Have you been keeping an eye on social media lately? Chances are, you may have seen videos featuring white people acting out their anger with Karens – it appears to be a trend!
Contrasting with Becky and white tears tropes that focus on portraying innocence of race relations, Angry Karen represents performance of privilege.
1. Take a break.
Anger can be an intensely negative emotion that erupts quickly when we least expect it. Recognizing what you are feeling and taking steps to bring it under control before it escalates can help stop an outburst from spreading and becoming an explosive moment of passion.
One effective strategy for dealing with anger is taking a break from whatever situation has you fuming. Stepping away will allow your higher brain – capable of more rational thought – to reawaken, as well as give you time to consider whether the issue at hand truly represents an injustice or simply your personal frustrations.
Humor can also help diffuse anger. When calling someone names or making disparaging remarks, imagine them as an object instead of human. That will put things into perspective and may make you realize just how silly your anger really is.
Anger management for Karens can be challenging, but with patience, understanding, and self-control it can be managed successfully. Reaching out for assistance from trusted friends or family who will listen and encourage self-care may help tame it further. For frequent flare-ups seek the services of a therapist who will identify any contributing issues to your emotions as well as provide tools to effectively manage them in healthy ways.
2. Talk it out.
When faced with someone who just won’t back off from an argument, talking it through can often help calm things down and bring your higher brain back together with your lower brain – this way bringing your anger under control. If you find yourself calling out names or using derogatory descriptions like dirtbag, stop yourself before saying those things aloud (for instance imagine picturing what that word looks like physically instead). Remembering other perspectives might also help.
Angry Karens have become an increasingly prominent presence in recent news coverage, from viral videos of personal injury attorneys berating protesters to the standoff between two white women in New York’s Central Park. While this meme may be linked to anti-vaxxer activism, it also captures a more general rise of white rage that is fed by our sense of cultural precarity and consumer entitlement (as represented by MAGA-wearing men, incels and right-wing male gammons). Yahoo Life interviewed experts to get their insights as to why this trend is occurring and found their insights were both enlightening, disturbing and hopeful – read the full piece here!
3. Listen.
In any difficult conversation, it’s essential that both parties can clearly hear what the other is saying – that means hearing emotions as well as information. Word choice, delivery method and any hints as to their emotional state give us insight into who the speaker really is; understanding this helps ensure a productive dialogue.
If you find yourself dealing with an angry Karen who seems upset over everything from dog poop on her lawn to shade cast by that tree over there, it may help to recognize and comprehend any fears, anxiety or insecurity underpinning their anger – this will enable you to avoid either judging them or getting drawn into their emotional drama.
The Angry Karen trope has emerged at a time in American life when public health and racial social justice crises have created uncertainty, upheaval and change. By embodying particular constellations of entitled white privilege and class privilege, Karen has become a meme representing middle-class living with her unflappable anger, often appearing in form of caricatures reminiscent of Soccer Moms or consumer entitlement figures such as Becky. Furthermore, Karen’s ascension feminizes Becky who long represented insecure white men whose privileges were being taken away – figures usually represented by MAGA-hat wearing men or ‘incels’
4. Don’t take it personally.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, when dealing with an angry Karen it is essential to keep in mind that her anger is not directed at you directly. Instead of getting caught up in her negative energy it would be wiser to find positive solutions for her problem rather than get drawn into a downward spiral of negativity and negativity.
The term ‘Angry Karen,” referring to white women who exhibit arrogant and angry behaviors, has gained much notoriety over time. Social media accounts such as @karensgoingwilds catalog countless videos of such individuals acting out in public – whether that means demanding to speak to management or calling police over minor infractions; these women can be quite bothersome!
Karens tend to fail to recognize how their actions are harmful; they view life through a very narrow lens and have difficulty showing empathy towards others. Instead of acknowledging their error and acknowledging any correction necessary, these Karens may escalate the situation leading to heated arguments between themselves and others.
Karen may appear irrational at times, yet experts warn it could be caused by an underlying mental health condition which she isn’t seeking treatment for. If she keeps losing her temper frequently then having a discussion about PTSD treatment or any psychological disorders should help. A therapist can teach Karen ways to better control her emotions while offering the support needed.
5. Don’t yell.
Anger is an entirely natural emotion, yet it can quickly spiral out of control in an instant. Recognize your anger patterns before they escalate and take steps to stop further outbursts from taking place.
If yelling is part of your problem, consider setting an ambitious yet manageable goal to stop altogether. Doing so could improve both your overall well-being and alter how you interact with others.
When feeling angry or stressed out, try counting to 10 and taking deep breaths in and out. Doing this may help regulate your stress response and ease tensions; or if someone triggers your response by speaking harshly to you directly, consider leaving for some time until your nerves calm.
“Karens” have become an emerging trend in US culture, often white women who exhibit public tantrums of entitlement and appear perpetually angry. Instagram accounts like @karensgoingwilds have captured footage of Karens screaming and acting out publicly; experts attribute these behaviors to low self-esteem or entitlement; however, that shouldn’t excuse their behavior or tolerated. If you identify as a Karen, work on keeping your anger under control so you can make better decisions for yourself and those close to you.
6. Be calm.
The term Angry Karen has become an online meme during Ebola, when awareness of white privilege and entitlement has increased significantly. Created by a Black Twitter user, its scope has since broadened to encompass middle-aged white women exhibiting entitled behavior — such as demanding to speak to management in workplace settings, restaurants or public places – who display such behaviors such as demanding speaking rights from managers.
As soon as we become angry, the top part of your brain (where higher thinking abilities reside) lose control of its lower part (more primitive and fight-or-flight brain). That is why when anger strikes we feel an overwhelming urge to yell or scream and start feeling sick to our stomach – digestion shuts down so more fuel can go towards fighting, running or fleeing from whatever may come our way.
When facing off against an angry Karen, it’s essential that you remain calm. A great way to help is taking a deep breath and counting to 10 before saying anything – giving your brain time to reconnect with its rational and problem-solving parts so you can think more clearly about why you’re angry and how best to approach solving the situation. Staying as calm as possible will result in more productive discussions!
