Recently, the term “Karen” has become a ubiquitous meme, symbolizing an upper class white woman exhibiting behaviors indicative of privilege.
It’s often associated with people who demand “to speak to the manager” to demean service industry workers, are anti-vaccination, and engage in racist microaggressions such as asking to touch black people’s hair. These actions have their roots in systemic racism and cannot be isolated incidents.
What is “Karen”?
Karen has become a widely used expression on social media platforms. Often used to denote someone who is rude or obnoxious, Karen’s popularity doesn’t stop there – there are other reasons too!
The term “Karen” has been around for some time, but its usage on social media has taken on a whole new meaning. According to CBC writer Karin Geier in a recent article, Karen carries an even broader connotation online than it does offline; it can be used to mock people for their beliefs or other reasons.
Some sex experts are worried about this trend, particularly because the term can be used to dehumanize women. They emphasize how dangerous it can be when used to vilify those accused of racism.
Dr Lauren Rosewarne, a gender, sexuality and pop culture researcher at the University of Melbourne, noted that Karen was often used as an insulting term for middle-aged white women who feel entitled to certain things in life. She likened it to how “Sharon” and “Tracy” were used in sitcoms like Birds of a Feather to disparage younger working-class women.
Particularly on Twitter, the term has been condemned for being a racial slur. Many users tweeted about this on the hashtag #KarenMeme, labeling it an offensive term that only applies to white women.
The term “Karen” has become controversial due to its association with the Covid sex pandemic that spread rapidly through the US in the 1990s. Originally coined to refer to someone who refused to wear a mask, it’s now being applied more generally to individuals exhibiting undesirable behavior in America.
Researchers from Stony Brook University, who have researched the consequences of viral nicknames on society, contend that such terms dehumanize individuals and foster a mob mentality. Referring someone by an epithet such as “Karen” can be likened to burning someone alive in effigy; it takes away their identity from them and allows others to associate them with an unpleasant stereotype.
Why is this term so offensive?
“Karen” is an internet meme that has grown increasingly popular over the past couple of years. It refers to a type of white woman who behaves entitledly in public.
Karen has been interpreted as sexist and ageist, with some people even suggesting it targets women. It is essential to remember, however, that Karen does not refer specifically to people of color.
According to Know Your Meme, the Karen meme began as a joke on Reddit in 2014 and quickly gained momentum when it became associated with an entitled middle-aged woman sporting an “I want to talk to the manager” haircut.
Karens have become a popular term among social justice activists, though the term has been debunked. According to Alicia Sanchez Gill of UCLA, “Karen” has always been associated with negativity; Karens are typically depicted as privileged white women who practice classism and racism on a daily basis.
Karen points out that Karens don’t need to be middle class; they can be lower class with similar behaviors. For example, Karen cites the example of the Wall of Moms bloc in Portland, Oregon which consists mainly of middle-class white women using their privilege to protest systemic racism.
Deciphering when someone isn’t a Karen or acting inappropriately can be challenging. Some Karens are actually more vulnerable to racist micro-aggressions than other, yet that doesn’t make them any less problematic.
Karens have been known to file police complaints against black people for minor infractions. These can range from asking someone to touch their hair to calling the cops over someone writing “Black Lives Matter” on their own property.
Karens are an emblematic symbol of racism that dates back decades. Not only do they symbolize sexism and inequity, but also discrimination.
Karen is an arrogant, narcissistic woman who uses her privilege to assert her rights at the expense of others. She tends to be overly critical of herself and relies on social media for validation. Additionally, Karen opposes vaxxing, engages in racist microaggressions, and demands to speak directly to store or restaurant managers.
What are the implications of “Karen” on social media?
What starts as a joke or meme on these platforms can have far-reaching repercussions, sometimes even leading to people having their names changed.
The recent rise of the term “Karen” on social media platforms has been an alarming development. What once seemed harmless has taken on a much darker connotation and been used to label those who have become increasingly aggressive online.
According to Aram Sinnreich, an associate professor of communication at American University in Washington, D.C., the term “Karen” is an insulting slang term for a privileged white woman known for her hypocrisy, rudeness towards service industry workers and anti-vaccination views. Stereotypical Karens are known for their lack of compassion towards others as well as for being anti-vaxers.
Aram also points out that “Karen” is often used to express anger and frustration when someone feels mistreated. It can be used as a signal that they need to take action, but it also may be seen as an act of sexism.
Though not new, this kind of behavior has been around for decades. With the rise of social media, however, it’s become easier than ever for this kind of sexism to reach a wider audience, amplifying its appeal.
One of the most infamous examples of this kind of behavior is a video from last year, in which a white woman called the police on a black birder for walking her dog. The clip went viral and has become an iconic part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Racialized fear can often be the result of systemic racism and classism, making these conversations about race and inequality all the more challenging to have. But they must be addressed as part of a broader dialogue about equality.
In the US, where there is a longstanding legacy of racism and racialized violence, it is essential that we take an honest look at these types of incidents and don’t ignore or minimize them. This is especially pertinent as social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook become increasingly important platforms for people to communicate and share information.
What can we do about it?
The term “Karen” has recently gained notoriety on social media and caused outrage due to how it’s being misused. It has become a colloquially disparaging term for an often white, entitled group of women known for their racist attitudes and behaviors.
Karens are women who believe they possess all of the answers and are determined to prove it. They’re the type of people who call police on Black people in parks, harass neighbors on their own property or insist that their way is the only right way to do things.
Over the past few months, Karen’s mocking of certain anti-vaxxer mom brands has evolved to serve as a metaphor for the political and class tensions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter activism. This shift has transformed her term from being about entitled white women to signifying the precariousness of middle class life in 2020.
Though there is no way to prevent the emergence of this kind of inflammatory behavior, there are ways to respond. First and foremost, it’s essential to address the underlying assumptions that underlie such actions.
This can include informing employees about their employer’s social media policy and providing them with comprehensive information regarding laws designed to prevent discrimination and harassment based on age, race and gender. Furthermore, it’s imperative to call out and shame those individuals for their offensive and harmful conduct.
It’s essential to consider the consequences of such behaviors for those targeted by these remarks. While seemingly harmless, such remarks could be seen as acts of discrimination if someone brings a lawsuit alleging age, race or gender discrimination into court.
Finally, it’s essential that these types of jokes aren’t shared among employees during work hours. Doing so could open your company up to discrimination or harassment lawsuits in state or federal court.
