How to explain the use of boomer, Karen is derogatory?

[NightSpot]

Teen Ds's. They use boomer and Karen all the time. I have said I do not like them. They argue they are not slurs, whereas I think they are. I also say Karen is misogynistic. I am not good with words and they argue rings around me.

Can someone explain in a way I can repeat? I do think though that they should respect that our house is not a playground, where I am sure they all use those words, and therefore they should respect the fact I do not want to hear them.

The same with sticking up for women is seen as TERF behaviour.

I basically need coherent arguments that make them understand why all three terms are horrible.

A woman who is abusing others or causing trauma to innocent people should be exposed and told off. Sorry, no sympathy from me.

If you’re acting in an abhorrent way, then why shouldn’t you be exposed? That’s not shutting down. It’s calling people out. That’s simply saying you can no longer think you can get away with abusive treatment of others and not be held accountable.

Don’t go about harassing innocent people and making people’s lives miserable.

I have no argument with that position at all. But why do you need to use the name “Karen” as a short form and a stereotype? That’s what’s being objected to. That using a name common amongst middle aged women is quite literally making innocent people’s lives miserable.

Can’t you see that?

I see no problem with the use of Karen to refer to racist and classist women who go about harassing innocent people. I’ll reserve my outrage for pouring scorn on these women and their behaviour rather than this made up outrage about the name

But that’s not what the term is now being used for chewing

It’s being used to shut up all white women, usually those of a particular age increasingly in day to day life.

For making a complaint in store or restaurant for faulty goods or poor service.
Having a different political opinion
Being angry about something
Expressing an opinion to teenage kids

...Karen...Boomer

Can’t you see how this is wrong?
It is designed to shut people up
Nullify opinions
Belittle them
It is Racist and ageist

If a person says something racist or acts like they are better than others, call them out on it and tell them so by using their OWN name...don’t be lazy and obtuse by hijacking Karen’s name.

They are more than just professional complainers or abusive white women? Is the latter a more acceptable descriptor than Karen?

@Renaggie you are spot on. I really feel that there is a difference between the US and UK. Id really recommend listening to codeswitch from npr to get the american perspective. They did mention the British feminist complaints and tbh I found their resonse quite dismissive. They didnt seem to get the class and age dynamic.

Um ...Why don’t you just condemn the poor behaviour of the person individually? After all no 2 people are exactly the same. There are bad behaviours across all ages, genders, races , nationalities etc etc

Why does there have to be a broad descriptive name calling? We are trying to teach our children not to stereotype and name call. How can you call out one bad behaviour by using another??

That’s the point everyone is trying to make

And the point the OP is trying to make to her child

Didn't Priti Patel get called a Karen?

[quote StrictlyAFemaleFemale]@Renaggie you are spot on. I really feel that there is a difference between the US and UK. Id really recommend listening to codeswitch from npr to get the american perspective. They did mention the British feminist complaints and tbh I found their resonse quite dismissive. They didnt seem to get the class and age dynamic.[/quote]
US commentators not appreciating different contexts and connotations doesn’t really surprise me, sadly.
The whole ‘Karen’ thing seems to have taken on a whole new evolution about wearing face masks, especially in the US and now Australia too! Pro mask and anti mask each calling the other ‘Karens’.

The mask thing is great. It's like... Karen is just a way to dress-up insulting a woman for disagreeing with you!

@blubberyboo

Um ...Why don’t you just condemn the poor behaviour of the person individually? After all no 2 people are exactly the same. There are bad behaviours across all ages, genders, races , nationalities etc etc

Why does there have to be a broad descriptive name calling? We are trying to teach our children not to stereotype and name call. How can you call out one bad behaviour by using another??

That’s the point everyone is trying to make

And the point the OP is trying to make to her child

Totally agree.

It's not used for women who are racist or classist in the UK; it's used for women who you disagree with. Rather like 'bitch'. The only way to avoid being a 'bitch' is to never have opinions and shut up

I got called a Karen for the first time when I posted on SM about the recent ActionAid debacle ( denying biology). I was essentially told to shut up. I wasn’t even being particularly out there in my criticism. It seems to be very current to shut down or try to shut down people you disagree with rather than actually have a debate with them about the issue at hand. Quite frankly they can fuck off with their bull-shit. I’m not shutting up because some random on the internet tells me to.