Karen is my name

[Squills]

Recently someone posted a photo of a hairstyle she was considering... apparently it is a 'Karen' hairstyle and people quickly voiced their disapproval, not so much of the actual hair style, but of the association with 'Karen'.

My name was Karen until I changed it earlier this year.

I felt increasingly hurt and upset when, on an almost daily basis, I'd read or watch someone being vile about my name.

I felt uncertain whether to make the change as I hoped given time it would all die down... but it hasn't. The deciding factor came when I saw someone carrying a placard stating 'We say Karen to be nice, what we mean is cunt'.

Changing my name was fairly easy but time consuming. It was worth the cost and the effort though as I feel relieved to be able to introduce myself without embarrassment. I didn't realise fully how badly it was affecting me until I made the change.

If you want to get an idea of how it feels to have your name dragged through the mud enter your name into the Empathy Generator in the link below.

karenismyname.org/renamer

When you consider how much thought parents give to naming their baby, think how they feel now their chosen name is now considered an insult on a par with the word cunt.

[swanswallow]

Was always appalled by the use of 'Karen' in this way but the name comparison is also hard hitting. I think Karen is a lovely name, gentle sounding.

[Squills]

@Theunamedcat

My real name is Karen ive considered changing my name everything I say publicly and indeed privately is mocked and derided because I'm "karen" im job hunting soon im dreading it i usually work in customer service will people even hire me? Its got so bad in the Midlands lately I had to resolve an issue a simple one whats your name? Karen....well im a manager so you don't need to ask to speak to me fml it was a simple issue two second resolve a simple till mistake and you need to mention it! I really wanted to say train your staff fucking better and it won't happen but of course that's "karen" behaviour so I just looked puzzled and carried on asking for them to correct the mistake for this im looked upon as Unreasonable

Like you, I think it is prevalent in the UK. Everyone I know personally, (including my 93 year old father in law) has heard of the ‘Karen’ meme.

I’m not job hunting myself but I totally understand your fear that you will be viewed negatively through no fault of your own.

[Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel]

@Squills I used the generator. It's awful. I'm sorry stupid people have done this to your lovely name.

[BlaBlaSmthSmth]

The website is such a good idea! But sadly I don't think the hateful sexist bastards who shout 'Karen' loudest would be bothered.

I have a name that has 'dumb white bitch' connotations and it didn't look that out of place amongst the memes. The Karen hatred has become next level though and it's completely unacceptable. Funny how it's always women's names tarnished as a way to degrade a 'type' of woman. (I know 'Chad' has been mentioned but no way can you be seriously making that comparison.)


As a side note, who is the woman used for all the Karen memes? I feel really bad for her.

[BlaBlaSmthSmth]

Oh yes @Squills your name is lovely and very pretty sounding.

[DedalusBloom]

"Men must love it as it deflects from their bullshit"

This X1000

[Squills]

@RaindropsOnRosie

If you re-read the first three words of my post, you'll realise it's my opinion based off my experiences and thoughts, not a fact.

Perhaps you should check your facts before making accusations.

People named Karen are no more racists, unreasonable, vile, etc than anyone else. Sadly every negative aspect of human interaction is labelled ‘Karen’. Accusations which are totally unfounded… your comment is a clear example of this.

[SionnachRua]

@x2boys

Apparently the male equivalent of karen is, Chad/Ian having never lived in America we dont see the name Chad in the UK much but i would associate Ian with a slightly younger generation than Karen?
Apparently Ian is, the Uk equivalent a shouty middle aged man??

Nah Chad is a stereotypical name for a young, good-looking guy (not that bright) who gets all the girls (who the common name for is Stacey) at the expense of less good-looking guys. It's a big thing in the incel groups online, whining about Chads and Stacies.

It's hopefully needless to say that I don't believe any of the shite I just typed. Well, aside from the incel whinging.

[Phyllis321]

I absolutely hate it. It’s misogynistic and ageist. It doesn’t even ‘work’ outside the USA due to the different socioeconomic connotations of the name.
Pathetic.

[VladmirsPoutine]

FWIW the younger Karen is known as Becky.

[SionnachRua]

Yup. Popularised by Beyonce and her Becky with the good hair thing, I think?

