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.

White middle class women complaining about the use of Karen is so Karen. They care more about some white women being called Karen than the abhorrent behaviour of Karens. They even say the use of Karen to describe a particular whites woman who behaves in a despicable way is a slur. A slur? A slur because the despicable behaviour is actually okay because she is simply exercising her privilege and how dare anyone say anything against her? What is this slur?

The sensitivity over this is extremely interesting and proves the point.

Well I'm not going to be able to defend myself without accusations of racism I don't think. So I'll just say I agree Karen isn't comparable with racist slurs, and I don't think I suggested it was.

OP I completely agree. It's not 'just' a joke, it's a way of belittling what women say, especially middle aged women. I also think it's a bit classist. It's a really nice name but rarely seen in the wealthier circles of society. I won't join in with this particular tedious trope.

Except, except, except... It's just not being used in that way in the UK, and you know it.

It's not being used to call out racism. Or white middle class entitlement (the name does NOT have mc connotations in the UK). It's being used to shut up middle aged women because their opinions are no longer valid, just in the same way as Boomer, only more offensive because it's thousands of people's actual name.

Come into a secondary school classroom and listen to the use of the two words. Boomer means "shut up everybody older than mid twenties" and Karen means "shut up female older than mid twenties."

Thankfully I don't hear it used much in real life but I do see a lot of memes about it. I feel really bad for your friend, that's such a shame and no one should feel like that. To be honest, I'd never really given it much thought or considered how it may affect women with the name, so I'm glad this thread was created and gives me an opportunity to be more aware.

[quote kness]@emilyfrost Fuck off. It's my name, and the name of millions of women around the world who are facing escalating levels of harassment and bullying.

Type your own name into this website and read through all the results. karenismyname.org/renamer

Now imagine how it would feel with millions of people round the world doing that to your name, to the point where you're too scared to say anything at all.

And then STFU and fuck off.[/quote]
👏🏼 👏🏼👏🏼

@DressingGownofDoom

Using the term 'Karen' is the hallmark of an idiot. It will die out soon when the people who use it realise they're coming across as thick as mince. Like 'snowflake' and 'gammon' which are thankfully starting to die a death, or the annoying trend of sticking an animal onto the end of an insult eg cuntpuffin, wankbadger etc.

I hope this is true. Also "ok, Boomer" which no one really uses anymore because they know it makes them sound like unoriginal, rather dim band wagon jumpers now. I have a lovely family member called Karen who bears all this nonsense stoically but it makes me angry that her lovely name has been turned into a spiteful insult.

Using a name as a slur is very unfair. You can’t help your name.

I agree with the OP. All the women I have ever known called Karen are nothing like the behaviour it is meant to describe, indeed they have all been pleasant kind people.

Just called those who engage in unpleasant behaviour of the kind 'entitled' or 'rude' or some other description. Female or male.

But it isn’t used to describe women who are not white so how can you say it is used to “shut up” middle age women?

I don’t ever recall seeing a thread on here by the sisterhood denouncing the use of “angry black woman” or “submissive Asian woman”, etc. Only an outcry about the oppression of women when certain white middle class women are called “Karen”.

I have never used Karen to describe anyone and I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve been called Karen. I find the outrage interesting and it tempts me to start using the term. If I’m behaving like a Karen and someone calls me a Karen then so be it.

Seriously she bears it stoically? How brave of her. How brave are the Toms, Johns, etc of this world. The poor things bearing the “slurs” associated with their names stoically.

I don’t ever recall seeing a thread on here by the sisterhood denouncing the use of “angry black woman” or “submissive Asian woman”, etc. Only an outcry about the oppression of women when certain white middle class women are called “Karen”.

I have seen multiple posts over the years decrying these stereotypes and discussing them. Not entire threads perhaps but is that not because MN is a board for a certain demographic with white being the majority so not issues they face?

Pretty unpleasant lots of randoms using your name as shorthand for horrible behaviour. Pretty sure you wouldn’t like it!

Seriously she bears it stoically? How brave of her.

Yes, I agree. she has a job where she is exposed to a lot of public ridicule over it. It's shit for her.

@stampsurprise

Oh and my Karen claims that postmen never used to steal from the mail - it's only "the Asian ones" who do it now that they are "everywhere".

Unless she's called Karen you are being a cunt.

Loads of Karens on here

I feel really sorry for anyone called Karen - and I know lots of them. It was by far the most popular name in my year group at school, think there was at least 5 of them, plus a Caron and a Carren.

The posters who think it's fun, or accurate, or nothing to get upset about sound younger - maybe if the meme was about a name common in women in their 20s or 30s it'd be a different story. You're such a Lauren, such an Emma, such a Megan, Hannah, Rachel, Lisa.

But because Karen peaked in popularity in the late 60s and early 70s it's OK to use that name as a slur for a particular type of behaviour? No, it's not OK. Yes there are some rude, racist and entitled people called Karen. Just as there are people with all the other names who are rude, racist and entitled.

@africansassenach

Loads of Karens on here

Probably. It's a nice name that was pretty popular in the 70's and early 80's so with MN user demographic being what it is I should think there's a fair fee.

Few to fee obvs

Everyday sexism, and small minded.

Some eejit said it to me on twitter the other day when I expressed a fairly uncontraversial opinion in a perfectly polite manner. Basically I said I was concerned in the current situation about hospitals filling up and he went 'cringe Karen. The hospitals are empty'. I mean disagree with me if you want but what has 'Karen' to do do with anything? Triggered by middle aged woman hate. Mummy issues perhaps?

@africansassenach

Loads of Karens on here

More cunts than Karen's. I'm glad that I'm neither.

Lots of Karen’s I’m sure. It’s a popular name particularly if you happen to have been born in the 70s. And? 🙄

We should switch “Karen” to Jack and Emily. But then there would be tears and triggering I guess😁.

The person who used it to shut me down on twitter was a young white right-wing man. The discussion was nothing to do with entitlement to anything and I was totally polite. You can't tell from my profile that I'm white although you may infer it I suppose, I don't know. I don't post very often. But you can tell I'm female and middle-aged. I get it's not 'meant' to be used in that entirely sexist/misogynist/ageist way but it is. Which then makes it useless as any kind of calling out of racist, entitled behaviour. It'll no doubt go away soon.

Yanbu. Its ageist, misogynistic and a way to keep middle aged women who shove their head above the parapet, to pipe down and stay in their lane

This. If I see someone being called a Karen on here or on FB I ask the person not to use it as a derogative term again. I've not received a pile of abuse back - yet.

while it’s an accurate way to describe a behaviour it’s going to continue to be used

how is using someone's first name an accurate way to describe their behaviour? Describe the behaviour rather than using lazy insults.