What Is a Karen?

[tae.aot]

Hey guys. This is really off topic. But I have seen mixed opinions on what a Karen is. I got called a Karen for saying the right thing to do right now is wear a mask and social distance, but to my understanding, Karens do the exact opposite. They're the older (not always, they can be younger sometimes) white women who go into stores complaining about having to wear a mask and end up causing a huge scene.

There's compilations of these Karens on YouTube - they're wild to watch LOL.

They're also these women who call the police on a black person for walking down the street or call the police on a little kid who's selling food (I think it was? Correct me if I'm wrong, but he was selling something) without a permit.

There's also the infamous Karen who called the police on these black people who were just having a BBQ because "charcoal grills are not allowed in this area" which turned out to be false.

There's a possibility that there are multiple types of Karens or different breeds of them.

Let me know what you think and tell me your definition of a Karen ( Also tell me if there are different types of them and what they are exactly.

Yeah this is really off topic but I'm interested to know because of what I think a Karen is I thought everyone believed so too until recently.

This isn't meant to be a discussion on mask-wearing and social distancing and whether or not you should be made to do it.

This is strictly about Karens.

 

[Jcb]

 

[Jcb]

Apologies to nice Karen's everywhere....

This whole "Karen" thing makes me laugh. I guess it can't be nice if you are named Karen and get the piss taken out of you. There a good few "Karen's" on here

 

[tae.aot]

View attachment 41298

Apologies to nice Karen's everywhere....

This whole "Karen" thing makes me laugh. I guess it can't be nice if you are named Karen and get the piss taken out of you. There a good few "Karen's" on here

I know right! I find it funny. But also, not all Karens are bad LOL. The majority of these Karens aren't even named Karen, so I feel bad for any decent person who's named Karen and doesn't want to speak to my manager!

 

[tae.aot]

Here are some examples of Karens, some I mentioned in the original post.







^ Couldn't find the original, sorry ):



Here's a compilation I was talking about. They're funny, but also infuriating to watch.

 

[Jcb]

I know right! I find it funny. But also, not all Karens are bad LOL. The majority of these Karens aren't even named Karen, so I feel bad for any decent person who's named Karen and doesn't want to speak to my manager!

It is crazy, I'm the same tbh I feel for the genuine ones who have legitimate reasons to complain and get called a Karen haha. I personally find it amusing but see where it would make some people hesitant in speaking up for fear of being tainted as a "Karen".

 

[linearb]

The term has also risen to prominence in light of upper class white suburban women calling the cops on black people who weren't actually doing anything wrong:



https://www.tmz.com/2020/08/30/manhattan-beach-karen-calls-cops-black-woman-bike-path/

I don't particularly like the term because I think there's something implicitly misogynistic about laying the blame for this stuff at the feet of "Karens" when entitled suburban men do the same shit all the time (https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/...y-cyclist-over-racial-justice-flyers/2324220/)

I prefer "Karen, Karl & the Kids", which is alliterative and has that nice KKK acronym

 

[Jcb]

The term has also risen to prominence in light of upper class white suburban women calling the cops on black people who weren't actually doing anything wrong:



https://www.tmz.com/2020/08/30/manhattan-beach-karen-calls-cops-black-woman-bike-path/

I don't particularly like the term because I think there's something implicitly misogynistic about laying the blame for this stuff at the feet of "Karens" when entitled suburban men do the same shit all the time (https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/...y-cyclist-over-racial-justice-flyers/2324220/)

I prefer "Karen, Karl & the Kids", which is alliterative and has that nice KKK acronym

It's always been out there especially the down right racist "Karens" it's just in light of social media etc it's gotten more attention. I do partly agree about the misogynistic part it just seems the women seem to get more attention well because of the obvious reason.

It still amuses me though, the entitlement and caucasian-ness of it all.

 

[Zugzug]

No one here is a Karen. But, I must say, the Karen paradox is that Karen never knows she's a Karen and wonders why people think they are one.

 

[FGG]

I prefer "Karen, Karl & the Kids", which is alliterative and has that nice KKK acronym

Are male Karens, "Karls" then because I have also seen Ken and Darren.

 

[tae.aot]

It is crazy, I'm the same tbh I feel for the genuine ones who have legitimate reasons to complain and get called a Karen haha. I personally find it amusing but see where it would make some people hesitant in speaking up for fear of being tainted as a "Karen".

I'm going to flex my education for a moment ah haha and say that this is basically the labeling theory! When you give people these negative labels, it deters them from doing whatever actions that will give them that label. So, while yes there is a misogynistic element to the whole Karen thing and I don't agree with that part of it, being labeled a Karen might just keep some of these women (we should use Karl like someone else mentioned for men maybe to do the same for them!!!) from doing Karen stuff like calling the police on black people or causing a scene in a store because you don't want to wear a mask.

 

[tae.aot]

I prefer "Karen, Karl & the Kids", which is alliterative and has that nice KKK acronym

Karen, Karl, and the Kids omg - I will most definitely be using that now.

 

[linearb]

Are male Karens, "Karls" then because I have also seen Ken and Darren.

That was just my own invention. Ken seems like a Barbie ref, is pretty appropriate, and still works with my KKK acronym.

 

[Luman]

What somebody needs to do, is find a way to make it a positive thing, and of course make money from it with hats, products, TV ads, music, etc. Karen Pride. Either ignore the nasty people who use the term derisively, or make it out that the snotty people who use the term in a snide way, are just resentful, low class wannabes who have nothing better to do than attack women who are better adjusted, and more successful than themselves. There's your 100 million dollar idea, in a nutshell. Don't forget to give me a cut for coming up with the idea.