People often become indignant and violent when they believe they have been treated unfairly, but some take things to the next level.
Karens are a group of mostly middle-aged white women who display anger and aggression in public. These Karens are real, and it appears they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
1. Aggressive Karen
Karen has become a widely used term online to describe middle-aged white women who engage in aggressive petty behavior. These actions often give off the appearance of being attacked, such as calling the police on a Black man who asks her to put her dog on a leash or screaming at a store employee about refund policies.
Aggressive Karens are well-known on social media, where countless videos document their misbehavior. These clips showcase Karen actions such as blocking people from an open car space so she can park there, demanding the manager see a permit for her backyard patio, and screaming at people trying to cross the street or pass her in a parking lot.
Karens have been around for years, but the viral videos of their confrontations really took off after the Central Park standoff. According to Lillian Glass, a communications expert, most of these rage videos stem from economic and personal problems combined.
Karen notes that Karen’s rise is also due to an increasing chasm between working-class whites and those left behind, who are experiencing various challenges such as layoffs, lockdowns and furloughs. These people may be feeling vulnerable due to all of this stress.
These frustrations are compounded in an age where anti-black state violence is on the rise and essential workers face increasing discrimination and exploitation. Jennifer Weiner (2020) suggests that Karen symbols have come to symbolize a kind of anger associated with these new precarious circumstances.
Dr. I.M. Nick, a nomenclature scholar and former president of the American Name Society, suggested that it is unclear where this trend started but speculates it could have been brought about by our increasingly use of shortening and abbreviating names on social media platforms. “Name shortening and abbreviations are becoming more frequent as technology allows us to communicate with one another more frequently,” she noted in an email.
2. Defensive Karen
Karen public freakouts, like many of the videos that go viral, can be caused by both personal and financial difficulties. A furlough, layoff or lockdown can all leave Karens feeling vulnerable and threatened.
Therefore, they tend to be more defensive than Kens. Furthermore, they’re more likely to document and express their anger on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook US:FB and Instagram.
Karen public freakouts are particularly popular in clothing stores and supermarkets, where women still tend to shop more than men. Videos of these women expressing anger on social media garner more clicks than those featuring men.
Lillian Glass, a communications and body-language expert, noted that people are drawn to the “toxic myth” of female hysteria. She noted how Karen phenomenon serves as evidence that millennial self-righteousness can be indicative of disenfranchisement or entitlement.
Karen Huger of The Real Housewives of Potomac is facing widespread criticism for her behavior on the show. Fans have accused her of being defensive and dishonest, particularly regarding how she handles her husband’s financial matters.
She’s received so much attention for it that her name has become a meme, according to Know Your Meme. These designations are meant to “depict white women acting entitled or rude in public,” the site noted.
Karens’ public outrages often center around their perceived disenfranchisement, yet they don’t always carry a racial undertone. That is because people of color face different societal challenges and experiences than white women do, according to Fitzgerald.
She went on to note that the term “Karen” is often used as an insulting label for middle-aged white women who act in ways they believe they are entitled to. She found this way of referring to them “distressing and misogynistic.”
That is why it’s critical to consider how Karen’s name perpetuates stereotypes about her. Additionally, remember that Karen isn’t the only kind of rage-filled, entitlement-seeking woman out there.
3. Aggressive Serial Karen
Have you been watching social media lately? You might have noticed an uptick in “Karen” public freakouts: videos of white women being called out for their seemingly irrational behavior. Typically, these involve someone screaming, spitting, cursing or pointing a gun at someone before receiving criticism on social media platforms.
Karen culture has a long-standing tradition, yet it continues to spread like wildfire across our society. What began as an internet meme has grown into an internet staple with no signs of slowing down.
It’s a trend that gained steam after the COVID-19 pandemic and has only worsened with George Floyd’s passing. The “Karen” phenomenon has also sparked heated debate about its origins and how it’s portrayed in the media.
Many of these viral videos lack solid evidence of a woman’s alleged transgression and provide little context for viewers. They typically consist of brief glimpses into an interaction that can be edited and distorted to shape the narrative.
In some cases, these incidents are so shocking that they become major flashpoints in conversations about race and police brutality. One example is when “Karen” was caught on camera pointing a gun at a Black Lives Matter protestor in St. Louis, sparking outrage across the country.
Karen public freakouts can also manifest when a woman attempts to attract attention by engaging other customers in conversation at a store. She might say things like, “I’m going to get you the manager” or “You need to pay me money.”
These people tend to be highly irrational and will attempt to make you feel bad by criticizing or accusing you of something. Additionally, they usually act with great loudness and sometimes show aggression if approached for conversation.
Karen public freakouts can be one of the most difficult types to deal with, as they are emotionally charged and frustrating. To prevent this from occurring, try your best to remain calm and patient.
