AIBU - 'Karen' is about class, why are people so class-blind?

[Beancounter1]

AIBU to hate the way people confuse racism and sexism with class prejudice? To my mind, the use of the insult 'Karen', especially popular in the USA, doesn't just mean a middle-aged white woman who is arrogant, self-righteous, self absorbed, complaining, trouble-making, full-of-herself, etc. etc.
It means a middle or upper class woman with these characteristics. You won't see a working class 'Karen'. The stereotypical 'Karen' behaves as she does because she is on a power trip. Her social class advantage has gone to her head. That is why she complains in restaurants and is rude to shop assistants.
Why are people so blind to class prejudice? Why is the world so often seen only through the lens of race or sex? Is it because the powers-that-be (the 'elite') have a vested interest in deflecting and forestalling any class-based collective action or class consciousness? We are not encouraged to talk or think about class, but it is as significant as ever.

This is your reaction to this weeks events? To complain about a meme which highlights middle class white women using their position to belittle minimum wage earners and be racist?

And why are people desperately trying to ignore this came from america? it really isnt relevant what it meant in 60s England

Have you actually read this thread? @user1471565182. Where people detail how its morphed into a general sexist insult used to tell women to shut up. There is no wrong time to monitor sexism.

Well said Dido!

It's farcical to think that 'really, RIGHT NOW?' is the wrong time to fight misogyny. Or to use a more palatable social justice term, to 'call it out'.

I'm a feminist. I'm middle aged. My feminism means opposing sexism wherever I see it. Every day, no matter what.

Misogyny doesn't go on holiday because of other events. 'omg quit moaning about racism, today isn't about YOU' would never apply. It's always the day to challenge racism. And it's always the day to highlight misogyny in it's overt and subtle forms.

Anyone that has worked in customer service knows what a Karen is

I've worked in customer service and I would probably never have known what a "karen" is if I hadn't seen it on MN.

I've never understood how brazenly misogynist language is not deemed beyond the pale

Oh dear you've just opened up a completely different can of worms with that statement!

(the last three words)

I think it is more sexist to be honest...how dare women have an opinion no matter who they are?

Very much designed to make us put up and shut up.

I've worked in customer service and I would probably never have known what a "karen" is if I hadn't seen it on MN.

I've never heard this term in RL or anywhere except on MN myself.

I have worked retail for years and never come across this mythical karen .
My social media is flooded with the memes and mn is full of apologists for it. How can a woman defend this and how do you think it relates to a female shopper?

@proudboomer That meme is nothing to do with the original meme.
The original memes had an element of truth to them.
Like all things, it got ruined by misappropriation.

What started as a little joke for abused retail staff to chortle over has become something nasty.

Like all things, it got ruined by misappropriation
What started as a little joke for abused retail staff to chortle over has become something nasty

It was always nasty. Where is the equivalent meme for say the well off but arrogant young man? the surly teenager? the unreasonable over 50 man? I'm sure being rude to retail staff is not limited to only white women aged over 30.

@DidoLamenting The type of customer that sparked the meme has been described very accurately by PP's
Believe me, they are truly in a league of their own. I spent 15 years being abused by the public and this particular demographic is by far the most spiteful.

@3cats

I think what this thread shows is that "Karen" is different things to different people depending on your own personal experiences.

^^ this

I quite liked this - US Karen's reclaiming the name! twitter.com/skenigsberg/status/1271478823545159680?s=21

Well, I've only just discovered the Karen and Becky nemes.
I'm a Karen Rebecca - so I guess I'm a 'bbq becky' too!!
I've always been fond of both and considered Karen pretty classless, just more of a certain era.
Maybe because I had a Dutch maiden name (which is why my middle class parents chose it) and loved the novel Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen - I've never felt uncomfortable using it.
I suppose to me it's just always had Dutch/Scandi connotations rather than class.
The way you act and present yourself is a far bigger indicator of class in my view!