There is an array of online memes using “Karen” as an insult against white women who display problematic characteristics – both racist and sexist ones alike.
This all started as a joke on Twitter, but the phrase quickly gained traction among Twitter users and some even claimed it to be racist since only white women would understand its significance.
r/Karen
Social media users likely recognize “Karen,” an insulting name used for an “obnoxious, angry, entitled and often racist middle-aged white woman” who uses her privilege to get what she wants or criticize others’ behaviors.
Karens can often be found online, often calling the police on Black people in Central Park, demanding refunds after three months of trying to return something or being called out for wearing sports bras. Dressed in activewear with cropped blonde hairstyles and no fear of calling the authorities, Karens are well known for their disruptive and annoying behaviors.
Karen has become increasingly common over time, yet its name still bears remnants of misogyny. What began as a word attack has become an internet trend filled with women using it as a covert way to gain power or cause trouble.
Urban Dictionary states that an typical Karen will tell you how to perform your duties, assert your rights and lodge complaints against management. She may demand to see your ID and threaten legal action if you don’t do what she asks of you.
What if there was a male equivalent of Karen? Luckily, the Internet has already given birth to several examples of such characters.
As one example, there is a subreddit called r/F**kYouKaren where people share their experiences with women known for bad manners or annoying behavior – typically this subreddit sees several hundred new posts every month.
Some r/Karen posts might include photographs showing Karen demanding to speak to the manager, being racist or sporting an unusual hairstyle such as bob cuts. Some even take it a step further by filming and posting online their confrontations for all to witness!
As a result, r/Karen has quickly become one of the hottest topics on Reddit; now an official subreddit with hundreds of posts every month.
The popularity of r/Karen has attracted criticism from various groups. While some view the name as being offensive or discriminatory, others merely see it as harmless nickname.
This topic is divisive, as the term is being applied to various people of different types and races. Many women are upset at this trend while others remain confused as to why its name is being applied in such ways.
As part of their response, some have pointed out that calling Karen an indefinable female name is offensive and needs to be addressed. While valid points, these should not be overlooked or allowed to go unchallenged.
r/Ken
The “Karen” meme has come to symbolize an entitled white woman who demands her way in everything they do, be it asking a store manager for medicine she needs or shouting down waiters – these women clearly aren’t happy with the status quo!
Although originally used by men as a term of endearment for female friends and acquaintances, the word Karen has since become associated with sexism and should be avoided as derogatory name for women. Claire Shrugged pointed this out and stated it should not be used.
Though this may be true, this does not negate its use by people who feel forced to resort to violence as an outlet; sometimes using violence against another is necessary in response to incidents which could otherwise have severe repercussions for themselves and those around them.
Social justice activism may also include calling out white people who feel entitled to have their own ways or who demand things without reason, including Karens who act with privilege or whiteness. Therefore, it is crucial that her behavior can often be connected to her privilege or whiteness.
The Karen phenomenon has quickly taken hold across the Internet, from Twitter to Tik Tok and even as a doll sold at Lyst. Since 2016, Karens have been divided into distinct categories including Beach Dad Bod Kens, Bearded Hipster Kens, Balding Kens and Petite Kens – with Realistic Ken being one of the more interesting variations.
This new take on Karen is more stylized, yet still displays many of the traits that define an Entitled Ken: her desire for attention, stubbornness and entitlement. At first, she prefers doing things her way rather than listening to others’ requests; but soon enough there comes an unavoidable clash and she must face reality head-on and step outside her comfort zone in order to resolve it.
Male Karens have also been identified as disrupting social order and the Internet in a similar fashion; it can sometimes be unclear what these people are called or their reasons for disrupting it.
Some have likened male Karens to Donald Trump and Elon Musk, while others suggest they’re simply male versions of women who seem overly entitled. A female Karen features an iconic bob haircut while its counterpart does not.
Male Karens tend to be white and heavy-set individuals, making them more likely to join an alt-right group or become an activist with extreme political beliefs.
Due to these variations and its associated sexism, there is no single term that accurately represents male Karens. Since February 2020 only one subreddit dedicated solely to Karen has emerged; that one being r/MaleKaren.
r/KevinsGoingWild
Kevin Can F**k Himself subverts a fairly familiar sitcom trope: an abusive husband with long-suffering wife forced to clean up after him and his friends. Kevin deconstructs this trope into something much funnier; one can’t help but think back to all other versions like The Honeymooners, King Of Queens, Family Guy etc… when watching it!
But considering how successfully this show has pulled this off, I find myself asking: will they use their humor against any other types of shows as well? If they try satirizing not just sitcoms but all genres too then perhaps their message can really get across.
Notable similarities include that of KevinsGoingWild with YouTube channel entitled Ken, popular since 2010, as both channels share similar characteristics such as humor characterized by self-deprecating humor, emphasis on schadenfreude (which, lets be clear, can also be used as an offensive term), and overall themes of misguided sexuality.
As such, Kevin’s channel and its members are deeply invested in gender and sex issues. According to an interview conducted with him, Kevin says he uses his channel as a platform to advocate for gender equality.
Apart from its primary mission of raising sex issues, the channel also takes great strides in changing how people view men. For instance, they redesigned Ken to be more realistic by including wider waists and shorter stances; such an action could have significant ramifications on both boys’ and girls’ body-image.
Ken has an unmatched sense of joy and wonder that is often found fuelled by childlike innocence and minimal intelligence; they seem carefree as though bound by no limits and can see new opportunities in the world that most adults cannot even dream about.
At times dark, and often engagingly captivating, the show features an intriguing yet dark conceit: that of an “ordinary” husband with an extremely annoying, nutty and improbably attractive wife who cannot stop him from doing whatever he pleases with her. It’s an engaging take on this archetype; even if only half as effective in its deconstruction of this particular genre genre as its predecessors then watching is definitely worthwhile.
At the core of it all lies our main concern: not ‘entitled ken,’ but how this channel has altered itself to adapt into an emerging era in YouTube culture. This brave move may well have lasting ramifications on how this type of ‘channel’ develops in future years.
Nickolay Lamm decided it was time to give “Normal Ken” an overhaul after seeing what “Normal Barbie” could achieve in terms of realistic features like larger shoulders, wider hips and wider waists – along with skin colours, heights and hair types available – reflecting today’s shifting expectations of men. Lamm crafted the “new” Ken with realistic proportions that reflect modern society as we continue to redefine how men should appear and what their ideal look should be like.
