Karen, Becky and Stacy have become derogatory terms for certain kinds of women. A Karen typically sports a bob haircut, drives a minivan and likes to complain about life; additionally she tends to act entitled and be close-minded.
At a time of widespread coronavirus outbreaks, Karens have often been ridiculed for opposing social distancing practices and using the pandemic as an excuse to unfairly police others. Some claim this meme is misogynistic and classist; yet other argue this labeling could actually be misinterpreted as misogynist and classist.
1. Don’t Take it Personal
As anyone familiar with social media knows, Karen is not seen in a positive light. Instead, it has been used as a pejorative term to refer to women who act in an entitled or rude manner – generally white women; although its application extends across racial and gender identities. Furthermore, it has become a generalized form of prejudice directed against any white woman deemed acting in this manner.
Recent years have witnessed an upsurge of people being called Karens online. Most often this involves white women who become an internet sensation for their actions – Amy Cooper became one such Karen in 2020 after calling the police on an African American man who asked her to leash her dog in Central Park.
Behavior like this often stems from a sense of entitlement and privilege – both prevalent in today’s society – but while recognizing their impact is important, so too is not elevating them by labeling other people “Karens.”
Common features of a Karen are her bob cut haircut, suburban lifestyle, and tendency toward entitlement. This type of person tends to be middle-aged and often vocal about their beliefs – which may be considered narrow-minded or outdated. Karens may also exhibit racist tendencies when engaging with others.
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, we’ve witnessed more and more instances of Karens appearing online. While this may be alarming, it’s important to keep in mind that there are many people who do not act like Karens but may still be perceived as such; oftentimes this happens due to sexism, racism or bias against marginalized groups – all factors which contribute.
2. Don’t Be Angry
Karen is an offensive term recently resurrected to describe white women who appear entitled. In general, Karens are middle-aged white women who act rudely or make demands – they typically possess blonde bob haircuts and demand retail and restaurant managers speak to them directly as well as acting snobbish and closed-minded. Karens may also openly express racist beliefs while acting entitled due to their privilege.
Karens aren’t the only people targeted by memes that defame their name, but they’re by far the most frequently targeted group. Recently, this trend has spread through social media as women who act in ways considered annoying become targets of these jokes; examples include “Karen at the Bagel Shop,” who complained that it hadn’t opened yet; or “Central Park Karen” who called police due to asking someone else to leash his dog in a park.
An offense and hurtful to women with the name Karen, using it this way is not only offensive but can also be deeply hurtful to real Karens who share it. Calling you out as being named Karen could feel personal – particularly if the one calling out your name is close friend or family member; and may signal deeper issues such as racism and privilege.
However, most times when someone refers to you as Karen they are making light of it or speaking jokingly – though the joke might be perceived as hurtful it should not be taken too seriously.
Some advocates argue that using the name Karen as a way of resisting is an act of defiance, drawing attention to how some white women act entitled and display racism and privilege; ultimately the goal is for more people to stop acting like Karens themselves.
White women have spoken out against the meme, finding it offensive and derogatory. Advocate Alicia Sanchez Gill likened its use to that of using Tracy or Sharon names against working-class black women during the 80s.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Karen has become a widely used term to mock white women who act entitled and obnoxious in public. The term gained wide notoriety after viral videos showing white women engaging in behaviors which some saw as offensive or racist – such as coughing on customers at New York City bagel shops or calling the police on Black birdwatchers in Central Park – were caught engaging in these behaviors on camera, sparking Karen-style outrage from viewers online. After their actions had been caught by cameras these white women became known by this name after being identified on camera as Karens by viewers watching their actions online – with many labeling these white women with this moniker.
While some have criticized Karen as being offensively sexist, it’s important to keep in mind that its definition goes further than simply any middle-aged white female. Karen often connotes an annoyingly entitled suburban mom with close-minded and racist tendencies who is closed-minded and racist – those stereotypes stem from real world experience and culture, so some women may feel as though they are targeted when being called a Karen.
As this meme has evolved, its definition has expanded to describe various situations; most frequently involving a white woman acting out over something minor; for instance when their coffee order arrives wrong or they get angry over an employee not acknowledging them in store. Another scenario commonly depicted by Karens involves calling the police on Black people for doing things which don’t break any laws such as chalking “Black Lives Matter” messages in public parks.
If someone accuses you of behaving like Karen, it’s important to find out why. Doing this may help identify any privileges and modify your behavior to ensure that it no longer mimics Karen behavior.
One way of doing this is to be open about discussing issues of privilege with those around you. Instead of getting angry when a worker at your local coffee shop makes an error, take the time to talk about it together so as to foster an inclusive and respectful society.
4. Don’t Make a Big Deal Out of It
While Karen, Becky and Stacy have become popular slang terms to mock certain white women, many might not realize just how offensive these names can be to women of color. Although these terms don’t directly target racism by targeting the dominant group within an oppressive system (whites), these names also possess an oppressive sexist dimension that could prove highly offensive to women of color when used against them; their use can often serve as justification for overt racist actions such as calling the police on someone for leaning against a car or calling out someone when calling them by name when engaging in overt racist acts (such as calling off someone for leaning against one’s car or calling police on someone for simply leaning against one’s car or calling someone up just because you recognized mentioning someone’s name while dining together at a restaurant).
“Karen” memes have emerged recently, often featuring images of a minivan-driving, middle-aged white woman with short blonde bob haircuts who is aggressive and closed-minded; often depicted as having short temper and tendencies to shout down anyone who disagrees with her beliefs or actions; she has become associated with being an entitled, rude woman who abuses their privilege to avoid consequences for their actions.
As well as being offensive to many people of color, the term “Karen” can also be hurtful to women unfamiliar with being labeled as such. When being accused of being Karens it can cause confusion, anger and hurt – however the best course of action should always be to remain calm and take no offense at this assertion.
For instance, if someone calls you Karen and you become defensive or argue back that their statement is inaccurate. Doing this only serves to escalate the situation further and increase tensions. Instead, try focusing on positive aspects of your relationship and what commonalities exist between both of you.
For example, if a friend accuses you of being Karen because you support mandatory vaccinations during a coronavirus pandemic, thank them for their concerns while explaining that while your views differ from theirs on this issue, this will demonstrate your ability to listen and discuss differences without turning into heated arguments.
