The term Karen

[Errmmmmmmmmmmm]

So today i was having a conversation with my DS about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and we were discussing the characters names. Verruca came up, he said she shouldn't be called that, she should be called Karen. I asked why and he said Karen is usually a lady who is bossy and not demanding. He's 8! I am surprised that a term such as Karen has reached his age group.

How did you respond to him? Was it a teaching moment?

Yeah, it's a nasty sexist trope that does seem prevalent among children. I found my sons watching YouTube videos about Karens which they thought were hilarious, so I've been trying to help them understand why this is not cool.

It must be difficult if your name is actually Karen. All but one of the Karens I know are thoroughly lovely people, and the one who is horrid still doesn't fit the Karen stereotype.

My neice has been banned by SIL, from saying Karen and calls it the K word.

Really sad that a name has become an insult. There were plenty of girls called Karen in my year group,so and I know a fair few in my current adult life now. All lovely women.

My 9yo told me yesterday that friends use the term. Don't know if they know what it means but I made it clear I never want to hear it and why.

I hate it when perfectly good names become used as sexist slurs. I take it you put him right?

Verruca salt was a kid though

The children at work use it and I shut it down. It's misogynistic claptrap.

A known instagram “influencer” used the term in a really unpleasant way on one of her posts. I gently questioned the use in the comments and she suggested her followers use my, pretty common, name instead. I received a great deal of abuse so I feel really bad for those people actually named Karen.

It's my name and I am so fed up with hearing the slurs. I put something on our local FB page the other day, someone responded with a Karen slur and then loads of people piled on in the same vein. Luckily my friend is an administrator and was able to shut it down but I was really upset and DH was furious.

Goodness, what an interesting story.

I started off thinking it was mildly annoying it was about a grumpy lady in a restaurant but now it's spread to any woman over 30 with an opinion I tend to shut it down. Feel very sorry for Tracys, Sharons, Karens and Alexas these days.

Yes, it's my name too. I've take it off my social media accounts as it always encourages the same nasty reactions.
I am pondering changing my name, mine doesn't have the usual pronunciation, which always provokes comment, as if I'm trying to disguise what my name actually is.

Goodness, what a piss poor attempt at sarcasm.

My wife is called Karen. I hate that it’s used as a sexist trope.

Is your name Wendy?

What about the male equivalent Kyle?

If it is, @TapertandEdkins, I don't know who you are, just who the influencer is.

How did you know @GoodChat ?!

She's one of two influencers I follow! I'm actually really disappointed that that's how it came about. I thought it was just a random name that she used - I didn't realise she was being a massive bitch.

It's sexist and ageist and used by the intolerable tolerant.

And as for the term gammon, add race into the mix.

The hypocrisy is staggering.

It’s nasty, sexist and ageist. It seems to be used by people who consider themselves woke.

I really hate it. It's a way of telling women to get back in their box and shut up. It targets not just people called Karen but all of us, because we can all be called it. I find it most depressing when women or girls use it. I try to shut it down when I can, but I hope it falls out of favour eventually.

Agree absolutely with this.

I agree with your first sentence but not your second. To me, people who consider themselves woke are the caring and considerate ones. That's another word that should die out, because no-one is quite sure what other people mean by it.

How do women (the target of being labelled Karen) argue against it without being labelled Karen?