In the past, entitled white women who called the cops on people were known as Karens. While other terms have been used to denote such rude, often misguided behavior, “Karen” has become one of the most popular options.
It all began when a Reddit user shared an article about his ex-girlfriend Karen, who demonstrated an overinflated sense of entitlement. This post quickly went viral, becoming a meme and natural life phenomenon.
People quickly point out that the “Karen” moniker does not accurately reflect all middle-aged, white women who get angry in public. Instead, it denotes an entitlement or privilege that dangerously influences power dynamics in an unhealthy way.
Other critics, however, believe there to be more profound reasons behind the increasing popularity of Karen videos online. They claim that white women who can be so hysterical as to share a video on Facebook US: FB or Twitter may have internalized rage issues.
Though these videos often feature White women, the Karen name has ancient origins and is linked to racial inequality.
The term “Karen” derives from the Latin word “care,” suggesting that these women are more concerned with what’s happening around them than anyone else. Furthermore, they may feel they have more rights than other women – particularly those of color – other groups.
Karen people are an ethnic minority group in Burma that the military regime established in 1962 continues to oppress. Burmese soldiers pillage their villages yearly, murdering and raping women and children.
Women often flee to refugee camps in neighboring Thailand, where they can access food and medical care. Unfortunately, these facilities may be reduced or closed at the discretion of the Thai government.
The origins of the term
Karens is a slang term popularized by young people as an insult against older generations, first popularized on Black Twitter but since becoming part of Gen Z’s vocabulary.
Karens is a stereotypical image of middle-class white women who demonstrate behaviors indicative of privilege. Often, these women receive services they do not require and use their power to harass others.
They often engage in racist microaggressions and have been linked to calling the police on people for minor violations. This behavior has resulted in a wave of viral videos, such as one featuring a woman who called the police on another man while birdwatching in Central Park.
Bionic examined the names of women who reported such actions and found that many were Karens.
The company noted that this behavior was most frequent in the United States but not isolated to that country. They also noticed it in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Canada.
Social justice activists have condemned many of these women for their actions. For instance, a woman who called the police on racial protesters in New York City was labeled a Karen because her actions were seen as misogynistic and racist.
Similarly, a woman who refused to wear a face mask to protect herself from the coronavirus was labeled a Karen. This behavior has been seen as an offense of race in the United States and the UK.
In the United States, women who spread disinformation online or believe conspiracy theories about coronavirus outbreaks have been labeled “Condovirilizers.” This has been seen as a racially charged issue that disproportionately impacts black and other ethnic minority groups.
It is unclear when or how this term began spreading. Still, it may have originated as a parody of “Sharon” or “Tracy,” frequently associated with working-class women in British comedy. Bindel has asserted that this slur is antiquated and rooted in class prejudice.
The rise of social media
Social media has become an integral part of our lives and one of the world’s most popular communication technologies. Once seen as a place for high school and college students to hang out, it has become an essential weapon in the arsenal of digital marketers worldwide.
Instagram and Snapchat have become increasingly popular over the last year, offering businesses an invaluable way to connect and engage with new audiences. With 5.1% year-over-year growth in global social media users, platforms like Instagram and Snapchat continue to gain traction worldwide.
Globally, there are over 4.33 billion social media users, and their numbers continue to climb as new platforms and technologies take hold. DataReportal’s most recent figures indicate a 10.1% YOY growth in global social media usage from October 2021 through January 2022, showing no signs of slowing down.
According to the company, social media has become a powerful platform for connecting people from various backgrounds. Its influence is comparable to other modern communication-enabling technologies like computers and smartphones.
What has made social media so effective is its shared nature; people from all backgrounds and ages can use it. This is due to many platforms offering free accounts to all ages, making them more accessible than ever before.
Furthermore, it’s a platform that has allowed people worldwide to communicate in real-time, regardless of their location or language. As a result, individuals can connect with their friends or family on an intimate level.
Social media has given people more space to express themselves freely, leading to numerous social movements like #metoo and Black Lives Matter protests.
It has also led to several controversial incidents like Central Park Karen. This occurred when a white woman called the police on Christian Cooper – a black man – while he was birdwatching in Central Park.
This incident caused a massive outcry on social media, leading to the coining of the term “Karen.” According to Robin Queen, an associate professor of linguistics at the University of Michigan, this term now symbolizes middle-aged white women who are entitled, bossy, and intolerant.
The evolution of the term
Karen used to be a term used to denote someone with an arrogant sense of entitlement. Unfortunately, it has now come to be associated with those who exhibit rudeness and questionable behavior.
In Australia, some Karens are worried about the term’s increasingly negative connotations. This concern has been shared by one of Australia’s foremost linguistics experts.
Professor Roly Sussex, Emeritus Professor of Applied Language Studies at the University of Queensland, explained that this term originated as a “celebrity” term but has become sexist, ageist, and racist. She added that it had become an “unsafe” word, particularly given today’s political climate.
Many theories exist about how Karen came to be, though some speculate it may have been an abbreviation. Social media platforms have also been credited with developing as many users shorten their names online to create more recognizable online personas.
No matter its origins, this term has been widely misused online in racist and sexist memes. It has become a derogatory label for white women perceived as entitled.
It is unclear when this term originated, but it has gained immense popularity since then Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States in 2017. There was widespread anger over the disease, and many people began labeling other white people with “Karen” when being rude about it.
At first, this caricature of entitled white women was limited to self-important and bossy individuals who felt entitled to certain things that weren’t fair.
One famous example is a subreddit called F*ck_You_Karen, started by 17-year-old karmacop97 from Irvine, California. This subreddit took off when someone ranted about their ex-wife Karen.
When asked her opinion of the term, karmacop97 replied that while she does not find it offensive, the internet can sometimes be an “emotional place.” As such, she often gets offended by comments about her on other sites.
The present
Karens have made their way from social-media fringes to the halls of power. In October, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the Caution Against Racially and Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act, making fabricated or discriminatory 911 calls illegal.
These videos demonstrate the anger caused by personal and financial hardships. Furloughs, layoffs, lockdowns, and the return of Black Lives Matter have left many Karens and Kens feeling vulnerable.
These incidents may seem inconsequential to some, but they reveal a deeper form of racism pervasive across America, according to Lillian Glass, a Los Angeles-based communications and body-language expert. She notes that white economic power has been transferred over generations which can erect invisible white picket fences around the lives and livelihoods of people of color.
Racial discrimination is often concealed and subtle, yet it’s becoming more visible with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and a re-emergence of Black Lives Matter in public life.
According to Jennifer Fitzgerald, professor of race and ethnicity at the University of California in Los Angeles, examining these incidents within their larger context is essential. She explained that these acts don’t stem from a lack of empathy but are motivated by fear and anxiety.
These statistics demonstrate the persistence of gender role stereotypes, which are often more evident during times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic than at other times in the year.
Women may be more likely to leave the workplace during a COVID pandemic due to increased child-care responsibilities. Unfortunately, this leads them to endorse stereotypical gender roles and promote sexist names and images like “Karen.”
Karen has become a widely used meme on social media in recent years. Its use as an insult peaked during the mid-1960s.
Karen has long been associated with the Karen National Union (KNU) in Burma, which sought independence from Britain in 1948. Recently, this name has re-emerged on social media platforms, where it is used to demonize those seen as entitled or intolerant of others’ rights.