Can't stand people referring to others as a 'Karen'

[shesellsseashells99]

I'm fed up with seeing it, I really have. it's gone way too far now. I have a friend who is ashamed of her name and won't post on any public forum because of the stick she gets. Constantly seeing stupid memes.

You may think I'm being too serious but I think it's so derogatory to people who have that name.

am I the only person that has not heard this phrase used outside of MN

It's quite a thing at secondary school. The joy of tiktok.

I see no difference between Karen and Priti Patel, yet mumsnetters were ever so keen to throw mud at Priti and not Karen? Can you not see racism inherent in these attitudes?

am I the only person that has not heard this phrase used outside of MN?

No. I’ve never heard it either outside of social media, just like I’ve never heard BBQ Becky, Permit Patty, or Cornerstone Caroline.

It's the general theme of the thread phoenix. I'm not accusing you directly of calling white women a Karen. I've no idea if you have or not. I haven't gone back to check.

I haven’t. Never thought to tbh.

@KnotsLanding

I see no difference between Karen and Priti Patel, yet mumsnetters were ever so keen to throw mud at Priti and not Karen? Can you not see racism inherent in these attitudes?

Wait, are there memes about Priti Patel? I didn't know that was a thing.

@Lillyhoneyrose here you go

@phoenixrosehere

am I the only person that has not heard this phrase used outside of MN?

No. I’ve never heard it either outside of social media, just like I’ve never heard BBQ Becky, Permit Patty, or Cornerstone Caroline.

I hadn't heard of the Shaniqua one either but to be honest am new to social media memes etc . I don't think anyone should be stereotyped, it is dickish behaviour. I did hear about the basic Becky thing and found that equally appalling. Especially when I read about the original stereotype it is based on.

[quote KnotsLanding]@Lillyhoneyrose here you go

[/quote] Lol

The thing I love about Spitting Image is that nobody comes out of it well.

@KnotsLanding

I see no difference between Karen and Priti Patel, yet mumsnetters were ever so keen to throw mud at Priti and not Karen? Can you not see racism inherent in these attitudes?

But Priti Patel is an actual person. Who I'm sure has had plenty of racism directed at her, but I don't see how "you criticised this actual person for things she did, but you did not criticise this fictional stereotype of a woman" is the best evidence of that.

and who are you to say my existence must be miserable because i enjoy Karen videos

Just an opinion based on how you present :-) no problem there right?

I'm really enjoying the new Spitting Image. I loved it in the past and it's great having it back again. I remember that the politicians of those days actually loved being on it, because it meant that they were in the public eye.

[quote Mittens030869]@Lillyhoneyrose Well put. I had drafted a comment saying the same thing, but you put it so much better.

I still don't get the insistence on sticking to the name Karen? Why that name?[/quote]
Thanks @Mittens030869

I like Spitting Image too. Very funny.

@Mittens030869 - thanks I see it referred to so frequently here, but not in real life, media..... ever
I was beginning to think I was going slightly crazy!

YABU

It is just the latest in a very long line of real names used to generalise a certain 'type' of person.

Remember the Sharons & Tracys in the 1980s? or the male equivalent Waynes & Garys?

Or ever heard of the 'Ruperts' where working class squaddies referred to their (usually public school) officers?

Or 'Jeremy & Jemima' used to describe posh people who ensure everyone is aware of their perceived social status.

Take it back many years - every heard of Little Lord Fauntleroy? used to describe someone with delusions of grandeur.

Plenty of male equivalents. Maybe men are just better at shrugging their shoulders and saying 'Bollocks to you/that etc' and moving on?

I do have to say I see nothing wrong with wanting to speak to the manager. My worry is that assertiveness in women is still being demonized. Of course, be polite, but do state your needs and if what you want in as courteous but firm way as possible. I used to be in retail, a worker in a lowly position at the bottom, and we were told "the customer is always right" and reminded we are there to serve them. I actually agree with this. As long as customers aren't being rude and abusive, of course.

