Karen

[LuckyAmy1986]

m.imdb.com/title/tt12636872/

Aibu to think this is outrageous?!

@SnappedAndFarted18

being outraged by the contents of the movie I meant in the sense that it should outrage people because racism is wrong on every level & you’re right people are suffering every day like this it needs to stop

Of course, I don’t disagree with that at all

@LuckyAmy1986 in all honesty I really don’t have a reason had it not been the name “Karen” it would have been another name anyway

@SnappedAndFarted18 yes true it would have just been something else anyway

As someone called Karen, it mightily pisses me off.

If I hear people calling someone a Karen or a gammon, or whatever, I assume that they are of very low intelligence.
Absolutely call people out for racist comments, but don't do it at the expense of someone whose parents just happened to chose the name Karen several decades ago.
The double standards are staggering!

The acting is certainly outrageous. Outrageously bad!

@Gorl

It’s not stereotyping older women. It’s stereotyping racist women who use white fragility to oppress black people.

Except that doesn’t translate to the U.K.

Who are these racist white women in the U.K., who are sufficiently numerous to be an identifiable group?

No, here it is most definitely an ageist, classist and misogynistic term, and used to shut up women at the age when they have moved beyond their female socialisation and are willing to voice an opinion or complain in the way that men feel free to do all their lives.

It’s use over here is symptomatic of American cultural imperialism, and does absolutely nothing to help tackle racism in this country where racism has histories and manifestations which are very different to those in the US.

Mumsnet is the only place where a piece of media can draw attention to the harmful levels and types of racism frequent within a certain demographic, and the response is "this is offensive to older white women".

Oh, and if you're part of the Karen demographic and have never noticed the fact that older middle-class white women use their cultural status (empowered in certain specific ways, still considered disempowered and therefore harmless in others) to wield racial/class discrimination as a weapon... then that's great for you, but it still happens. Very much so. Be grateful that this is one of the few things you're made to feel targeted and stereotyped with.

(I'm a white woman of Karen age, by the way)

I don't think that movie looks interesting enough to be outrageous.

But I can see why women called Karen are increasingly uncomfortable with what is clearly a sexist stereotype.

I'd be calling myself Karrie, Kerry, or Ren. Anything but Karen, basically.

@GCAcademic

There are plenty of racists in the UK.

Absolutely call people out for racist comments, but don't do it at the expense of someone whose parents just happened to chose the name Karen several decades ago.

////// This absolutely. Instead by using "Karen" you can tick off various boxes - I hate racism, I call stuff out, I'm down with the lingo and quite possibly love a chance to put the boot into a woman of a certain age who has an opinion- - without ever having to do fuck all. Nada.

[quote LuckyAmy1986]@Ashitaka I hold my hands up, I take your point! I really don’t know how else to say it![/quote]
I was only answering the questions you were asking

[quote ElectricDeChocobo]@GCAcademic

There are plenty of racists in the UK.[/quote]
There are. Are they middle aged, lower middle class women, in the main?

And why are all the men who throw about the Karen insult on my local Facebook page almost always the type that are actual racists?

Looks good to me. Mirrors some of the real life goings on in the US when it comes to race and white female privilege.

Well done OP - that's given it a load more hits

HAHAHAHAHAHAH Brilliant

@LuckyAmy1986 Not really gone the way you want this thread has it?

I am dying to watch this film 'KAREN' now. Thanks for the heads-up.

I think someone would only be offended by the content (which is about a racist white woman) if it hit a raw nerve, and/or they saw themselves in the character.

Just saying.

I think it’s brilliant. It’s showing the racism of some young white women while also reclaiming the name Karen back to its original US roots.

Doesn’t translate to UK? So what? It’s a US movie made in the US by the US Black Entertainment Channel (BET) by a Black American writer and director.

Why should a US movie have to “translate” to the UK? That’s a bit imperialistic to demand a former colony only make movies that translate back to the coloniser.

@GCAcademic

And why are all the men who throw about the Karen insult on my local Facebook page almost always the type that are actual racists?

Same where I live!

@MyPatronusIsACat what way did I want it to go? I’m able to take people having a different opinion!

I’m not offended, I think it’s v unfair on people called Karen! That’s all.

You think it’s hit a nerve because I would act like the lady in the film? Are you sure? You know nothing about me or my family so that’s quite a wild statement.

@MyPatronusIsACat oh and you’re welcome

@PlanDeRaccordement

I think it’s brilliant. It’s showing the racism of some young white women while also reclaiming the name Karen back to its original US roots.

Doesn’t translate to UK? So what? It’s a US movie made in the US by the US Black Entertainment Channel (BET) by a Black American writer and director.

Why should a US movie have to “translate” to the UK? That’s a bit imperialistic to demand a former colony only make movies that translate back to the coloniser.

Erm, that's not the origin of the name Karen. It's the origin of it being used as an insult.

Call a racist a racist.

Just to be clear I’m NOT offended about the films content. What happens in the film is happening to black families across America and elsewhere daily. Right this minute. I’m only “offended” about the racist in this being called Karen as I think it’s so unfair to people named Karen, with the bashing they have had on social media, or that I have seen anyway. I’m sensing some people think my opinion is that is outrageous that a white woman would be shown to be racist - I’m not. White privilege is SO real. It’s JUST about the name Karen!!! I should perhaps have been more clear originally.

I think it’s so unfair to people named Karen, with the bashing they have had on social media,

But everyone knows the difference between having the name Karen and being called a Karen. They shouldn’t be taking comments about a Karen so personally. It’s not directed at them.