Anyone who’s ever encountered an entitled Karen can attest to how irritating and petty they can be. When traveling, running into one of these people can present a unique set of challenges to deal with.
Bionic, a business comparison service provider, has provided some helpful strategies for dealing with them effectively. Follow these strategies for an effortless travel experience and to avoid being labeled a Karen.
1. Don’t Take It Personal
Entitled Karens can be difficult to manage, but there are strategies that will help you manage their difficult personalities. For instance, not taking it personally is one of the best approaches when dealing with these individuals.
Avoid becoming frustrated or hurt by their words if possible; doing so only serves to aggravate yourself and further hurt their feelings.
Making it personal can be an effective way to demonstrate to Karen that they’ve been wronged, but it also gives them the chance to take offense at your actions and use it against you. This could prove particularly dangerous if the Karen struggles with handling conflict effectively or tends to act out frequently in daily life.
It’s essential to remember that entitled Karens come in many forms and each has their own distinct personality. Some may be extremely aggressive, pushing you into doing something you feel is wrong while others will be more relaxed and attempt to understand why you may be hesitant.
Another type of entitled Karen is one who believes they are superior to others and acts with spitefulness because they feel they have more rights than the person they’re disputing with.
Thankfully, technology is here to help with this dilemma. Unfortunately, some entitled Karens have taken to social media platforms leaving negative reviews of businesses or even demanding they be fired from their positions.
2. Don’t Get Angry
Entitled Karens are middle-class white women who recognize their privilege and use it to take advantage of racist power structures. Often mothers, these individuals use their power against service workers or anyone deemed lower in social status.
The term “Karen” originated in African-American communities as a way to criticize cisgender white women who benefit from racism and white supremacy. But it has since become an internet meme that highlights the entitlement of white middle aged women who can just as quickly demand to see a manager for minor infractions as they are to call the police on Black people going about their business.
It’s undeniable that the anger evident in Karen meltdown videos has been displaced and that many Karens may be facing personal and financial struggles. Furloughs, layoffs, stress over lockdowns and the return of Black Lives Matter have left many feeling vulnerable and threatened.
Yahoo Life sought advice from several experts to understand what might be causing these meltdowns. Lillian Glass, a Los Angeles-based communications and body language expert, believes that many of the resentments seen in these videos may be due to systemic discrimination.
Professor Aram Sinnreich of American University in Washington, D.C. has observed that some Karens are unable to tell the truth or even make a legitimate claim for themselves. These individuals may be more vulnerable to bullying like that seen in the Karen meltdown videos.
On this episode of One Decision, we explore different strategies to handle challenging personalities like entitled Karens. These include empowerment and making your own decisions as well as recognizing when you’re being taken advantage of. You will also learn how to manage your anger without going too far in taking actions; thus enabling you to manage these difficult circumstances more healthily and productively.
3. Don’t Take It Personal
When dealing with entitled Karens, it’s essential not to take it personally. Doing so could negatively influence your behavior in a negative way; leading to poor decisions and even self-harm.
For instance, if Karen the entitled customer comes into your coffee shop demanding that you alter your policy to accommodate her preferences, it is wise not to take it personally. Doing so won’t help resolve the situation and may actually aggravate Karen’s feelings further, according to Weller.
Instead, attempt to calmly explain the situation, keeping your emotions under wraps and providing facts as accurately as possible. Doing this will give you a chance to explain why maintaining certain policies is necessary and it is unacceptable for Karen to harass you in any way.
If the issue persists, you can always report them to higher authority. Doing so will guarantee that their abusive behavior cannot continue and in extreme cases you may even take them to court for justice.
There are many ways you can manage an entitled Karen’s challenging personality, but one of the most effective is not taking it personally. This doesn’t mean you should ignore their behaviors completely; rather, respond with politeness and understanding when they are being difficult.
This strategy can be especially useful in workplace settings when dealing with an entitled Karen. By showing that they do not understand your point of view and letting them see why something is unfair or discriminatory to you, it will enable them to see things from your perspective and realize it is unacceptable.
4. Don’t Take It Personal Too Far
If you’ve ever encountered an entitled Karen, you know it can be a frustrating and exasperating experience. They tend to nitpick at everything so much so that they rarely give those around them a chance to feel appreciated. In the end, you must accept the fact that no matter what you say or do, they likely won’t be satisfied with what you have accomplished.
When dealing with an entitled Karen, it’s essential not to take it personally. Many times these individuals have underlying mental health issues which contribute to their unreliability and demands.
Neglecting their problems could have serious repercussions if you choose not to address them. You could end up losing your job and/or face legal repercussions for what you’ve done.
When encountering a Karen, it’s best to remain professional and not get personal. Doing so could trigger their meltdown and they may not even realize it. Additionally, an uncomfortable exchange could ensue whereby they become less willing to share their story with you.
Additionally, being taken for a personal prank by someone is never ideal; it could backfire and they might not hesitate to tell their friends about your encounter.
The term “Karen” is often used to denote middle-aged white women who act inappropriately, rudely or with entitlement. Examples include demanding to speak to the manager, wearing a specific bob cut hairstyle and/or being racist.
The phrase has been connected to several racially-charged incidents, such as the 2020 incident where a Central Park birdwatching enthusiast called the police on a black man who started filming her and her dog. According to British feminist commentator Julie Bindel, this episode serves as an example of systemic racism and police brutality at its worst.
5. Don’t Take It Personal Too Far
Karens can be a challenging individual to work with. They tend to have strong opinions on a range of issues, such as their jobs, the economy and social movements like Black Lives Matter. Additionally, Karens may become overly defensive or assertive in responding to situations.
Many entitled Karens are white, middle-aged women who feel entitled to the things they earn regardless of what others think or believe. They tend to be highly sensitive to any slight inconvenience and use this as an opportunity to gain what they desire.
They tend to pick apart any perceived slight, and usually won’t relent once a complaint or demand has been escalated to their manager. Furthermore, these individuals can be abrasive and rude towards employees, be anti-science, or be extremely picky about what they purchase or where they go.
Karens are becoming an increasingly common social media phenomenon, often labeled with the hashtag #Karens. While they can be challenging to manage due to their strong opinions about various topics such as their jobs, the economy and social movements such as Black Lives Matter, they also represent a growing minority within society.
The term “Karen” has several different origins, but it’s usually applied to describe a white middle-aged woman who acts out in public. Some have labeled this term an insulting pejorative while others believe that it serves as an opportunity to speak out against casual racism and privilege experienced by some white women.
It is essential to remember that these labels can be problematic, particularly when they are employed as a way to shame women who have engaged in overtly racist actions in public. That is why San Francisco city councilwoman Shamann Walton recently introduced CAREN Act – Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act.
