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Original poster

STOP calling people "a Karen"

385 replies

PaperwhiteTheFriendlyGhost · 24/03/2025 07:50

Why are people so lazy and ignorant? Ironically they use it in some instances to berate someone for a perceived insult. Maybe this should be on Pedants' Corner, I don't know.

OP posts:
NeedWineNow · 26/03/2025 19:14

TVqueen20 · 26/03/2025 16:23

My name is Karen and I absolutely hate having to say it in public now. Imagine if your name had the same reaction as mine, if you had to make a (legitimate) complaint and you are cringing before you say your name as you wonder if the person on the other end of the phone is thinking 'ha an actual, real Karen'. I no longer have my hair styled with a bob haircut as it appears this is associated with being a 'Karen'. As others have said, my Mum would be so sad to see my name trashed. I did read somewhere that the origins of this Karen caricature came from a man (in US?) who started this as revenge against his ex girlfriend, Karen.
I'm a reserved person so find it hard to deal with the constant jokes (heard them a 1000 times, thanks) the reluctance to give my name out, anywhere. I'm am just hoping the association will slowly fade away, the joke will become boring so I (and other Karen's affected ) can feel relieved and put it behind us...

Edited

My real name is Karen and this is exactly my experience. It's horrible. I'm quite resilient normally, but it really comes to something when you're nervous of telling people your name.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 26/03/2025 19:08

A fair few posters with this as their actual name have described how lazy use of it impacts them. In real life. Actual real people.

I notice those defending it and thinking it’s such a laugh don’t have the balls to justify why making all these women feel bad, is ok?

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 26/03/2025 19:04

LizzieW1969 · 26/03/2025 16:34

Haven’t you read what has been shared by a PP, that she finds it really upsetting to have her name used in that way? Because ‘Karen’ really is her name, not just a term. You clearly suffer from a real lack of empathy.

This. Absolutely this

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 19:01

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/03/2025 18:55

Who knows. If they did mean synonymous I’m a bit lost for words.

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Yes, I would agree!

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/03/2025 18:55

There’s quite a lot of casual bigotry on this thread from posters who probably consider themselves woke in other respects.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/03/2025 18:55

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 18:51

Ah, could be! I was wondering why biology was coming into it 😂

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Who knows. If they did mean synonymous I’m a bit lost for words.

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 18:51

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/03/2025 18:50

I think they might be confusing it with synonymous?

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Ah, could be! I was wondering why biology was coming into it 😂

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/03/2025 18:50

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 18:05

Oh dear me
I know what symbiotic means. It doesn't work for the two offensive terms you have been quoting.

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I think they might be confusing it with synonymous?

BoredZelda · 26/03/2025 18:44

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 24/03/2025 13:35

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.)

.

Edited
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Not never. I’ve seen plenty of reels calling out men for acting this way, particularly over the mask thing during Covid.

It doesn’t happen nearly as often but it isn’t never.

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 18:43

TVqueen20 · 26/03/2025 18:33

And having my name associated with racism is really upsetting and insulting

That's horrible 💐

surreygirl1987 · 26/03/2025 18:38

RhaenysRocks · 26/03/2025 18:13

the problem is it now being used by kids, teens, social media etc to describe any woman who is not just letting poor service or behaviour pass them by. There's been plenty of examples given on this thread. And because a lot of women give a shit what people think of them, it makes them NOT complain, or ask for better service or a resolution to whatever the issue is..hooray, mission accomplished. Woman are shutting up. No-one is denying that people of all ages and both sex can be rude, entitled twats but the "karen" aspect dips into the same pool as "nag" and belittles a female who is making a perfectly reasonable request, hopefully putting them off from repeating the requests.

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Absolutely this!

TVqueen20 · 26/03/2025 18:33

And having my name associated with racism is really upsetting and insulting

TVqueen20 · 26/03/2025 18:24

RhaenysRocks · 26/03/2025 18:13

the problem is it now being used by kids, teens, social media etc to describe any woman who is not just letting poor service or behaviour pass them by. There's been plenty of examples given on this thread. And because a lot of women give a shit what people think of them, it makes them NOT complain, or ask for better service or a resolution to whatever the issue is..hooray, mission accomplished. Woman are shutting up. No-one is denying that people of all ages and both sex can be rude, entitled twats but the "karen" aspect dips into the same pool as "nag" and belittles a female who is making a perfectly reasonable request, hopefully putting them off from repeating the requests.

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This

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 18:13

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 26/03/2025 18:09

I think calling someone a Karen is a sign they’re a bit uneducated.

Yes and somewhat prone to using other terms they don't understand 🙄

RhaenysRocks · 26/03/2025 18:13

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 16:30

Of course it's a term, used to refer to women who are self important, pompous, behave a certain way.

Vocabulary evolves (unlike the minds of those in mumsnet). Things change. Meaningings change over time. It's not being used as a name when a woman is referred to as 'a karen' is it. You would say 'a moron' which is a term for a stupid person but you wouldn't say 'a Nicola' because it's a name.

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the problem is it now being used by kids, teens, social media etc to describe any woman who is not just letting poor service or behaviour pass them by. There's been plenty of examples given on this thread. And because a lot of women give a shit what people think of them, it makes them NOT complain, or ask for better service or a resolution to whatever the issue is..hooray, mission accomplished. Woman are shutting up. No-one is denying that people of all ages and both sex can be rude, entitled twats but the "karen" aspect dips into the same pool as "nag" and belittles a female who is making a perfectly reasonable request, hopefully putting them off from repeating the requests.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 26/03/2025 18:09

I think calling someone a Karen is a sign they’re a bit uneducated.

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 18:08

This reply has been deleted

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KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 18:05

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 18:03

Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more
adjectiveBiology
involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association

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Oh dear me
I know what symbiotic means. It doesn't work for the two offensive terms you have been quoting.

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 18:03

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 17:55

Ok....."moron" and "Karen" are symbiotic?
In what way?

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Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more
adjectiveBiology
involving interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 17:55

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 17:51

I meant exactly what I said lol

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Ok....."moron" and "Karen" are symbiotic?
In what way?

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 17:51

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 17:35

Symbiotic? Really? They have a mutually beneficial relationship, do they?
I think that's not the word you mean.

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I meant exactly what I said lol

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 17:51

Nameychangington · 26/03/2025 17:31

you wouldn't say 'a Nicola' because it's a name.

Give me strength. Karen is a name just like Nicola is, there's no difference! Honestly you're just supporting the theses of the posters suggesting that only the very dim use Karen as an insult.

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I was demonstrating that even in language and the way we speak it is used differently, as a term.

When there is a gap and no adequate word to describe something, people find one. This time it was repurposing a name, but contextually it is used differently.

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 17:43

Busymindfull · 26/03/2025 17:24

I hate it too. Who started this?

Let me guess - some man who wanted women to shut up and keep their heads down.

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 17:37

@Anotherparkingthread what makes you think Karen isn't a woman's name?
What if Nicola was used to mean a stupid middle aged woman - would that be ok?

KateDelRick · 26/03/2025 17:35

Anotherparkingthread · 26/03/2025 17:02

Absolutely not. In fact I think the two are almost symbiotic.

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Symbiotic? Really? They have a mutually beneficial relationship, do they?
I think that's not the word you mean.