"Stop being a Karen"

Please explain how you get to the first question from me explaining- and I quote from my own post here-

"Do you really have no understanding as to why women called Karen might object to their name being used as a gendered insult?

Of course I do, I'm not a moron. I'm simply stating the history and ongoing use of the term as it arose, because lots in this thread are doing their very best to pretend that the very real problem it arose in response to, never existed, and the use of the term 'Karen' was simply misogyny from the start."

And it’s interesting to me that there is no specific slang word for racist white men, why is this?

I’m mixed race, my mother is white - I haven’t really experienced any racism from white women? I’ve actually had more racist/sexist remarks from white men - normally making comments about my body, hair etc

@robincash Except with the feeling that that type of white woman is less apparent here. They are very much around and quite the force.

Totally agree.

No one said that all women being called this are racist etc.

Someone said that plenty of people in the UK use the term in this context. That’s not to say that it isn’t also used in the way you’re describing.

I've been reading though this but can't work out if I missed @Eldrick47s responding to the accusations that they're a man lecturing women on what they can and can't be upset about.

I'm also really confused how the US is being held up as the most racist country ever (it doesn't seem to be an argument that they are currently in this position) without mention of South Africa (I agree with comments on the European colonial powers (including Britain) and Nazi Germany as well but South Africa seems to be a glaring omission in the discussion).

I personally have no objection to the word Karen being used to describe a racist white woman. I suspect if I was called Karen I wouldn't love it, but my name can sometimes be used to describe a certain type of annoying person and it is what it is. I agree there white women have a unique brand of racism, but I'd further separate that because I don't think it's the same across all white women - in that the type of white woman racism we're talking about here is a US white woman thing (and Afrikaans white woman!). There is white woman racism in the UK, but to me it's different BUT I'm a white woman and completely accept I may be missing something completely.

I don't think that the fact that Karen originated as a term used to describe a racist white woman, should mean women can't object to it being used to as an alternative to 'bitch' in other circumstances. That's a straw man argument. And yes of course this is not the world's biggest problem, but this is an internet forum where people have 1000s of posts discussing whether penguin bollards are a good solution to a parking dispute.

I remember seeing a friend's son say 'sure Karen' to her when she was telling him off about something - there is absolutely no doubt Karen as most commonly used in the world I live in is misogynistic. In real life, I can't think of a time I've heard Karen used to describe a racist white woman.

The interesting thing is the world I live in is majority non-white but there are very few black people in the demographic and those who are are not from the US/UK. I'm wondering whether some of the argument in this thread is because the term is actually used differently in different communities? Maybe in some parts of the UK its original meaning is still being maintained? I can see some previous posters have said this and wanted to call it out.

This. I hate seeing it on here, too. What's wrong with people?

I find if you respond to someone who says "You're such a Karen!" with "Well, I wouldn't need to be a Karen if you weren't such a Richard....sorry Dick!" it often pulls them up on their behaviour and contributions to the situation.

Have you tried something like that yet?

What are you talking about 🤣 example - young WHITE teenager calls older WHITE woman a Karen for asking him to stop smoking in a non-smoking area - can you explain to us why this is A) not misogynistic and ageist and B) how this fits in with your definition of the word?

I think you will find that its you who are stereotyping there.

I have been asked this a few times in the past, it is a fair question if asked with sincere and genuine intent.
I can not be equally aghast as I simply don't see it that way.
What I do see, almost without exception, and struggle to get past is the behaviour of the women that get labelled with the term. In short, I guess, I to think they are 'Karens'.

@MNHQ I am NOT calling anyone anything. I am responding to a genuine question in good faith.

So the women telling you here, that they're called a Karen on a regular basis on social media and IRL, are all racists and being called out by BAME people?

I'm also wondering why all these demeaning names are women's: Karen, Becky, Felicia, Patty. There isn't a male equivalent yet we all know men can equally be racist.

I think your lived experience, here in the UK, is very different to my, my family, and my friends lives experiences.

I’m mixed race - I’ve never heard any one use it as it was originally intended. Are you suggesting that all BAME in the UK use Karen as the ‘US’ definition?

I’ve heard it aimed at my white mother though

I have been asked this a few times in the past, it is a fair question if asked with sincere and genuine intent.
I can not be equally aghast as I simply don't see it that way.
What I do see, almost without exception, and struggle to get past is the behaviour of the women that get labelled with the term. In short, I guess, I to think they are 'Karens'.

@MNHQ I am NOT calling anyone anything. I am responding to a genuine question in good faith.

What a weird comment. Do you think there are not enough black or BAME people in the UK to count as plenty?

Ageism exists too, but you couldn't possibly be guilty of that...

Us over 60s are quite capable of managing apps, thank you🙄

That’s just completely untrue though isn’t it - ‘plenty’ of people don’t use it in that way

False. Plenty use it in the UK to label a white woman who uses her white privilige to cause harm to black men/boys/women/girls.

To claim that 'noone uses it to mean racism' in the UK is astoundingly ignorant. Unsurprisingly.

To be fair - in black circles people started saying ‘Bye Felisha’ basically as a way of saying ‘oh go away.’

My cousin Felisha was not best pleased…

It's pretty shit when your name is actually Karen. I'm trying to settle on a new name, but nothing fits and Karen is the name my Mum, who I love very much, chose for me.
Yes, there are lots of misogynistic terms for women, but no woman is actually named bitch or slag etc.
I hate having to give out my name, sick of teenage sniggers and people commenting. I'm not racist, I rarely officially complain and even then I am super polite and I'm certainly not middle class, it's a predominantly working class name asfaik.

It's only aimed at white women because they're not very nice. They all stereotype.

I hate it, it's misogynistic and ageist (women called Karen are mainly in their 40s and 50s).

Plain Jane too. As far as I know there is no equivalent male name for a man lacking in the looks department.