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.

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

There is no such thing as a Karen although there are women whose parents named them Karen.

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.

I have heard the Shaniqua one in real life unfortunately towards other black people but it is actually not a common black name to begin with.

Basic Becky, I’ve only heard online, but then I recall the name being dropped and it just being basic and a flood of people claiming how basic they were...

What "memes" do other cultures have? Do you mean stereotypes? If so, why do "middle class white women" have to accept them when they are considered racist and/or xenophobic for everyone else?

Yes it does seem to be touching a raw nerve for some. Maybe they need to ask themselves why ....

why can't the middle class white accept theirs?

Those damn white women won't accept your name calling. But carry on with it. It's already becoming meaningless, but the good thing about it is that it immediately identifies the academically challenged people that use it. Yep, we can see you.

Middle class white women don’t have to accept them

But are you really comparing that an online term that has been used to silence some or call out others really has the impact racism/xenophobia has

Do you remember when it was white working class men who were the root of all racism? Upper and middle class people read the guardian and were enlightened. But people with a rough accent or a job in plumbing were probably racist thugs. Now, Im not saying that many working class people arent racist. However, it is a mystery that instutitional racism (including but not limited to black people's pain being taken less seriously by doctors, people with black sounding names being less likely to be offered professional jobs, black women being more likely to die in childbirth, magistrates giving longer sentances to BAME offenders than white offenders of the same crime, I could go on all day). White working class people were not responsible for this. In fact historically working class communties tended to be more integrated than upper middle class communities. However as long as the stereotypical racist was a chav, people in actual positions of power could carry on perpetuating that system, and sometimes convince themselves they werent racist because they were not a football hooligan beating some kid up for the colour of their skin. "I mean my CLEANER is black and she's just wonderful."

In the same way a white woman who uses her position to bully a black person, falsely accuse them of crimes, or just make them feel lesser is worthy of criticism. It is also worth looking at the very complex role some women have played in upholding both patriarchy and systemic racism. However, if you make a lower middle class, middle aged white woman shouting at a clerk the face of racisim you miss seeing the bigger picture and the people that perpetuate these systems and benefit the most from them (note I said the most) get to carry on. Everyone else starts fighting themselves.

But are you really comparing that an online term that has been used to silence some or call out others really has the impact racism/xenophobia has

Already asked and answered.

@ItsAlwaysSunnyOnMN

Middle class white women don’t have to accept them

But are you really comparing that an online term that has been used to silence some or call out others really has the impact racism/xenophobia has

I'm not comparing anything because I've not heard named stereotypes in any other way - only on this thread and I notice they're both aimed at females again, funny that.

Where are the "memes" for entitled men of any colour skin?

Oh they don't exist. Also funny (not).

Kaliorphic my response was to cologne4711

Hate it. What's the male equivalent?

Don’t you find though, that the people who use it are generally a little intellectually challenged? I see people on my social media using it, and I could have picked out the ones who would actually use it before I looked. They’re a bit dim, but think they’re clever and out there for using it to describe someone, but ask them what their understanding of the term is, and they don’t have a clue.

@cologne4711 because men are allowed to be entitled. Durrr. White women should avoid having strong opinions and ideally be young and pretty. Once they are older and become unfuckable they should do the world a favour and disappear. Black women ARE sometimes allowed to be strong and express strong opinions but ONLY if they are supporting the white female protaganist in a romantic comedy. Those are the rules. Its too hard to change them so lets just have fun name calling instead.

Are we saying Karen is not a true portrayal? If it wasn't true then the meme would not have existed in the first place. And since it is true, why are people so offended by it? Why not have a good laugh and own it?

(the white female protaganist cant be strong herself unless given permission because that would make her a Karen. Fortunately theres normally a walking stereotype with no problems of her own (or at least none that matter) to do so).

@lemonsquashie

Hate it. What's the male equivalent?

Chad and it’s been used just as long as Karen

@Sameolesame

It’s an effective way of calling out racist white middle class women, particularly in the US. I personally cannot be worked up by that. If it calls out the abhorrent behaviour of some women then good. I’m not going to feel sorry for racist white women just because there isn’t an equivalent name for racist white men. The solution is to find an equivalent for racist white men rather that have bleeding hearts for racist white women - poor them, poor them.

Why can't they just be called racist dicks?

Don’t you find though, that the people who use it are generally a little intellectually challenged

Yep. I'm just glad I don't actually know people like this in real life.

[quote yetanothernamitynamechange]@cologne4711 because men are allowed to be entitled. Durrr. White women should avoid having strong opinions and ideally be young and pretty. Once they are older and become unfuckable they should do the world a favour and disappear. Black women ARE sometimes allowed to be strong and express strong opinions but ONLY if they are supporting the white female protaganist in a romantic comedy. Those are the rules. Its too hard to change them so lets just have fun name calling instead.[/quote]
Black women are always fuckable at all ages...

@ItsAlwaysSunnyOnMN

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)

Because working class women have been historically downtrodden in many ways. The very women you call Karen now were people who were an easy target. Except in their generation they were labelled Sharon or Tracey not Karen. Maybe they remember a time when sexual abuse at work was the norm and domestic violence was acceptable and to keep even low paid jobs they had to let their bosses be sleazy with them. and transparent pair the same wage.for the same job. Not saying it was that way with all women but it was fairly commonplace.

Looking at the "trailer trash" (I hate that term but not sure what else i would use) attire they seem to wear in those videos I would not consider them powerful privileged women. Except maybe they have race privilege if they are the ones who aren't black or native.

@KnotsLanding

I'm not offended about it on a personal level, I've never actually been called it myself. But there are women who are actually called Karen and they have a right to not have their name used in that way.

And you still haven't answered the question as to why you need to use an actual women's name to make your point? Just call out the behaviour.

But no, it seems you don't actually have an answer to that question, do you? You just mock us in response.

why can't they just be called racist dicks

Yes! This. Racism should be called out.

someone whingeing over not wanting to wear a mask of throwing a strop in Maccy Ds because they ran out of ice cream is just not comparable. Tantrums need to be ignored like you do when children have them.

@KnotsLanding so are white women (I was being sarcastic). But even if I was the oldest, ugliest woman alive, I still deserve to be treated with respect black or white. Everyone deserves that. No-ones value should be determined by how attractive they are or how few wrinkles they have or whether the levels of melatonin in their skin is below an acceptable level. And allowing the (mostly male, mostly white although not always) people at the top of the tree to determine who has value and who can talk helps no-one except them.

Also, the only other time I have ever heard someone say that black women remain fuckable longer it was from an extremely racist, extremely sexist creepy old guy. Thats a whole other (even nastier) stereotype.

[quote Mittens030869]@KnotsLanding

I'm not offended about it on a personal level, I've never actually been called it myself. But there are women who are actually called Karen and they have a right to not have their name used in that way.

And you still haven't answered the question as to why you need to use an actual women's name to make your point? Just call out the behaviour.

But no, it seems you don't actually have an answer to that question, do you? You just mock us in response.[/quote]
I've had to use an actual woman's name because the majority on mumsnet wanted to throw Priti out of parliament and yet these same women are crying down the Karen...it makes no sense