'Karen'

[teaandtoastwithmarmite]

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.

And I keep hearing about it silencing women...I am yet to see a video where being called a 'Karen' has had so much power that the woman shuts up

I've never seen a video. It's posts on social media and the aim is totally to shut women up.

@FloofyUni grow up

Excuse me?

The only people I have ever met irl who had issues with the word are the definition of a Karen

As are many posters on MN

So of course the consensus on here would be anti the term, because people feel attacked

So you're one of those who don't have a problem with using the term or condoning its use.

Its just a name to describe a certain type of self righteous mouthy type, it really doesnt have that much power.

In which case one can tell someone their behaviour is self righteous and mouthy. You don't have to attack people by stereotyping them.

@FloofyUni how would you feel if it was your name being used as a term of abuse?

I'm guessing you're in your 20s judging by you're immature response.

Its just a name to describe a certain type of self righteous mouthy type, it really doesnt have that much power.

And yet one of the posters on this thread said they had changed their name because of it.

The only people I have ever met irl who had issues with the word are the definition of a Karen

I'm pretty sure nobody irl would label me as this but I do think the term is specifically used to insult middle aged women. Why is that?

Posters on here claim to be doctors, lawyers, the list goes on

Not everything you read on the internet is true

I dont use the term, never have either by word or in writing about someone

Im just saying I recognise the type

@ilovesooty

Of course I see no issue with it

Just like I see no issue in the 'Kevin' and any other term used to describe a certain type of person

Funny how posters on here are fine dishing it out but get really sensitive over Karen

Handmaidens, pick me's - are thrown around but the second the K word is pulled out oh we can't have that

@FloofyUni when you are middle aged I hope some 20 year old dismisses your concerns just because of your age.

I don't like those terms either and have never used them.

I’m soon to be Karen age whenever I have an opinion but I just can’t get offended by the youth. They’re hilarious and barely know what they’re talking about half the time.

I remember all our mums calling us “Kevin”s as typical teenagers.

It's started out as quite a legitimate thing, a descriptor of white women who weaponise racism, like that dog walking lady in the park in America.

But now it has come to mean litetally any woman over the age of about 25 who dares to have opinions outside of the very narrow 'allowed' ones, or who might be slightly assertive in any way.

It's interesting that there is no male equivalent. I guess 'gammon' could be in the UK, but that is still quite a specific descriptor, whereas Karen is much more widely used. Even my 8 year old started using it and I told him not to.

I think like any stereotype, it's not for others to say not it's not offensive if other people find it offensive? Same with Gammons, handmaidens (not really sure what this is) Kevin the teenager or anything else. I try to avoid all stereotypes, not that hard.

I don't

But then again I'm not a Karen

I agree with Pp the only people who tend to be hurt by the label fit the description

People can find something offensive without being hurt or even offended by it personally.

No but it's easier to understand the upset when you're being personally 'attacked' by it

For example the only people I have ever heard to have an issue with the label 'gammon' are middle aged white men who read the daily mail

If you fit the profile you're more likely to be upset by the name if you think it's insulting

Kind of common sense

It’s a pretty common term now.
Most kids know it and know what it means.

There’s plenty of videos online of ‘people being Karen’s’ etc.

I see it a lot on my local London facebook page, if a woman in comments in a post dares to be forthright about something. Nothing to do with the women saying anything racist.

Also had a group of kids in the park shout at me 'Fuck you Karen' as I walked past, for no reason. I guess they had a great new insult to use and had been looking for a chance to use it, and as a 50 something woman with a bob, there I was.

It's become a catch-all dismissive term for middle aged and / or outspoken women, so yes it's shit.

I disagree Chainunderreaction Not hard to see why Gammon is an offensive term. Stereotyping is offensive.

I don’t think anyone uses the term to mean racist any more, at least not in the UK. My daughter recently asked me if she’d be a Karen if she took something she bought that didn’t work back to the shop

Maybe it's something people get more sensitive to in general in middle age in that case (both for the Gammon and Karen labels)

My mum mentioned she got a lot more sensitive when she started the menopause, didn't find the same jokes funny, couldn't understand sarcastic comments as easily etc.