of prejudice is the ugliest I’ve ever witnessed and seems so out of place in modern society.
