Karen Russell’s third short story collection, Orange World, is just as imaginative and captivating as its predecessors. These tales weave together reality with the fantastical, capturing the strangeness that coexists with our everyday existence.
Northern Michigan University alumnus Julian Victor LaMarr Gaines (’15 BA) created the cover art for New York Magazine’s story “The Karen Next Door,” continuing their collaboration with them on their “I Voted” cover project.
Magazine Coverage of Entitled Karens Who Had Private Freakouts
Many have seen and shared stories about Karens — mostly on social media but also in the news. Generally middle-aged white women who become angry when their wishes aren’t granted or they come across something which disturbs them — usually racism.
Over the past year, “Karen” has become a byword for middle-aged and mostly white women who exhibit extreme temper tantrums in public. Experts attribute their behavior to an accumulation of entitlement, privilege and disenfranchisement coupled with feelings of rage.
This trend, which started a few years ago, has spread to social-media peanut galleries and even the halls of power. Last October, Amy Cooper – a bird watcher – called 911 on a woman trying to leash her dog in New York City’s Central Park with false allegations that the person’s life was in imminent danger.
These “Karen” meltdowns may not always involve racism, but they remain indicative of systemic racial bias and discrimination, according to Lillian Glass, a communications and body-language expert. Furloughs, layoffs, stress from lockdowns and the return of Black Lives Matter have combined to leave many Karens feeling insecure and threatened, according to Glass.
Karen notes that when people of color face such discriminatory incidents, they often lack the capacity to defend themselves or seek assistance. This leaves them less cautious and more likely to react inappropriately; which explains why we see so many videos online of Karens screaming at people of color.
These videos can be both captivating and disturbing, often garnering tens of millions of views online. Unfortunately, these videos demonstrate a profound lack of comprehension regarding racial inequality and how people of color must confront both personal struggles and racism head-on.
But the real story behind these “Karens” is one that’s currently taking place in our society and should not be ignored: racism. It’s the rust on the barbed wire dividing some White Americans from people of color that allows videos like these to spread so easily online. That’s why these Karens can so easily be filmed and made popular on the internet.
Magazine Coverage of Entitled Karens Who Didn’t Have Public Freakouts
Magazines have long been at the forefront of viral content, and Karens are no exception. They frequently feature in articles that showcase the latest fashions and can even make an appearance at major events such as Oscars or Super Bowls.
Most of the time, stories about Karens aren’t particularly noteworthy; however, there are a few notable exceptions. This is likely because even well-known Karens don’t always cause public scandals.
Women often make the biggest errors when they least expect it. Here are a few of the best examples: One woman tried to skip lines at a popular Las Vegas strip mall, but that wasn’t exactly her story. Another lady trolling her ex-partners for a photo op at work or trying out an expensive perfume without spending any money was another memorable story!
Magazine Coverage of Entitled Karens Who Did Have Private Freakouts
Karens are people who become intolerant and refuse to follow the rules, usually at grocery stores or airports. These individuals can become highly charged over issues such as anti-vax conspiracy theories and mandatory masks, with footage often captured and shared online.
Some of these videos have achieved unprecedented popularity on the internet, generating curiosity, condemnation and criticism from people across America. They’ve been featured in multiple publications and often shared on Twitter, Facebook US:FB and Instagram.
Some criticize these stories as sexist, misogynistic and even racist. They contend that videos featuring mostly women ignore the experiences of people of color who are disproportionately victims of racism and policed by both white men and women alike.
According to Aram Sinnreich, associate professor of communication at American University in Washington, D.C., it’s likely that the Karen phenomenon is a response to the sexism and racism prevalent in society today, particularly the U.S. The videos serve as reminders that women often feel pressured into hiding their emotions while men are expected to be strong and decisive.
Another explanation is that those making these videos are rebelling against a damaging myth about female hysteria that has permeated society for decades. They fear they’ll lose their power if they cry and feel too vulnerable to stand up for themselves.
Some criticize the Karen narrative for trivializing the anger and economic disenfranchisement that propelled President Donald Trump to the White House in 2016. Lillian Glass, a communications and body-language expert from Los Angeles, believes that furloughs, layoffs, lockdowns and Black Lives Matter’s return are making people of color feel unsafe and unprotected.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what causes these entitled Karens to become so distressed in public, but it likely stems from a combination of their own resentments and anxieties combined with the stress caused by economic and social changes affecting many across America.
