An anonymous name like “Karen” can carry great clout. This is especially true when used to identify women who commit offensive or racist actions in public spaces.
Meme-famous Karen can often be found as a middle-aged white woman wearing an asymmetrical bob and demanding to speak with the manager. She tends to be demanding and self-righteous; an example of someone unable to follow simple directions.
It’s a joke
“Karen” has become a ubiquitous internet meme that paints an offensive stereotype of an entitled, middle-aged white woman with an asymmetrical bob haircut and an air of entitlement. A Karen is often described as rude and peevish; often demanding service workers or managers speak with her directly before venting her frustration on others – usually making up excuses to demand they speak with management or demanding to speak directly with one. A Karen often lives in suburban households with children. Occasionally they own minivans.
“Karen” has taken on new meaning during the coronavirus pandemic, becoming increasingly popular among black Twitter users as an easy way to identify white people engaging in selfish or racist behavior – for instance a white woman blocking someone else’s car while birdwatching in Central Park might be described as such by these users and thus used as an example to demonstrate racial inequality and abuse of power.
Some may argue that Karen is sexist; others claim it as just another form of criticism. Karen was once one of the most popular baby girl names from 1957-1966 (peaking at number three according to Social Security data), while it was used during that time to refer to Sarah Jessica Parker (also dubbed Karen on TV’s Mean Girls).
Since 2010, the Karen meme has taken hold on the internet, inspiring a subreddit dedicated to mocking it and other tropes. While sometimes used as criticism against white women who abuse their privilege, it often applies to older adults with narrow views who refuse to wear masks in public and complain about it instead. For example, one could observe Karen refusing to wear one due to inconvenience.
Not to be outdone by its meme counterpart, Karen-esque refers to individuals who act similar to Karen. These slang terms don’t aim for offense but simply highlight certain behaviors which are unacceptable.
It’s a slur
Karen is a term coined on social media to refer to middle-aged white women who exhibit signs of entitlement, typically through videos showing these women acting rude or racist in public spaces. These women can often be identified by their bob haircuts and outspoken views on racial issues; furthermore they often engage in aggressive confrontational behavior in public. Many social media users and politicians alike have come to embrace this stereotype.
Although widely employed online, this term has been heavily criticized as both sexist and racist. It has become a derogatory slang used against white women who act entitled or are unable to control their emotions, or that drive minivans with loud engines but can often be found screaming at others because she believes she always knows better and cannot do wrong.
Karens first emerged in December 2017 when the subreddit “r/F—YouKaren,” featuring Kate Gosselin’s picture, was established. Their popularity then spiked during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 as people began viewing viral clips showing white women engaging in what critics view as selfish or racist behavior such as chasing another person around Victoria’s Secret parking lots or falsely reporting black birdwatchers for being threats – leading them to be referred to as Karens by name. For instance “Parking Lot Karen” was given this name after engaging in such behavior during this virus epidemic – while another woman called Central Park Karen made headlines due to calling police on black birdwatchers whom she falsely accused them of being threats by falsely accusing them.
Karen can be used in other ways as well, including insulting women who are perceived to be annoying, racist, or difficult to work with; and to call out older women with narrow-minded views.
While originally created to call out white women’s problematic behavior, the Karen meme has since been taken up by far-right groups for use as a form of social control and even by some politicians to attack opponents.
It’s a remark
“Karen” has become an internet meme to poke fun at white women who display rude or ignorant behavior, although its exact source remains unknown. Though its precise roots remain unclear, many believe the character Karen stems from Dane Cook’s 2005 bit “The Friend Nobody Likes.” Her character depicts an entitled minivan-driving white woman with an asymmetrical bob and “speak to the manager” haircut who complains constantly while having an air of superiority about everything and anyone – an act even Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot herself has participated!
Although generally harmless, some have been offended by its use. Mocking someone by using their name is considered sexist, leading some critics to accuse the Karen meme as racist. Additionally, conservatives have co-opted the meme in order to mock liberal women – it has also been used by White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany!
Karen memes have long been used to target women who exhibit selfish or ignorant behaviors. For instance, Central Park Karen was widely mocked after calling police on Black birders she allegedly believed threatened her. Recently during the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, many white women who engage in discriminatory conduct or rude behaviour have been demonized as Karens and ridiculed through memes.
r/F—YouKaren subreddit is dedicated to mocking stereotypical “Karens,” who complain constantly and have inflated egos. It has since spread onto other social media platforms such as Reddit where it now has over 600,000 members; its users share memes and videos featuring stereotypical “Karens.” Though often offensive, its fans have rallied behind its creators who pledge more content in the future and will update and adjust according to user feedback as well as provide ways for reporting inappropriate material on Reddit itself – which users must register before commenting!
It’s a compliment
Karen is a female name that has become a slang term to refer to certain types of women. People use it often when mocking rude or entitled women. But some believe that Karen has racist overtones. Others view it as sexist for targeting only women without male counterparts in its usage; furthermore it often applies specifically to white women and their behavior, thus compounding its problems further.
“Karen” has emerged in recent years as an internet meme to poke fun at middle-aged, suburban, and white women who behave entitledly in public settings – such as when one acted entitled at a New York City bagel shop by coughing on patrons; or when another called police on her neighbor for stenciling “Black Lives Matter” onto her own property. Numerous viral videos have also been labeled with this moniker; even Chicago’s mayor joined the joke!
Although its true source is unknown, some believe that “The Friend Nobody Likes” came from Dane Cook’s 2005 comedy act; others point to its possible inspiration in Mean Girls from 2004. Today it’s used frequently among Black Twitter users and can also refer to certain types of women.
One popular meme is “Karen in the Store,” in which a woman in a store demands to speak with a manager because she didn’t receive what she desired. While meant as humor, some have claimed that this video can be offensive; ultimately it was taken down from YouTube.
Though met with controversy, “Karen” has become an integral part of social media culture. This meme has helped foster discussions around racism, privilege and other societal issues; gender and sexuality topics; while some claim the term is racist while others maintain that its sole use is to poke fun at white women who act entitled.
