to hate what my name has become

[tohatemyname]

I have a name which is ridiculed a lot in society and is frequently used as an insult. I already have low self esteem after years of abuse and depression and anxiety as a result. MN and other social media was my respite from all the emotional fallout of the abuse.
On MN now my name is used as an insult and thrown around casually like it doesn't matter.
It fucking does matter. My one safe place to escape my feelings has been pulled from under my feet.

I think Karen is a nice name. Karen Millen, Karen Carpenter, Karen Gillan, Karen in Outnumbered.

Sharon is nice too.

They were very popular names at the time.

I don't use it. I don't know anyone who does in the real world.

Stay off social media. The vast majority of it is unhealthy and damaging.

I've never heard of the 'Susan' one?
WTF is that supposed to mean?

YANBU, it is a way of categorising / ridiculing people / silencing them.

YANBU to hate the current tiresome meme use.

Karen is a lovely name. The little girl in Outnumbered was a Karen and she was great. The ones I've known have all been nice people. Anyway, it's ultimately an American meme and American name connotations are different to British ones. I don't think the associations actually work very well in the UK. For example I wouldn't associate the name Karen with any particular class stereotypes, but apparently Americans think of it as an upper middle class name?

People will get tired of the stupid meme. Something else will crop up to replace it. In the mean time, ignore as best you can.

@Clymene

It's just misogyny

There is no such thing as 'just' misogyny.

To a different PP, wtf should I change my name? The problem is people using it wrongly not my feelings.

This too shall pass.

I'm sure it's a pain in the arse right now, but it won't last forever - this time next year Karen will just be a name again.

I've only heard the use of names such as Karen on mumsnet. Not on my social media and not in real life. I don't think it's as universal as you imagine.

Yup ...how dare middle aged women complain. Lovely name op...be proud of it.

I think the trouble is it does feel quite personal as it is not really referring to all middle aged women as some are making out and in the UK it is certainly not an upper middle class name. I think if you said 'ok, get real Allegra' would be a more fitting reference to that type of privilege but nobody in the UK would truly be offended by being labelled upper middle class as we are such a class based society. To be fair it wouldn't be 'get real' as that sounds American.

As PP says, this too shall pass.
Tom, Dick, Harry, Sharon, Tracey and even Mandy all had a turn.

Just imagine being called Donald right now....

Grow up

I have a name that is also used for shorthand For something else which is a pain every time I meet someone and they think they are being original making a joke. But at least it not shorthand for racism and privilege, that would grate.

My name is also the butt of a joke. Or it used to be, not so much nowadays. I've learned to style it out, but I can see how this would be hard if you already suffer with low esteem and depression.

Maybe get help for this first, OP. I mean, there is always something, whether it's wearing glasses, having freckles, being red-haired, being tall/short, plump or skinny that society will pick on. If you are prone to low esteem, then even if you change your name you will be doomed to always keeping your appearance neutral for fear of something else being used as a meme.

I think the use of a name as an insult is ignorant and bullying. It is part of the problem with social media where people jump on the bandwagon with little thought or care about how much their throwaway words can be upsetting to someone.
I totally understand why you are upset by it but it reflects badly on them not you.

The only Karen I've ever known fit the meme to a tee lol

whether it's wearing glasses, having freckles, being red-haired, being tall/short, plump or skinny that society will pick on.

See that wouldn't bother me (even though I am short, have freckles, am plump, red-haired and wear glasses - do you know me?!) but a name is so personal, it's your identity isn't it?

Oh, just looked up Susan one on Urban Dictionary.
I'm struggling to see what is 'bad' about it - weird!
But I guess we all categorise each other.
Its definately unhelpful though.

wearing glasses, having freckles, being red-haired, being tall/short, plump or skinny

None of those are exclusive to women, though, or more common in middle-aged women.

Op I read the ‘grow up’ comment as a response to Plsgivemefer awful comment.

I bet all of the Sharons and Traceys are delighted Karen is the new name in town!

I don’t like it particularly, but I think you’re taking it a bit too much to heart. As PPs have said, Susan, Sharon, Colin, Brad, Jan... they’ve all been ‘targets’ at one time or another. It’s shit but people can be shit.

I bet all of the Sharons and Traceys are delighted Karen is the new name in town!

And if Colin is a thing, the Wayne's and Kev's will delighted too.