Karen is a term used to denote an arrogant white woman who acts entitled, expects special treatment and gets easily enraged. It’s often used to criticize self-absorbed middle aged or racist women who take advantage of their white privilege to demand their way.

Recently, the term has gained notoriety on social media platforms. It’s often linked with negative behaviors like refusing to wear a face mask or expressing racism against service industry workers.

A white woman who acts entitled

Karens are women who act entitled and expect special treatment. Over the last few years, this phrase has become commonly used to refer to white women who exhibit excessive assertiveness.

Karens, usually middle-aged women, can be perceived as a threat because they often harass others and call the police on others – including in some cases their own neighbors or children.

They use their anger to intimidate and discriminate against Black and other people of color, often due to white female entitlement. This type of behavior has a detrimental effect on the lives of Black people.

One of the most famous examples of this phenomenon was a video that went viral in 2020. This clip showed Amy Cooper calling the police on a Black man in Central Park who was threatening her and her dog. This incident garnered national attention and even led to legislation being passed in San Francisco that prohibits Karen-like behaviors in public spaces.

Terence Fitzgerald, professor of social psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, believes these women are often affected by racial issues that have nothing to do with their mental health. He suggests it’s more likely that white people attempt to maintain exclusive access to certain public spaces through cultural “redlining”.

He noted that Karens can be especially risky because they can use the police to shield them from their own racist acts. This was particularly evident in Cooper’s case, who falsely reported to police that a Black man was threatening her and her dog.

The issue with these complaints is that they can be incredibly costly, both financially and in terms of time. Furthermore, they may cause harm to already overextended exploited workers and their families.

Elizabeth Gillespie McRae’s Mothers of Massive Resistance: White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy describes Karen as a “white feminist,” who uses her privilege to demand that she gets her way at others’ expense. She describes Karen as someone who “takes everything that’s wrong with an over-entitled western woman and amps it up several thousand percent.”

Karen has become a symbol of the widespread consumer outrage that has followed the coronavirus outbreak. She has gained greater notoriety recently, particularly at a time when twin crises of race justice and public health have created an atmosphere of unease and disruption across American life.

A self-absorbed woman

Karen is a self-absorbed woman who expects special treatment and becomes angry quickly when it isn’t given. She often exhibits judgmentality and lacks empathy towards others.

If you’re in a relationship with someone who is self-absorbed, it’s essential to recognize the effects this type of behavior has on your connection. These behaviors can cause immense hurt such as resentment and lack of trust within a partnership.

Be mindful that this type of person may push their own opinions and ideas forward, regardless of whether they serve your best interests. That doesn’t mean you should be rude to them; rather, treat her with respect and courtesy when she shares her ideas or thoughts.

Another indication of a self-absorbed individual is their competitive nature. This could manifest in her boasting about some project or accomplishment after you share yours, or when feeling bad about something that has happened to her, she may try to one-up you by sharing how good things went for her instead.

Sarah Birkel, a psychologist, notes that people who are self-absorbed often become easily angry. This is because they become so focused on themselves that they don’t consider how other people may be feeling. This can be especially dangerous for someone in a romantic relationship with someone who is highly self-absorbed.

Birkel recommends keeping a journal and writing down things about yourself that come to you. Doing this can help you learn how to alter your behavior and become less self-absorbed.

This will also enable you to determine if you are acting out of self-importance when you act in ways that annoy other people. If you find yourself frequently becoming angry or snapping at others, this could be indicative of being self-centered and it’s time for action to change your behaviour.

Self-absorption can often be indicative of a lack of respect and consideration for others. To truly be a good friend or partner, you must learn to prioritize other people’s needs and desires alongside your own.

A middle-aged woman

Karen is a middle-aged woman who expects special treatment and gets frustrated easily. Typically, she’s white, drives a minivan, and sports an unruly blonde bob.

Recently, Karen has become synonymous with white women who get caught up in racist incidents as seen through viral videos and memes. This term originated with black American internet culture back in 2010, but has since spread across all races and genders.

Therefore, it is essential to comprehend how and why this phenomenon began and why someone might be labeled a Karen.

The term “Karen” is not an actual name but a character with similar features, created as a way to mock those who expected special treatment. But it has since been adopted into other contexts as well, with people using it to disparage those with older names or those whose surnames are less commonly used.

Recently, the term was used to mock a woman who refused to wear a face mask while being asked at Costco store. She was labeled as Karen after refusing to put on the mask, and video of the incident went viral.

Recent data from the Social Security Administration and collated by the Baby Center show that most Karens in America today are middle aged women. This name rose in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, meaning today’s Karen is more likely to be in her 50s or 60s than ten years prior.

However, this doesn’t make people don’t feel the stigma of being called a Karen at times. That is why it is essential to be aware of the name and how it might be used so that you can protect yourself from becoming the target of abuse.

Karen can be an effective way to end an argument and move on, but it’s not always necessary. Before you launch into a tirade or demand to speak to the manager, ask yourself whether it will really benefit you in the long run.

A racist woman

Karen is an unflattering nickname for a middle-aged woman who complains excessively and displays entitled behavior. She might even be racist in nature.

The term is commonly used to denote middle-aged white women who complain, express petty grievances and exert power dynamics unhelpfully. While it has been applied to various people over time, it’s now most often associated with racist groups of white women.

Recently, “Karens” have made headlines around the world for all of the wrong reasons. They’ve been condemned for calling the police on a black birder and filing a complaint against a Black man who stenciled BLACK LIVES MATTER on a wall.

Karens often display white privilege to demand their way. A recent viral video featuring Amy Cooper, a white woman who called the police on Christian Cooper, a black birder for making an offensive comment in Central Park, serves as one of the most egregious examples.

Other examples of “Karens” in the news include white women who make racist slurs or confront black people for minor offenses like writing their phone numbers on a wall. While some have labeled these incidents as racially charged, it could simply be that those involved are products of an environment in which they have more power and privilege than others.

At first, the term “Karen” was used to denote an irritable and self-absorbed middle aged woman; however, it has since come to be associated with racist and discriminatory behaviors, especially among women – particularly during lockdown when it became popular for opposing mask mandates and other Coronavirus regulations, refusing quarantine measures, as well as spreading misinformation online about coronavirus outbreaks.

This has led to an increasing backlash against the name, which many now view as outdated and misogynistic. Last month, British feminist commentator Julie Bindel tweeted that ‘Karen’ is a “woman hating and class prejudice” slur.

Share This Article