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Original poster

Please can we talk about using the name Karen as an insult?

280 replies

NiceKaren · 24/03/2020 21:32

I'm seeing the name Karen being used as an insult all over social media. It started as a meme, but in the last few days I've seen 'Karen' being blamed for panic buying, refusing to self-isolate and general selfishness. My name is Karen and in these tricky times it feels really unpleasant to see my name being used this way. It feels sexist, ageist and most likely classist too. Now I'm seeing it on MN as well and it makes me so sad. I can't help my name and while I used to laugh it off, I'm feeling quite upset by it tonight. Why do people do this?

I suppose I'm just posting for solidarity and wondering whether there is any point in trying to call this sort of thing out? Before, I felt it was just me being precious or unable to take a joke but now it feels quite personal and ugly.

OP posts:
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YgritteSnow · 25/03/2020 01:30

My sister is a Karen. I don't like how it's used now. Also don't like the MN use of "Wendy" as an insult either as in a nasty manipulative woman is a "Wendy" and "you've been Wendied". But I have always been shouted down on here when I said anything.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 25/03/2020 01:24

Feeling a bit guilty about using “Wendy” now.

Samtsirch · 25/03/2020 01:03

@DartmoorChef
Wendy and the Wendyhouse became popular after Peter Pan, so you could blame Walt Disney, but the name originated much earlier in Germanic languages referring to a person who has humanity .
I think it’s a lovely name .

AngryTruckDriver · 25/03/2020 00:58

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Nongoddess · 25/03/2020 00:30

Agreed! What a lazy misogynist (& classist) insult. Wendies, I feel for you too! Very thoughtless...

DartmoorChef · 25/03/2020 00:23

Im a wendy. Bloody hate it... 😂

andyoldlabour · 25/03/2020 00:21

I think I cried when this Karen died.

CumbiaVillera · 25/03/2020 00:17

Plus the photo used in the meme is Kate Gosselin from Kate Plus Eight. Not even called Karen!

andyoldlabour · 25/03/2020 00:17

Would any bloke, like myself even dream of doing this to try to demean women, seriously? I do not demean women, but even if I did, would I pick a woman's name to do it?
Maybe, I am totally out of touch and maybe, I have never indulged in this sort of thing.
The people who do indulge, are maybe IMHO missing a few brain cells.

forkfun · 24/03/2020 23:52

I stand with you.
#justiceforkaren

KaronAVyrus · 24/03/2020 23:47

I’d like to know what is wrong with asking to speak to the manager anyway?
Why should we put up with shit service/goods and have the pleasure of paying for it?

(And all the Karens I’ve known have been lovely)

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 24/03/2020 22:57

A couple of famous Karen’s to make you feel better OP.

Please can we talk about using the name Karen as an insult?
Please can we talk about using the name Karen as an insult?
truthisarevolutionaryact · 24/03/2020 22:51

I understand that people are frightened at the moment but the anger and vitriol online at the moment is awful (rarely on this board thankfully).
You're not being precious OP. And I know two wonderful women called Karen Smile

Gwynfluff · 24/03/2020 22:50

When my 12yo DS called me ‘Karen’ I pointed out it was an experienced older woman who called out the bullshit she encountered in society. So not an insult at all!

For those who like this sort of thing, I highly recommend the ONS name trends checker. Karen was most definitely at it’s peak in the mid to late 60s in the U.K. It’s great fun. Most popular mid 70s girl names was Nicola. I’m friends with loads!

LadyQuarantinaPluckington · 24/03/2020 22:50

I think.a lot of the very personalized insults feel especially biting at the moment, as you say, everything is heightened.

I'm trying to focus on the nicer consequence of that, in the many people choosing to be more caring and better, but for those that had already embraced the selfish gene and delighted in abusing other humans, particularly women, their callousness seems to be heightened too, sadly.

FWIW, whenever I am writing a story, a female character will often start out as a Karen if I intend her to be a generally positive sort.

Original poster
NiceKaren · 24/03/2020 22:43

Thank you so much for that link @Socrates11 I can't believe I hadn't heard of the Karen people - going to do some reading up.

OP posts:
Straysocks · 24/03/2020 22:42

I've been getting a lot of bbc clips of outnumbered on fb recently. If this is a common thing maybe the notion/naming has slipped into our subconscious(ness/es)

Original poster
NiceKaren · 24/03/2020 22:38

Thank you everyone! I was wondering if I was being too precious about the whole thing. I really don't think in the UK we have a male equivalent. Totally unscientific but I also feel like I've seen more women using this as an insult recently, though perhaps I just notice it more when it's a woman doing it?

I do wonder if this hadn't been my name if I would have casually used some of the other name memes. I like to think not - don't think I have in the past that I can recall and I certainly wouldn't now.

OP posts:
Socrates11 · 24/03/2020 22:34

#Solidarity. Another way of putting women down. Has been Sharon, Tracey, or Becky in the past so try not to let it get to you. There are many awesome Karen's, with Karen Ingala Smith being super-bloody-great, and including the Karen people who originate from Burma
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_people

As with the TE** nonsense for radical feminists, name calling is no substitute for a proper argument. Let the children play 🙄

SunshineOutdoors · 24/03/2020 22:33

Agreed

Raffathebear · 24/03/2020 22:32

I love the name and the Karen i know is a wonderful woman. I hate that it's used as an insult and agree it's sexist and ageist like how dare these silly irrelevant old hags speak out or challenge anything.

Winesalot · 24/03/2020 22:32

I get it OP. I saw a thread on this board recently talking about Beryl and felt the same.

My teen started using Karen last year until I pointed out just who used the term and who ‘Karen’ was being used to represent. I also pointed out that it was often being used to suppress and undermine women’s opinions. Particularly of a certain age.

AntiHop · 24/03/2020 22:30

I agree totally op.

marvellousnightforamooncup · 24/03/2020 22:29

I hate it too, it makes me wince when I see it.

Floisme · 24/03/2020 22:28

And yes classism too.

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