To be bummed to be "Karen"?

[Shortstrawname]

Name changed because this could be outing. I'm in my late 20s and my name is Karen. I feel sad that my name has now become a huge meme. Amongst a sea of Katies in my year at school, I was kind of glad to have a unique name. Now, I feel mostly embarrassed due to the sea of Internet memes. There is an 'anti-Karen' group on Facebook with 127k likes! What do you all think of the name and do you immediately now associate it with the meme? I know there is nothing I can do but suck it up, but I wonder if there are any other Karens feeling the same out there? 🤔

There is a difference between not allowing people to walk all over you and being rude, entitled and inappropriate. The latter is a Karen.

EXACTLY

Women who think they are entitled to stuff and who think they get to have an opinion are NOT OK.

The problem is, once they hit menopause, they stop caring what people think.

They are KARENS.

Don't be one. Think the right thoughts. Say the right things.

Then more men will want to fuck you.

Karen is a behaviour rather than the name. I've never met a Karen who behaves like the meme.

Nihiloxica

Meh, I have a name that has similar meme-related negative associations and I don't care that much. Would take a prize idiot to assume that because of my name I personally have the characteristics associated with the stereotype.

Karen is a behaviour rather than the name.

THAT'S IT

It's the behaviour of middle aged women who think they still matter and that their opinions are worth shit.

FUCK THOSE BITCHES

I think the use of this name or any name like this is awful. How can people preach Be Kind then pick on people. I think its really horrible.

What confuses me is is why it's pronounced like Darren when it should be pronounced with a longer "a" Kaaren.

The English Karens I know pronounce it like Darren, it's only the (2) German/Danish/etc ones who pronounce it Kaaren.

Aww op I’d feel the same although I hate my name it’s not a meme (probably far too unusual no ones heard of it) for what it’s worth I’m sure no one thinks twice when you say your name I’m sure it will be something else soon when the karen phase is over x

I don’t know any Karens.

The equivalent Karens in my Facebook-o-sphere are called Debs or Pam and there is also a high number of Margarets.

It’s not the name, it’s the attitude.

@jesusandjollof has it right. Karen, Becky, Susan, et al are the ones who call the police on black/brown people for simply existing. It's the archetype of the entitled middle aged white woman who feels threatened by anything remotely not like them even when that person or thing is casually minding its own business. White people feeling threatened whenever black and brown people don't immediately or obviously obey them is dangerous and lethal.

I agree with all the posters saying it is all about the behaviour (and haircut). I am sorry that it makes you feel self-conscious. I have a name that I hate and it considered by many to be a lower class "slags" name.

It's a trend OP it'll blow over . In all honesty I think it's mostly had it's day anyway and the Karen hype is over, I heard someone reference it the other day online and just thought they sounded out of touch really- I had forgotten about it.

As others have said, I don't really connect the meme to real people called karen anyway, hearing the name referenced in real life outside of the sentiment wouldn't register at all. It's a perfectly lovely name.

Karen, Becky, Susan, et al are the ones who call the police on black/brown people for simply existing. It's the archetype of the entitled middle aged white woman who feels threatened by anything remotely not like them even when that person or thing is casually minding its own business.

So judging people by their name and age is OK?

You can tell what people believe and what they are worth just by knowing their name?

Super. That is going to work out super great for "black/brown" people,

Also remember the important lesson: It's fine to be sexist.

I’d love to be called Karen, my name is Tracey I detest it. I am embarrassed to say my name when I meet new people.

@Nihiloxica it's NOT judging people by a name, it's ascribing a name to describe a type of behaviour.
It's the same as people describing teenagers as 'Kevins' - of course they're not implying that everyone called Kevin is a moody teenager.
It's working out fine for black people, thanks. It doesn't stop the micro-aggressions we face, but it helps to talk about it!

PMSL at the poster who confused Outlander and Outnumbered

I didn’t know there were Karen memes or stereotypes. Perfectly nice name, known several lovely Karen’s!

Did it come from America? My US friends use it a lot more than anyone I know here and they use it to refer to women in their 30s as well as middle aged ones. I wouldn't worry. Apparently Kevin is/was a preppy name in the US. They have different name associations.

My oldest friend is a Karen, the only one I know, and I think it is silly to choose a name and use it in a negative way. It's almost like bullying. Sharon used to the old equivalent.

I only know one Karen.
She is not a nice person.
But I agree that it's very stereotypical to imagine they are all the same.
It happens to "Wendy" as well.

heartsonacake

The problem is once you get to you late fifty’s early sixties, people really start to treat so much differently then they did ten years earlier ! ! You are the same person but its just like you have disappear and you have become ridiculous and silly and nobody listens Just because your not young anymore .

I remember being fourth and my oldest sister telling me that she felt invisible since she had hit sixty, I thought she was being silly, now I know what she meant.

So to compensate I think a lot of older ladies can seem a bit rude but we really can be very fed up with every one trying to walking all over us!!

But of course You are wright some days I really don’t give a shit!! Or as I like to call it I have a day of truth telling!! This often seems to upset a lot of my friends and family!!

God knows what I will be like by the time I get to ninety, hopefully I might have come out of the fuck you middle age stage and will have gone into the nice kindly old lady stage!!

My 12 yr old daughter mentioned the Karen thing. I didn't have a clue but I've just googled it. It's a shame, they could have picked a lot of names to go with that stereotype

I wasn't at school with any Karen's (60s) but I have worked with loads! At one time we had 3 Karens in an office of 5 people.

I am completely unaware of the meme. Just not seen it at all.

I think Karen's a pretty good name; better than many (not a personal favourite, but I've got nothing against it).

Yeah it’s a bit shitty make a whole meme based on a name,

But tbf I know a Karen and she/her name don’t make me think of the memes. I would imagine most decent people wouldn’t judge you based on a stupid meme.

I like the name Karen (not exactly relevant)