I think it worth remembering that women of the "karen" age and class demographic did face a huge amount of everyday sexism and have had to learn to fight for their needs to be met. some women are strong and confident and so can be assertive without being aggressive. Those who are less confident in themselves may end up becoming aggressive or passive. Assertiveness learned properly is so important.

The reason so many are against the Karen meme is because it raises up a mirror against your own reflection. If you don't like what you see then maybe think about changing the image you portray. The meme has made me laugh

why has it angered so many on here what impact does it have on your day to day life

(Apart from those who are actually called Karen I can understand the annoyance)

Apart from those who are actually called Karen I can understand the annoyance

That's been my point all the way through. My name isn't Karen, but I would hate for my name to be used in this way.

That's reason enough not to use it. There are other ways to call out unacceptable behaviour without being obnoxious yourself and losing the moral high ground.

@Moutarde

YABU

It is just the latest in a very long line of real names used to generalise a certain 'type' of person.

Remember the Sharons & Tracys in the 1980s? or the male equivalent Waynes & Garys?

Or ever heard of the 'Ruperts' where working class squaddies referred to their (usually public school) officers?

Or 'Jeremy & Jemima' used to describe posh people who ensure everyone is aware of their perceived social status.

Take it back many years - every heard of Little Lord Fauntleroy? used to describe someone with delusions of grandeur.

Plenty of male equivalents. Maybe men are just better at shrugging their shoulders and saying 'Bollocks to you/that etc' and moving on?

True but I am not seeing nearly as many Dick or Kevin or Chad videos as there are Karen ones. That of course might be because that kind of thing appeals to the kind of person who is on reddit or Tumblr which has dark underbelly of misogyny in it. don't believe me, then look at r/fat people stories where there have their own thing about chubby women, mostly with obvious binge eating disorders who dare to commit the crime of being large and "entitled" (which is another way of saying they etc to be treated as human beings)

It has angered a lot on here, particularly @Kaliorphic because maybe they act like a Karen and the truth is stinker than horseshit

It has angered a lot on here, particularly @Kaliorphic because maybe they act like a Karen and the truth is stinker than horseshit

I'm not angry. I think it's quite funny watching the idiots crawl out trying to defend the term. You keep going dear 😉

Yes i'm defending the term....nothing wrong with that....at least you got a nice name to go with the meme

@KnotsLanding

I see no difference between Karen and Priti Patel, yet mumsnetters were ever so keen to throw mud at Priti and not Karen? Can you not see racism inherent in these attitudes?

I don't like Priti Patel specifically because she is a Brexiteer and not very competent in her government job. She has also been accused of bullying.

I have actually posted on here that although I don't like her, I can imagine that she is being judged over-harshly because she is (a) female and (b) not white.

I don't use Priti as an insult for 40 something Asian woman whose views I don't agree with.

Yes i'm defending the term....nothing wrong with that....at least you got a nice name to go with the meme

Ok dear. You drone on with that then. You sound so interesting. Bet you're great fun at parties right?

@KnotsLanding

Yes i'm defending the term....nothing wrong with that....at least you got a nice name to go with the meme

As I said in an earlier post, defending a term that demeans women for daring to have an opinion (it's actually completely irrelevant whether people agree with the opinion) is misguided.

There are too many people out there who think a woman in possession of an opinion is a dangerous thing and needs putting in her box at best and raping at worst.

For the last time: If you do not like someone's behaviour, then criticise the behaviour. Do not find a name and decide to bestow it on a massive section of the world's female population. It IS lazy, sexist and ageist and overgeneralising in the extreme as well as feeding into the hands of men who want women put back in their box.

The whole point of Karen is to expose behaviours as such. Every other culture have had to accept their memes, why can't the middle class white accept theirs? Typical of Karen, this is just another "how dare you" attitude