STOP calling people "a Karen"

Mumsnet hates this Karen business. I think for most, they see themselves (especially age) and it causes them this anger that a name has been put for a lot of behaviour they display. Anyway, it was hijacked from the US. Red faced women calling the police every time they saw Black/Brown people having fun/minding their business.

Lots of names are stereotypical. Why should this one stand out?

It's just a meme, leave it alone and it will die out.

My name is the same name of a porn video that was famous years ago. For a decade I heard ALL the sleazy ‘jokes’ - all made to me by men btw.

To all the real people named Karen, you have my sympathies but in my experience this will fade away eventually.

The behaviour that it was originally meant to describe should be called out. The problem is the internet is very busy calling out women, but not so much men.

Imagine how Jan’s feel.

Another Karen here. And it pisses me off big style! I know my name puts a date stamp on me but I’ll be damned if I accept its use as a byword for demanding and unreasonable behaviour. And it is used to push back against women who are quite reasonably standing up for themselves and others.

I think people think it means someone else…from Wiki

Karen is a pejorative slang term typically used to refer to an upper middle-class white American woman who is perceived as entitled or excessively demanding.[1] The term is often portrayed in memes depicting middle-class white women who "use their white and class privilege to demand their own way".[1][2]Depictions include demanding to "speak to the manager", being racist, or wearing a particular bob cuthairstyle.[3] It was popularized in the aftermath of the Central Park birdwatching incident in 2020.[2]

Yep. I've been called a Karen for trying to stop a teenager trampling toddlers in soft play.

Yes! Exactly this. Anyone who uses it is a misogynist or ignorant or both.

My teen used it once. And once only after the rant it triggered from me!

But it’s an actual name for many women, some of whom are on this thread and have said that it upsets them to have their name used in that way! Why do their feelings not count?

It doesn't bother me. It's just a name for a stereotype which does exist.

You'll all be coming for the "I want to see the manager haircut" next.

I agree but thankfully I've not heard it used as an insult now for a year or so - so I think it is already dying out as such.

I hate it for all the reasons shared already. It’s especially poor when women use it and makes me think they have very low IQs.

Also, my whip-smart and classy best friend is called Karen and I feel sad her name has been hijacked in a pejorative way.

That was true for me, until my DD1 (15) started using the term. I called her out on it, asking how she would feel if people used her name in that way?

Those people who claim there's a male equivalent, then pick something random like Darren or Kyle. There isn't a male equivalent, you're making stuff up for reasons best known to yourself.

Agree, v lazy thinking

Indeed - lazy, and always makes the person using the insult seem a bit thick (which pleases me greatly)

I have never ever heard a man say "I want to complain about (legitimate issue) but don't want to come off as a Darren."

No there isn't. There is NOT a male equivalent of Karen! As previous posters have said, men are allowed to be assertive and angry and passionate about their views and opinions. Women aren't. (Especially older women!)

Women are labelled as Karens if they complain, or hysterical if they get angry. Men NEVER get this shit.

As I said earlier, the only one CLOSE to KAREN (for a man,) is 'Gammon!' (And that is unacceptable to call men too.)

.

I wish we had a care button. Karen is a lovely name however it is pronounced or spelt. Many women of my generation are called Karen, but I taught a teenage Karen a few years ago and her name really suited her. In the same way, l also taught a child called Jane a little while ago; the first l had taaught for decades as, again, it is a lovely name that was very popular in my generation. I am proud to have/have had many Janes and Karens as friends over the years. I think this is why l get so irked about people misusing a lovely name in this way. How would they like it if their name was used in such an insulting manner?

(posted too soon)

... Nothing to do with racism, especially not in the UK. Many black women are named Karen here actually.

Why can't some younger women see this? How would you feel about it if your mum's name was Karen?

I've worked with the public as well and understand that Karen is a misogynistic term used to shut women up from people who can't articulate themselves well.
I've never heard the term Kyle.

FFS 'Kyle' is not a thing. Don't be disingenuous and pretend that it's a relevant male equivalent to Karen.

I was born in the 60s and went to school and worked with many girls and women named Karen. It could easily have been my name. Absolutely it's misogynistic to take a common female name amongst women of my generation and use it as a slur for any woman who dares to speak up about anything at all! Nothing yu

I've heard it loads. And from otherwise kind and relatively smart people, mostly other women.

My manager had a terrible experience at a spa break last weekend, genuinely awful customer service from what she was telling me.

She said 'but I don't want to complain because I don't want to be seen as a Karen". It's so sad.

It doesn’t bother me. There’s a similar male equivalent: a “Kyle” who drinks too much monster and punches holes in walls.

It’s just a name for a stereotype. A stereotype which actually exists. Anyone who’s ever worked with the public knows and understands this.