Karen is a common name among women. However, online it has come to symbolize arrogant middle-aged white women who demand speaking directly with managers or anti-vaxxers and who act uncivil in public places.
This meme first gained widespread recognition during the Covid pandemic, when viral videos depicting “coughing Karens” went viral online. But what are actual people named Karen thinking about being labeled this way?
What is a karen?
Recently, Internet memes that mock real-life stereotypes have gained increasing traction online; one that stands out is “don’t be a Karen”, an expression used to refer to white women who exhibit symptoms of entitlement or are overly critical of others. The term made its debut as an Internet meme around 2020 after numerous incidents where white women were seen behaving badly went viral online and became viral memes.
This term is similar to other Internet memes such as Becky, Stacy and Kyle that were created as ways of mocking certain forms of behavior. Such memes can be an effective way of drawing attention to issues that affect certain groups; additionally, they may help highlight privileges held by white people. However, any term that broadly describes an entire group should be treated with caution.
Some individuals have raised concerns that the term Karen is misogynistic, reinforcing stereotypes about white women. Furthermore, since there are no equivalent male terms available for use with Karen it may also cause men offense by its use.
Though this concern is certainly valid, it’s important to keep in mind that memes began as jokes and should not be used to hurt or insult other people. Unfortunately, however, some have taken this term too seriously and taken offense; luckily the Internet offers enough satire and humor that it can alleviate some of this seriousness.
What does it mean to be a karen?
Karen is a slang word used to refer to middle-class white women who use their privilege to act rude and entitled. It has become a meme where people poke fun at this stereotypical “Karen” character depicted as an annoying suburban mom with children with poor behavior who drives a minivan and has bad attitude issues.
Origins of this meme remain uncertain, though it appears to have begun in 2016. One of its earliest references occurred when someone on Tumblr posted an image depicting Dane Cook as Karen from an angry face stance and posted it online – going viral, eventually inspiring a subreddit dedicated to mocking this stereotype.
Over time, the meme has evolved and grown more complex. While in many instances it has been used to ridicule middle-aged white women with outmoded views of the world, it can also be used to criticize sexism and racism by depicting white women as arrogant, condescending, and ignorant.
Urban Dictionary defines Karen as an older white woman with outdated views on modern society, who frequently takes issue with customer service or social injustice issues and complains vociferously about them. A typical Karen will use every perceived slight to demand to speak to the manager – an action which she typically resorts to when her feelings have been hurt or she feels she has been treated unfairly.
Like other popular internet memes such as Kyle and Becky, Karen is used to mock real-life middle-aged women. But unlike most memes that generally target men or younger generations, this one has divided white women themselves. Many find its sexist elements offensive while others find them valid and necessary.
Are You Being Called Karen? it can be challenging to know how best to respond. While it may be tempting to respond with insults in kind, the best approach when responding to someone calling themselves Karen should be remaining professional and calm. This will prevent the situation from worsening and enable you to deal with the caller without becoming defensive.
What should I do if someone calls me a karen?
When someone calls you Karen, it’s best to stay calm. Doing so may prevent the situation from worsening further and could even prompt them to reconsider their comments; alternatively, it could just be used as a sarcastic joke and not intended as serious criticism.
If you don’t understand why someone is calling you Karen, asking them for further explanation can help de-escalate the situation and enable a calm discussion about the issue at hand. Plus, this provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about who has called you so and understand their perspective.
Although some use “Karen” to denigrate middle-class white women, others have used it as an effective means of calling attention to privilege and bias issues. Particularly, the term has been employed against those who exhibit behavior such as being pushy, rude, prudish or arrogant; or when white women demonstrate class prejudice or racism such as harassing skateboarders or calling the police on girls selling lemonade stands.
There are various responses when someone refers to you as “Karen,” but it is essential to remember that it may only be intended as an insult and not a valid criticism of your behavior. For instance, if someone labeled your political views “old-fashioned,” understanding their perspective based on personal experience and bias should help.
If someone is misusing Karen as an insult because of your race, religion, or sexual orientation it’s essential that you speak out and address this matter immediately. While you should address it directly it must also be dealt with thoughtfully and courteously – by choosing positive language instead, we can create a more inclusive society together.
What should I say if someone calls me a karen?
Being called a Karen can be distressing. But it’s important to keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily indicate something negative: Karen can also be used as a positive term, to describe someone generous, intelligent, and open-minded – serving as an opportunity for dialogue about privilege and social injustice.
Internet memes depict Karen as an angry middle-aged white woman wearing an asymmetrical bob, who seeks out management to discuss an unpleasant experience. When used in real life, however, Karen may serve to illustrate a larger problem and white privilege is at play; to respond appropriately requires empathy and candor from all parties involved.
