Through history, there have been people who displayed rudeness and ignorance but eventually understood their behavior to be wrong. We’ve all been there at some point.
Recently, Karen has come to be associated with an arrogant white woman who believes they deserve whatever they desire – from calling the cops to demanding to speak to a manager.
1. An Entitled Karen Who Became Kind
Karen has become synonymous with an attitude of entitlement that many have developed. It describes those who act like rude, spoiled brats who will do anything to get what they want, without regard for others or respect for the rules of the world. Karens lack empathy and will take no for an answer even when doing so goes against all logic and sense.
But the internet has started to change that mindset. A new trend, known as “Karen-ing,” has emerged online which involves publicly shameing women who engage in selfish behavior.
Social policing has become more prevalent since the Covid-19 virus spread, as people became more conscious of class inequities and other forms of privilege.
The term was first mentioned by a Tumblr user who posted a picture of a Nintendo Switch promotional trailer featuring “Karen.”
As Karen meme popularity increased, so too did its anti-science attitude. Initially, Karen was portrayed as an arrogant white woman who wanted to “speak to the manager” about something most would dismiss as insignificant.
After 2020, however, Karen became much more than this. Her sexism, classism and anti-science views manifested with greater intensity than previous versions of the Karen.
In a 2020 interview, one of the authors of the book explained to me why they believe it’s so important: It demonstrates to readers that there is more than one kind of Karen out there; rather, it’s an intricate group with many faces which can be both kind and unkind.
Another type of Karen is a self-centered, entitled child who will do anything to achieve their own objectives. Raising such children can be challenging because they develop an overinflated ego which no one should ever try to deflate.
It can be a terrifying situation for them, as they will do anything to maintain their ego even when it’s wrong. This trait makes them so incredibly unlikable.
So the question is this: which kind of Karen do you aspire to become? An arrogant self-entitled brat or someone who strives for kindness and generosity?
2. An Entitled Karen Who Became Kind at Work
Karens are people who act entitled and expect certain privileges, or become easily angry. They tend to be white, affluent or middle aged women but can also be anyone who exhibits aggressive petty or demanding behavior.
Over the past year, there have been major shifts in the “Karen” meme: from being a disparaging dig at anti-vaxxer moms to becoming an emblematic symbol of social policeing and 2020’s contentious racial politics. Now calling someone a Karen has become almost universally associated with angry, self-absorbed white women – and it’s no longer just for laughs anymore.
This term is often associated with videos depicting aggressive, petty behavior by mostly middle-aged white women. These individuals block people from open car spaces, shout at retailers over refund policies, and call 911 on Black people – all examples of racist bigotry.
Some experts speculate that these behaviors stem from an individualistic mindset, a dislike for being told what to do, and an overwhelming sense of entitlement. Others point to recent racial tensions or police violence as potential triggers for these meltdowns, potentially leading to an uncontrollable reaction.
No matter your opinion on Karen, her story is a sad one. It symbolizes our current society where power and control reign supreme, as well as an indication of what some consider to be a lack of empathy, compassion and kindness.
A glance at Instagram accounts like @karensgoingwilds will provide evidence that this issue is prevalent around the world, impacting all races. It’s especially concerning during a time when there is such a national uprising against police brutality.
These videos don’t just show women shouting at each other without cause – they’re an indication of how white supremacy has taken hold. In some instances, these Karens appear armed and intimidating as well.
Karens tend to be arrogant jerks who don’t seem to get what they want. Their actions in public speak ill of them and do a disservice to all women.
3. An Entitled Karen Who Became Kind at Home
The internet has been overrun with videos of “Karens” — white women caught on camera committing racist acts. This movement has spread rapidly and exponentially, leading to the creation of social media pages like @KarensGoing Wild which document these incidents.
The term “Karen” is often applied to middle-aged white women who possess an entitlement inherited from their mothers and grandmothers, often seen as racist and demanding. Unfortunately, these individuals use their privilege to push others around without considering the repercussions.
Karens have a reputation for pushing boundaries at work and calling the police on their neighbors, but they also seem to have an affinity for social policing in their personal lives. This trend was compounded by the deadly Covid-19 flu outbreak which increased vigilance and made people more likely to report suspicious behavior to authorities.
Due to the rise of social policing, however, some have begun questioning the origins of the Karen meme. It remains uncertain if it originated as a joke about an stereotypically bossy white woman from Dane Cook’s 2005 movie or was created similarly to other racist memes. Additionally, it could be seen as a satire on misogyny and meant to mock how white women are held to higher standards than men in our society.
When a town in Washington was forced to remove an Halloween decoration featuring a mannequin dressed as Karen, some people defended the offensive display. Yet it’s hard to accept that anyone would call such racism “jokes,” when it’s being used to stir up racial tension within an area.
One YouTuber, Rachel (CrinkleLuvinASMR), tells me her character named Karen on her popular satirical series is often misunderstood by other viewers. After seeing how the Karen meme had become politicized, she decided to change Karen’s behavior accordingly.
Her latest videos appear to take a different approach to social policeing, emphasizing her cat and relationships with others. While it may not be suitable for everyone, this shift in direction from earlier, highly charged videos is welcome.
4. An Entitled Karen Who Became Kind at School
In internet culture, the term “Karen” is increasingly being used to denote someone who appears entitled and likes complaining about everything. It also applies to women who seem to make a big deal out of things most people would probably just brush off, such as having bad customer service experiences or dealing with restaurant employees who are too nice.
This slang has been around for some time, but recently it’s become increasingly popular. In the past, it was mostly used to refer to women who would request meetings with their managers when their expectations weren’t being met – no matter how unreasonable those demands may seem at first sight.
Over time, this has evolved into a more racially charged epithet: Karen. It is used to denigrate those who are self-absorbed, racist or simply mean to others; The Atlantic described Karen as having “an entitlement, selfish desire to complain”, with an attitude usually associated with middle aged white women with blonde bob haircuts.
In the spring of 2020, however, the name began to take on a much more meaningful connotation. It became a symbol of white supremacy and an acronym for social policing.
It is regrettable that such behavior has become so widespread, particularly at a time when many are becoming more aware of racism in our society. If we want to live in an inclusive world, this lesson must be learned.
While in high school, I had some very entitled friends. They would act rude to other students and even call the police when they weren’t satisfied with something in their lives.
One of these girls, known only as “Karen,” would always whine about everything wrong in her life. She had an attitude and wasn’t particularly fond of being treated with respect by others; therefore, she rarely complained.
I decided to help her change her ways, in order to foster better relationships with her friends and other students. I explained that if she could demonstrate kindness and respect towards others, then she would become a much better person overall.
