Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

'Karen'

139 replies

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 17/09/2022 13:26

Does anyone else despise this term? I see it on Facebook posts (public ones not friends). Also a boy in my DD's class called my DD one after she asked him to be quiet in class. I did say she shouldn't taken it upon herself to tell him off but where has he got that term from? It annoys me.

OP posts:
PAFMO · 17/09/2022 13:27

It's ageist and misogynistic.
I'm a teacher and would want to know if any of my students was using it as a term of abuse and they'd be in trouble.

DaisyChristina · 17/09/2022 13:28

I hatre it too especially as I know two Karens who are lovely people.

ToFindNewWays · 17/09/2022 13:28

It’s a misogynistic term used to silence women and girls.

The original meaning referred to white women who weaponise racism. But it has changed and is now used to attack any woman for saying, well, anything.

Zone2NorthLondon · 17/09/2022 13:28

Well the term is in everyday parlance and SM
I actually dislike it, it’s a lazy cliched stereotype applied to women
also it’s used to silence women if we speak up or complain it’s Ohhh get you Karen

badbaduncle · 17/09/2022 13:29

It is agist, classist misogyny. There is no male equivalent and it is a working class woman aged 40-60's name in the UK.

karenismyname.org/renamer

Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 17/09/2022 13:30

I agree. It's horrible. It was a name my mum had in mind for me. She didn't use it but there are plenty of Karen's out there and it's a nice name. I hate it's being used like this. Re my DD the teacher did hear him and told him off but I feel sad he's heard that and is using it. They are year 5 btw.

OP posts:
NinHuguenAndTheHuguenNotes · 17/09/2022 13:31

Hate it. There was a board game called 'Karen' when I was in Tesco this morning. I thought I was seeing things.

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/09/2022 13:31

Yep sexist and ageist.

evilharpy · 17/09/2022 13:32

I absolutely hate it. I immediately lose respect for anyone I hear using this term, and will call them out on it.

Funny enough I've known quite a few Karens including one of my best friends, and they've all been lovely. Never met a Karen I didn't like.

AlwaysMunching · 17/09/2022 13:32

I hate it. Stupid, lazy, offensive term used to shut down others.

Also there's a cafe chain called Karen's diner where you can go to be verbally abused Confused it's weird.

Sparklingbrook · 17/09/2022 13:33

The only context I see it in is with regard to certain female customers who like to complain a lot and demand managers in restaurants and shops.
Why 'Karen' though?

Original poster
teaandtoastwithmarmite · 17/09/2022 13:36

NinHuguenAndTheHuguenNotes · 17/09/2022 13:31

Hate it. There was a board game called 'Karen' when I was in Tesco this morning. I thought I was seeing things.

Omg that's worrying

OP posts:
YellowTreeHouse · 17/09/2022 13:40

It’s just another term people are offended by for no justifiable reason.

And Karen’s diner is great 😁 Well worth a visit.

cariadlet · 17/09/2022 13:48

Agree with everyone else.

I was teaching in year 5 a couple of years ago and heard one of the boys in my class use it. I let him know that it was unacceptable because it's ageist and sexist.

One of my best friends at Junior school was Karen and I feel very sorry for all the lovely Karens whose name is being misused.

I saw a link where you can enter your own name and then see Karen being replaced with your name in a series of insults. It brings home how real women called Karen must feel. Tried to search for it and ended up with loads of links to Karen meme generators. Horrible!

cariadlet · 17/09/2022 13:49

Just realised that badbaduncle had already posted the exact link that I had been looking for.

nottodaytomorrow · 17/09/2022 14:27

PAFMO · 17/09/2022 13:27

It's ageist and misogynistic.
I'm a teacher and would want to know if any of my students was using it as a term of abuse and they'd be in trouble.

That is a bit "karen" tbf Grin

Echobelly · 17/09/2022 14:30

Yes - I could see the original point of a judgemental, probably prejudiced woman, but now it's become a way of telling women, especially older to women, to shut up and that if they voice an opinion they have to be nasty and driven by entitlement.

angeIica · 17/09/2022 14:40

It has become a term aimed at silencing women, used to be older, late 20s onwards, but now applied to any age woman who speaks out or displays 'bossy' traits.

There's no equivalent term for men that I'm aware of.

It's especially sad when you hear of women using it against women. Some educating is needed I think. People using it here have their posts deleted at least!

Precipice · 17/09/2022 14:45

@nottodaytomorrow you don't think it's part of a teacher's role to work to stop bullying in their schools and to pull up boys for being sexist to girls?

abovedecknotbelow · 17/09/2022 14:46

Sexist, ageist and misogynistic but I haven't heard anyone say it for ages

heatissweet · 17/09/2022 15:09

Yes awful. I saw something on SM about how everyone being racist and horrible to Meghan Markle was a middle aged Karen. I happen to like MM but anyway, how ironic that it was an accusation about people being prejudiced, and yet prejudice about 'middle aged women' is seemingly fine.

I've also known a lovely Karen irl. Feel sorry for people with this name.

Ughnamechange256 · 17/09/2022 15:22

Yes I loathe it. I’m in my late 30s and my name was Karen, but I changed it last year because of all this

gatehouseoffleet · 17/09/2022 15:23

Sparklingbrook · 17/09/2022 13:33

The only context I see it in is with regard to certain female customers who like to complain a lot and demand managers in restaurants and shops.
Why 'Karen' though?

Not just female, but of a certain age.

Men are allowed to complain.

Women should just shut the wotsit up, especially if over about 45.

My son knows better than to use it in my earshot (hopefully he doesn't use it at all).

gatehouseoffleet · 17/09/2022 15:23

Ughnamechange256 · 17/09/2022 15:22

Yes I loathe it. I’m in my late 30s and my name was Karen, but I changed it last year because of all this

How awful that you felt you had to do that.