[AndytheUnicorn]

RaindropsOnRosie Fri 23-Jul-21 20:38:59
I don't think it's mysogynistic or ageist if the person being targeted is actually doing something wrong. So many racists, transphobes, etc are called 'Karen' and try to claim the ageism/sexism card as if that's worse than what they're doing/saying. It's not an attack of nice people called Karen, it's just a weird slang term that will eventually get old and change.

Pardon? You think your name at birth determines that you will become a racist or a transphobe?

My name is Karen and it made my job really hard the other day. I won't go into how as it's very outing but literally just saying my name made it difficult. It's extremely irritating and I'm considering using another name outside of my private life until it dies down.

It is these silly ideas that woman from a specific generation act and behave in stereotypical ways that are causing this to continue.

Also for the record I'm not a racist or a transphobe and have never 'played' the sexist/ageist card. Although I genuinely believe it is used to stop woman speaking out and feeling like a 'Karen' because believe me it has stopped me from speaking up for myself on a couple of occasions.

[Theunamedcat]

@RaindropsOnRosie

If you re-read the first three words of my post, you'll realise it's my opinion based off my experiences and thoughts, not a fact.

Your first three words are "i dont think" and I believe you

[Iggi999]

@RaindropsOnRosie

If you re-read the first three words of my post, you'll realise it's my opinion based off my experiences and thoughts, not a fact.

thoughts? You surprise me.

[Mrshopley]

My mother in law is called Karen and she is a Karen. She has gone out of her way to make my life miserable from the day she found out her son wanted to marry me. She is a liar, rude, manipulative and loves to play the victim. I can't even begin to list her bizzare antics .She makes racist comments about every group but says she has experienced racism because the Asian in the shop didn't smile at her. She has shouted at shop staff accusing them of racism against ME saying "blacks are the biggest racists against each other". If she feels a black person has been rude she says they hate her because of slavery. She is vile and I always struggled to understand what was wrong with her ,until the name Karen was coined and now I know she is just a Karen. I feel bad for all the unkaren like Karens but after 10 Years of suffering with this woman I am very glad Karen is the name for this type of person.

[Iggi999]

MrsHopley your mil is unpleasant and racist and probably best to be avoided.
But she is not "a Karen" other than that being her actual name.

[WeAreTheHeroes]

No, she's an unpleasant person who happens to be called Karen.

[VladmirsPoutine]

So it's really the name you take issue with. Not the actions ascribed to this 'Karen' archetype. I have split thoughts on the whole Karen thing but interestingly it depends what sort of demographic you ask.

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

@Mrshopley

My mother in law is called Karen and she is a Karen. She has gone out of her way to make my life miserable from the day she found out her son wanted to marry me. She is a liar, rude, manipulative and loves to play the victim. I can't even begin to list her bizzare antics .She makes racist comments about every group but says she has experienced racism because the Asian in the shop didn't smile at her. She has shouted at shop staff accusing them of racism against ME saying "blacks are the biggest racists against each other". If she feels a black person has been rude she says they hate her because of slavery. She is vile and I always struggled to understand what was wrong with her ,until the name Karen was coined and now I know she is just a Karen. I feel bad for all the unkaren like Karens but after 10 Years of suffering with this woman I am very glad Karen is the name for this type of person.

You clearly don't give a shit about all the 'unkaren like Karens'.

[woodhill]

I think it's horrible and I went to school with plenty of Karen's who were great.

Why is it ok to stereotype older women in this why,whereas there is hell to pay if it is done about any other group

[woodhill]

I mean way

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

It’s so strange how something like this catches on. It’s the height of lazy unimaginable misogynistic stereotyping.

[mistermagpie]

I recently learned that there is a version of this which uses my name and it's really made me think how horrible it must feel for women called Karen. That website is a good idea.

Not that it matters but every Karen I know is lovely. It made me sad recently that a woman I know wanted to honour her mother (who is called Karen) by giving her baby her name as a middle name. She hated the connotations though and so didn't do it, even though her mum is really nice.

[Celandines]

A lot of the memes in the link were to do with not wearing masks. As if it's mainly women that don't wear masks.

[Squills]

@mistermagpie

I recently learned that there is a version of this which uses my name and it's really made me think how horrible it must feel for women called Karen. That website is a good idea.

Not that it matters but every Karen I know is lovely. It made me sad recently that a woman I know wanted to honour her mother (who is called Karen) by giving her baby her name as a middle name. She hated the connotations though and so didn't do it, even though her mum is really nice.

I posted the link to the website referred to above in my original post if anyone wishes to see it.