In recent years, the term “Karen” has come to symbolize entitled white women who exhibit public tantrums and call the police on others when they don’t get their way.
Recently, videos of violent Karens have gone viral, from calling the police on Black families to refusing face coverings while shopping. While some of this behavior may have been motivated by racism, not all Karens are hateful.
1. Angry Karen
Social media has enabled angry Karens – white women who yell at managers or police officers for whatever reason – to go viral. These YouTube videos typically feature a middle-aged woman with blonde streaks and bob-cut hair who looks like she might be a soccer mom.
These videos may appear amusing, but they’re actually an example of how some women take themselves too seriously and act out when their needs aren’t being met. These women aren’t doing so out of malice or malicious intent; rather, they’re expressing their own sense of self-importance and entitlement.
Angry Karens have been making headlines on the internet for some time, but their presence has only grown more common over recent months. These women tend to hang out in public areas and can often be seen yelling at store employees or harassing police officers.
The term “Karen” originated as a sexist reference to an angry white woman who would use her privilege to get what she wanted or call out other people’s behavior. But it has since taken on a life of its own online, with many people using it to describe anyone perceived as petty or selfish.
With the rise of Karen videos, the term began to be applied to anyone perceived as entitled or rude in public spaces. Notable examples include Central Park Karen calling police on a black man for asking her to leash her dog and Anti-mask Karen screaming at a Gelson’s Market employee for refusing to wear a mask.
However, in these videos the woman was acting out of frustration and a feeling of helplessness. She could do nothing to protect herself from the COVID-19 pandemic and was being treated unfairly because of her medical condition.
It’s evident that this woman’s behavior was a reaction to her lack of self-assurance, yet it also appears as though she was being extremely rude to everyone around her. In fact, several people were having heated debates with her about it in the video footage.
2. Mad Karen
Recently, videos of an increasingly unruly Karen have been making their way across social media. These Karens often express their displeasure in public places but can also break the rules and cause trouble.
Though ‘Karen’ originally served as a derogatory term for white women who insisted on speaking to managers, recent events have taken this archetype to new heights. Public freakouts involving children have become popularly referred to as “Karen videos” and have become an Internet obsession.
Burger King Karen, Ken who shouted at a Black person on the street and Portland’s “Wall of Moms” bloc that use their privilege to demand justice against white racists in the city are just some examples. But perhaps most troubling of all is this latest iteration –the so-called Coronavirus Karen.
This form of “Karen” typically refuses to wear face masks in stores, ignores quarantine orders, and believes the pandemic is overblown. Additionally, it tends to be more aggressive than other versions of this archetype and can be dangerous if not taken care of properly.
Though many of these incidents may be due to the stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic, they remain incredibly disturbing. Furthermore, some experts suggest that many of these meltdowns are often indicative of bigger underlying issues like mental health or substance abuse issues.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what causes Karen’s outbursts, but we spoke with some experts in the field for their insight on what might be going on inside her head. While they cannot pinpoint why some women act this way, there are some things that seem to set her off.
Although many of these outbursts are caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they can also be indicative of wider issues related to race and class in America – especially rural areas. But oftentimes, Karen’s anger stems from her belief that she has been wronged.
3. Angry Mad Karen
Recently, people have been recording footage of angry Karens in public places. These videos often feature either a white woman or man screaming at people while they pass by.
Some of these videos, like the one above, have gone viral on social media with millions of views. Not only are they disturbing and captivating but they’re also extremely dangerous.
Many Karens are middle-aged white women and often wear masks when socializing with others. Unfortunately, they become frustrated by coronavirus-related laws or rules that are imposed upon them and having to wear masks in public places where they might otherwise interact with other people.
Some, however, are angry about the pandemic itself and are refusing to wear face coverings in stores, restaurants or other establishments as a form of protest. They’re often verbally abusing service staff members, while sharing conspiracy theories and disinformation on social media.
According to Aram Sinnreich, an associate professor of communication at American University in Washington, D.C., a Karen is “a white woman who takes everything wrong with the average over-entitled western woman and amps it up several thousand percent”.
The term ‘Karen’ has a long-standing presence in American popular culture, yet its use is becoming more and more widespread. It can refer to anyone from racist Karen who calls the police on Black people to women who block cars at parking lots and shout at strangers while out in public.
Although they are a minority group, it appears that angry Karens have been particularly targeted during this period of political and economic unrest. Furloughs and layoffs, job losses in manufacturing, as well as lockdowns have all left many feeling resentful.
They’ve also been affected by racial discrimination in their workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. According to her, the rise of Black Lives Matter and other protest movements has created an additional layer of social insecurity for them.
Many social media users find these videos and memes necessary and insightful, however some are quick to point out that Karens are predominantly white women. This, they contend, reflects a sexist culture in which women are often encouraged to suppress their anger.
4. Angry Entitled Karen
Karen is a term that has gained widespread recognition in recent years and describes an upper class white woman who uses her privilege to demand things from those without. Common examples of Karens include those who label minimum wage employees at restaurants and retail stores as blunderers, demand refunds, or have tantrums when they don’t get their way.
They often display rudeness, insensitivity and downright danger to those they demand from. Furthermore, these individuals lack empathy and compassion towards others.
Karens are often middle-aged white women who demand unreasonable things from those they work for. Unfortunately, there are more sinister versions of Karens appearing in society; one example being a version who calls the police on an innocent Black man for asking her to leash his dog.
When speaking with Karen, it’s best to stay calm and listen intently. You don’t have to agree with what they have to say, but you should try your best to understand their concerns.
According to Dani Weller, customer service team leader at Bionic, it’s important not to patronize them and speak as if the person were a child. She recommends being understanding of their situation and reminding them it isn’t their fault for whatever has transpired; that could help ease their feelings of guilt or disappointment.
Though you don’t want to put them in an uncomfortable situation, if someone has been calling the police on you or making racist comments then you must act. It is much more serious than one might think and could cause embarrassment for those being attacked.
Dealing with Karens can be challenging, but it is worth doing the right thing and staying calm. There’s a good chance those they attack won’t see through their anger, so by staying composed you could potentially save lives or build stronger communities by avoiding these types of incidents.
