Sick of being called Karen

[frog22]

Listening to Radio 4 and Caroline Hirons is on and she has already used the term Karen to refer to her followers. I'm just sick of it. It's as bad as calling a woman the B word or C word!

Why would she do it? Why do women do it to other women?

@Suzie6789

It’s offensive to me because it’s used to dismiss, belittle and shut down middle aged, white, working class women.

Exactly this.

I'm sick of it. I find it sexist and ageist.

This piece sums up my thoughts: www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8499961/SARAH-VINE-Attacking-Karens-just-racism-name.html

It is just becoming an insult thrown at any woman over 30 with an opinion who won't sit quietly.

It started as quite a specific kind of behaviour but as with many things it has expanded, it's quite clever in the way it will never expand to include men and they can justify why because it is a woman's name so an utter gift to the misogynists.

In real life I haven't once heard anyone using this "Karen" term, just on MN.

Like we needed another derogatory word aimed specifically at women

True dat!

I read a funny post that asked
‘What do Europeans call Karen’s ‘
Answer . Americans 😊

I’m not hearing this outside of the US , maybe here as we speak the same language

Just block it , it’s simultaneously annoying but also important - petty minded white behaviour does need to be addressed

Absolutely call out racism, being called a racist is surely sufficient?

^This exactly. Call a spade a spade. The problem with the word 'Karen' is that it's over-used, and there's no consensus as to what it even means.

@oddboots

Exactly, and considering that its fcking MEN who started the slave trade in the first place and upheld the societal oppression of black men and women and in fact, women of all ethnicities, for decades and decades, the idea that the "enemy" is a middle aged woman or that this group holds any power at all is a bloody joke.

Or it is to highlight the massively entitled, unreasonable and often discriminatory behaviour of a significant group of white middle class women in the US? The videos I've seen of "Karen's" have been horrendous. Grown women having tantrums, hurling abuse, lying to police, refusing to comply with simple rules to protect public health, harrassing others going about their lawful business and racially profiling people.

Yes that’s a good idea let’s stick a derogatory label on a large section of the population based upon the bad behaviour of a minority in a different country. Let them all carry that label no matter what and never be able to hide from it as it’s based upon their physical characteristics. Let the label make people automatically assume you must have all the associated negative traits.

Oh hang on. That’s not worked out so well before has it? Weren’t we just trying to deal with this shit for some other group of people?

The whole thing is a daft attempt at a power play. Just laugh at it until people move on to the next thing. And actually deal with the women in the states who have behaved badly with, you know, the actual law and stuff.

Karen lives matter

Grown women having tantrums, hurling abuse, lying to police, refusing to comply with simple rules to protect public health, harrassing others going about their lawful business and racially profiling people

And men NEVER do this do they? oh no, they are innocent of all racism including institutional racism and they never engage in such behaviour snort

I also think it's wrong to ignore the genuine upset it's causing women who are actually called Karen. Once again, women are being made to feel guilty at speaking out if something causes offence. Worse, they're accused of condoning racism, when that's absolutely not the case.

Hopoindown31

Is it only 'white' women that its ok to call karen? If so, i would say its not only misogynistic and ageist but racist as well. Its seems to me that its the same people who spout slogans and 'educate' yourself that also happily use karen to denigrate women

[quote Hopoindown31]**@Hopoindown31 I completely agree however I'm just not sure those who would be labelling the "Karen" would agree on what constitutes being entitled, do you?

Not sure what you are trying to say here? I can't speak for other people obviously. But if your reaction to poor service is to immediately raise your voice, hurl abuse and threats then you get what you deserve.

This is not a hill that feminists want to die on.[/quote]
Thank you for all your posts. I don't understand why people find it so hard to grasp this. I mean comparing being called Karen to being called a c-word... Give me strength!

Exactly @AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter and after all men are much likely to physically harm & murder people because of their colour.

But yes let's all focus on those "Karen's" cause then my male family members will be much safer 🙄

This.

The Karen meme has been around for a few years now.

It has risen in mainstream popularity during the COVID crisis due to a videos of middle class white women in the USA throwing tantrums and generally being cunts.

I'm a middle class 30YO opinionated white women and have never been referred to as a Karen because I dont act in a way that could be described as such. I.e I'm not entitled, demanding and patronising. And, I would stop reading a blog that described all their followers as such because I wouldnt follow someone who's lack of comprehension meant they couldn't understand what the term Karen meant.

The male equivalent in this country is gammon btw

Grown women having tantrums, hurling abuse, lying to police, refusing to comply with simple rules to protect public health, harrassing others going about their lawful business and racially profiling people

I don’t know any middle aged women who do this. There’s plenty of wokebros doing the above. I wonder why all the bile is reserved for middle aged women

Oh give over with the Karen lark! When did everyone get so offended by everything!?

When I was a teen it was common practice to call chavvy types “Kevin’s”. Nobody was ridiculously offended back then. The world has gone bloody mad.

It's weird at a time when white men are the ones murdering black people, the meme that's taken hold in the public imagination is one which denigrates a whole swathe of women. Why is that I wonder?

men are much likely to physically harm & murder people because of their colour

Right? we've just watched a male cop leaning on a black man's neck until he died. But no, Karen is the real problem!

Good grief.

Reply fail.

My last post was in response to @wildcherries

@SquishyBones what's a chavvy type?

Don't be offended, just laugh and say "oh do f@ck off love".

At last I thought I had got to the age where I could say my own opinions now that I wasnt being patted on the head or the bum as a young blond thing in the 80s, patronised as being a new mum with 'baby-brain' in the 90s ('bless her, she'll learn when the kids are teenagers')and shouted down by teenagers who know everything and a tit of a (now Ex) husband in the 2000s.

But no, now am a middle-aged woman I find the world has shifted as I am just getting there...and am being shut down again when if I have an opinion people may not like, and so I am labelled a 'Karen' and apparently must know my place again

I think us middle aged ladies should now turn this around and embrace the name, it’s being used so much because others know it upsets us so much, so I’m going to say yes I am a Karen , and just because you have just used that name to insult I'm sorry but I’m not going to go away I have a voice and I’m not afraid to us it.