'The year of Karen' - Guardian article

'roots'

It's moved way beyond the "can I speak to your manager" stereotype, and is now used to tell women not to report crimes or suspicious behaviour if the suspect isn't white.

I think it goes beyond that. Because 'Karen' has its routes in sexist on-line memes, (however much the writer of the article might wish to pretend otherwise) the instruction is 'women be cool - don't report crime'.

It's moved way beyond the "can I speak to your manager" stereotype, and is now used to tell women not to report crimes or suspicious behaviour if the suspect isn't white. I can imagine the possible behaviours that would fall under being a "Karen" would include reporting a man in a women's toilet or change room. Never mind about your safety or dignity, just don't be a Karen. 🙄

That's it, isn't it? If she's 'not that special'?

I think it's also synonymous with "women, know your place". You've got these women who are old enough to no longer care about being sweet and pretty and compliant but young enough to not be elderly and vulnerable.

I have written to the readers editor before and felt that I got a serious and considered response, but:

"Complaints about Karen being sexist were noteworthy mostly for how neatly they re-enacted the Karen dynamic. Confronted with evidence of their own agency and complicity, some white women responded by reasserting their victimhood."

Anybody who complains about sexism must be a 'Karen', presumably including Helen Lewis who wrote this very well researched and balanced article in the Atlantic.

www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/

Well I'm going to say it. 'Karen' thinks she's special because she suspects men wish to sexually assault her or worse, when in fact she's so ugly nobody wants to sexually assault her.

That's it, isn't it? If she's 'not that special'?

I wonder if anyone knows if it's even worth sending a complaint in to the guardian regarding these freelance opinion pieces? Do they ever retract/ remove articles or are complaints just filed away somewhere under 'Karens'?
Yes, I am aware of the irony.

I think the reference to police doesn't necessarily translate to the UK.

Part of the problem in the US is that if you call the police you are calling armed response, not Dixon of Dock Green to give a firm talking to some apple scrumpers.

However, given the routes of 'Karen' in misogyny and abuse, the last line of the article “You’re not that special, Karen. You’re not that special” is chilling.

With the article in question, it starts out talking about the police being called for non-illegal stuff.

Then switches to say you probably shouldn't be calling the police on a "person of colour" unless there is immediate risk of harm. But that's very different. That's basically defending criminals as long as they have certain skin colours.

"Don't call the police on black criminals if you don't want to be a Karen"

Why don't they just tell black people it's not safe for them to be carrying out crimes?

Leave Karen alone!

And Jane Fonda labelled the “I’m going to take my business elsewhere “ hairdo.

Proving that there is no acceptable way for an older woman to stand up for her beliefs and rights without inviting abuse.

I wonder what the cool kids of 2040 will be calling older women then? Charlottes and Laurens? Graces and Olivias?

Unless some of them twig what is going on, probably 'Greta'.

I had no idea what a “Karen” hairstyle is supposed to be so I had a google.

It’s basically referring to an angled/inverted bob with chunky highlights. However, it can also handily be extended to “any short hairstyle on a woman over 40, or a woman whose face I don’t like”, like in this link

www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/14-hairdos-that-scream-let-me-speak-to-your-manager/85575319/

Where they have Sharon Stone with short hair labelled the “How Dare You” hairdo and Jane Fonda labelled the “I’m going to take my business elsewhere “ hairdo. Read it and tell me again how not-ageist and not-sexist Karening women is.

I’ve often wondered why so many women are so committed to long hair even when it’s not flattering on them, and this certainly seems to be part of it. Short hair=Karen=old bag. It’s lazy, ageist, sexist and I hope the people who are doing this look back and cringe themselves inside out in later years when they get this. I wonder what the cool kids of 2040 will be calling older women then? Charlottes and Laurens? Graces and Olivias?

It's another way to signpost this is about women of a certain age who are past being attractive.

And who can't afford to go to the most expensive hairdresser to get the most expensive highlights.

The stereotype seems to be a bit different in the US and the UK - we don't have quite the same concept of soccer mums driving minivans. However, it doesn't take much digging to find the MRA routes, which ever country you are in.

Karen took the kids is heavily linked to the Reddit moderator whose ex-wife was called Karen. That was my first experience of the "Karen" meme - nasty bitter (white, incidentally) man complaining about his ex daring to have standards and leave him.

Incel communities are textbook examples of this. If they spent less time around each other and sought out people who were successful where they feel they fail, they’d pick up what they’d need eventually.

There used to be a ExIncel Reddit where men posted about their success in leaving online incel communities, getting into a healthier head space and making improvements in their lives. It was a really positive thing. Hopefully its still there but I haven't been back since Reddit decided that gender critical feminism was hate speech whilst rape porn was aok.

The other thing that's nasty about the whole Karen thing are the sniggering comments about the haircut.
It's another way to signpost this is about women of a certain age who are past being attractive. I know a lot of people with that short style and it does tend to be used by people who get to an age where they feel practicality trumps upkeep.
The whole thing just screams ageism.

Yes I do agree that using a name as an insult is particularly nasty and smacks of the kind of thing bullies do.

the writer’s poor mother! She deserves a medal.

I guess the closest male equivalent to Karen is gammon? (I.e. derogatory term aimed at older white men). It seemed to start off meaning only those with shouty, very right-wing opinions but eventually seemed to be thrown at any middle aged white man with a slightly round face.

Difference between Karen and gammon though is gammon means something new. Karen is just the 2010s bitch / cow / battleaxe / harpy. Same shit different decade.