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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

New Meghan Murphy article - Karen

53 replies

ThinEndoftheWedge · 24/06/2020 09:22

This article really got to me.

Misogyny is now so progressive - that you are not doing it right if you don’t utterly destroy women’s lives.

www.feministcurrent.com/2020/06/23/the-karen-becky-meme-has-officially-gone-too-far/?fbclid=IwAR0JtpW919H2BYiboGFsqBqmE6A13c3bxiSA0YHyYC5X0Ec0XAvWBpR4zgA

OP posts:
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CaraDune · 24/06/2020 10:08

As usual with Meghan Murphy's articles, it is both brilliant, sharply to the point, and terrifying.

That poor, poor woman. The guy is obviously a complete scammer, and dangerously unhinged.

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MorrisZapp · 24/06/2020 10:15

Absolutely spot on and exactly what I've been arguing for months on here. Apparently I'm a 'white feminist' for objecting to misogyny. Words are powerful, unless you're using them to articulate why you don't like sexism, in which case shut up and take a joke.

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CaraDune · 24/06/2020 10:18

Words are powerful, unless you're using them to articulate why you don't like sexism, in which case shut up and take a joke.

Ain't that the truth?

"Everyone must be respected in their right to define their own identity... except for you pesky feminists, you're not allowed to object to being called cis or menstruators or cervix-havers or chest-feeders, because that's just you being wilfully exclusionary and mean."

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hypernormal · 24/06/2020 10:39

I'm sick to death of Karen memes and the gleeful way in which they're used to shut women up and call them 'c*nts'. A friend of mine posted one recently saying 'Karen you twat' and then referring to something that has nothing to do with the original use of the word (think a mundane pet hate). I'm fully aware of the type this word was originally meant to refer to ie. entitled, overbearing, petty women, often using racial slurs - and having come up against these women myself I have no desire to defend them. But the word has been weaponised as a way of calling any woman you don't agree with a 'dumb bitch', and it's being done with such misogynistic glee. Bad enough when men use it, when women use it it's just depressing that they are so desperate to gain approval for chastising those women who they're keen to point out are nothing like their young, desirable selves.
Thing is, the original Karen 'type' doesn't even translate well to a UK context. People in general in the UK don't complain, we expect bad service! I've only ever complained a handful of times in my life, when something was really unacceptable and should have been complained about eg. being sprayed with concrete whilst walking past a building site! Now, I'd feel even more uncomfortable about complaining in case I'm branded as a 'Karen'. It's a way of silencing women, who already feel inhibited due to social disapproval of women being assertive. Are 'Karens' really the ones responsible for systemic racism, or is it just another case of women being blamed for everything?

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RoyalCorgi · 24/06/2020 13:42

Are 'Karens' really the ones responsible for systemic racism, or is it just another case of women being blamed for everything?

Good question. Ask how many black men in the USA have been killed by police officers who are middle-aged, white and female.

Then ask why there isn't a mocking meme for the kind of white male police officers who actually kill black men.

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 24/06/2020 13:51

Excellent article, thank you Meghan.

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terryleather · 24/06/2020 14:59

One of my friends saw this last weekend at a pub here...she was livid and I can see why.

"Karens" are on the same level as fascist now???

New Meghan Murphy article - Karen
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SunsetBeetch · 24/06/2020 15:53

Excellent article. But; is Meghan correct about the origin of the Karen meme? I thought it originally was used by black women for a specific type of racist white woman? Happy to be corrected though.

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MorrisZapp · 26/06/2020 10:50

Wtf? That pub sign? I would literally ask for the manager and explain why it's unbelievably shit if I saw that anywhere.

Don't expect inverted commas to excuse your shitty misogyny. God what have we done to ourselves.

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 26/06/2020 11:04

The Karen meme seems quite complicated.

knowyourmeme.com/memes/karen

Looks like a creation of white men, as far as I can see.

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 26/06/2020 11:18

That pub sign is in Glasgow, terry? Do you know where? Just so I can avoid it next time I'm in town.

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MorrisZapp · 26/06/2020 11:34

Looks like under Kelvinbridge

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 26/06/2020 12:08

Thanks, yep, found it.

'Inn Deep' at Kelvinbridge. Misogynist arses. Karen's a very common name in Scotland.

www.facebook.com/InnDeep/

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NotTerfNorCis · 26/06/2020 12:08

Basically any woman who tries to stand up for herself, even when being stalked and bullied, can be filmed and demonized on social media now. It's a not-so-subtle way of telling women to know their place.

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 26/06/2020 12:15

Yep. Women need to be taught when to shut up, amirite?

It's quite clear - any woman who is critical of anything is a 'Karen'. That means you can doxx her, ban her, ridicule her, stalk her, etc, with impunity, and win the sniggering approval of a mass movement of men who really don't like women talking up.

Criticise the meme itself and the same will happen.

Quite clever, really.

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 26/06/2020 12:19

Well, when I say 'clever'. I mean 'effective'.

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terryleather · 26/06/2020 17:59

Yup Scrimpshaw you got the correct pub...and the friend who took the pic is in actual fact called Karen - as you can imagine she is Angry Angry Angry...and of course going to complain about it as a middle aged woman just proves that you are in fact a "Karen" and your opinion/feelings can be safely dismissed, so why would you bother?

It is rank misogyny.

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MorrisZapp · 26/06/2020 18:09

That used to be O`Henry's. Had happy days there, before post reality was invented.

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terryleather · 26/06/2020 18:39

@MorrisZapp

That used to be O`Henry's. Had happy days there, before post reality was invented.

Yeh that's right Morris, it wasn't one of my regular hang outs back in the day, it was a bit too "trendy" for me but quite a few of my pals liked it - being a goth I was mostly at Hurricanes (if you remember/knew that pub) amongst other places...anyway I'm impressed by you recognising it from the pic!
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MorrisZapp · 26/06/2020 18:42

PUB SLEUTH!

Admit it, you were at Clatty Pat's :)

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DandyMandy · 26/06/2020 18:52

Funny how men have such a problem with women "asking to speak to the manager" but have no problems with their own kind abusing, raping and killing women? Hmm I wonder why that is. The Karen meme is disgusting and the fact that there isn't a male equivalent speaks volumes. So quick to judge "soccer moms" but turn a blind eye to male violence. Typical. We can't even stick up for ourselves now because when we do our lives are ruined in the process while men get away with everything scot-free. This is a way for men to ban women from public places. Cowardly buggers.

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 26/06/2020 19:03

Big Blue, back in the day. Good pizza. Smile

I've never been in Clatty Pat's. Knocked back, once, but never crossed the threshold.

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ScrimpshawTheSecond · 26/06/2020 19:06

terry, yes, exactly, it's a meme that silences women very neatly.

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seenbeensbean · 26/06/2020 19:13

@ScrimpshawTheSecond

Yep. Women need to be taught when to shut up, amirite?

It's quite clear - any woman who is critical of anything is a 'Karen'. That means you can doxx her, ban her, ridicule her, stalk her, etc, with impunity, and win the sniggering approval of a mass movement of men who really don't like women talking up.

Criticise the meme itself and the same will happen.

Quite clever, really.

Unless Mumsnet has masses of male members women who criticise the meme on her are piled upon by other women.
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terryleather · 26/06/2020 19:17

@MorrisZapp

PUB SLEUTH!

Admit it, you were at Clatty Pat's :)

Grin Grin Grin

Have to admit I've had a few kitsch & ironic nights of dancing to pop classics at Clatty's in the 90's - pints of Long Island Iced Tea for next to nothing...but some of the best fun to be had was Tuesday 50p Night @ Bennets....I feel old........
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