To think they call us Karen because they fear us

[InformEducateEntertain]

I absolutely hate the term Karen. It's pejorative and deeply unpleasant.

Middle aged women (of whom I am one and to whom the term is most generally applied) are bloody amazing. Putting us down for our don't give a f**k badass attitude and willingness to fight back strikes me as lazy categorisation.

I'd go as far to say that those who use it are scared by the knowledge that looking the menopause in the eye has given us the courage to have a voice at last.

AIBU?

It’s because many people share your blinked view of racism and like to think of it only as violent or criminal behaviour.

Stop making things up. I don’t have this view and I’ve said it several times.

And for the rest of your post - it doesn’t ever justify monopolising a woman’s name (and a common one) to use as a slur when “racist woman” will do just fine. Especially k owing that misogynists and men take ABY opportunity to twist the smallest criticism of a woman into a global slur

Why won’t you hear women when we say we don’t like it, that it’s harmful and for women called Karen it’s hurtful?

Similarly you can call out racism without using a word that women are telling you is sexist!

Who said women can do no wrong?

In these bars we’re the female bar staff never assaulted by men?

No.

They're mocking you and hold you in complete disdain. You are laughable to them.

Quite literally the opposite of fear. You have to value something to fear it.

Yes I don't watch the programme but it unfortunately sounds about right. I did have a well meaning FiL try to tell me this year I could go out in a country where women aren't able to go out on their own normally without him to see a historical site I wanted to without him, I wanted to bring my daughter and was worried how I would manage the situation which was evidenced to be dangerous. I stayed home minding the kids again. My qualifications in history are outrageous (sorry to blow own trumpet), I would have loved to go. Couldn't go without a man and a man in my family told me it was in my head. Genuinely almost cried. Often I realise that my mixed heritage has helped me realise what is going on, so little is told to children. It is perfectly possible to explain institutional racism and how the Stephen Lawrence enquiry define it to children, they understand how it is to be travelling home from school. It helps me explain this as I grew up hearing about the Birmingham 6 and the Guilford 4 whilst being raised by a unionist father also. When children get taught the I have a dream speech someone needs to explain the bravery that took and that someone died to say it, as it is no one tells the children what happened next. I don't think you are racist.

I didn’t say that, no one is denying some men are cunts but the idea on here that women are just constantly being misjudged and deliberately downtrodden is laughable.

@Travis1 I wish that was right. What are your thoughts on the gender pay gap?

You say this as what? A man? A younger woman?

Pretty vile thing to say about middle aged women tbh.

I use the term Karen and shall continue to do so. It describes a certain type of behaviour committed by certain types of women that causes harm to specifically people of colour / non-white people.

The fact some people choose to misuse it is not really my concern.

The examples given of Karen behaviour were from the past. If you think Karen is still a much needed descriptor of some women's behaviour, are you able to say why?

THIS!

Those weaponised tears that lead to violence and death. It is a specific way in which racist women weaponise their womanhood / femininity and so it is right that there is a gender specific term to refer to this. Similar to how we use the term “toxic masculinity” to describe certain negative expressions of behaviour. We could just label it “bad behaviour” but that would lose all nuance.

What is the causal link between women crying and violence and death? Is there a reason the tears are gendered but the violence and death isn't?

How would you feel if your name was the one being used as an insult?

It's misogyny disguised as progressivism. Some men on the left love this kind of thing because they can be shitty about women and still think they look virtuous.

It’s the way in which they weaponise womanhood, their tears and the “damsel in distress” narrative to cause harm to black and brown men. The fact that you have a bigger issue with the word used to describe the behaviour and not the behaviour itself speaks volumes.

Do you equally find the term “toxic masculinity” sexist and problematic?

I mean we could just call it “toxic white femininity” but personally I think that is worse that “Karen”.

Who is the man in this conversation?

But “toxic masculinity” isn’t a catch all insult levied at men. They aren’t offended by it. And as I keep saying female racists aren’t nearly enough of a problem to arrant a misogynistic insult

I wouldn’t care. I would be far more concerned by the behaviour being criticised than the term used to describe such behaviour.

I am sure the “Fannys” and “Dicks” of the world got over their names having a different meaning.

Except some people do use it as a “catch all insult aimed at men”.

I cannot help that people misuse the term.

And the same is true for “Karen”.
Look feel free not to use it. I shall continue to do so when confronted they a woman expressing the specifically female expression of racism that has resulted in the term.

It’s definitely not worse than Karen

And that way it can’t be used to mean something else entirely ie “women who complain”.

It also doesn’t put a target on a set of women omens whose only crime is they are called Karen

Toxic masculinity means too much emphasis on aggression, dominance, selfishness, impulsiveness etc. If you're a feminist, it's obviously part of the patriarchy problem.

Referring to toxic masculinity as an abstract is miles away from calling individuals 'Karen', which is obviously derogatory and contemptuous. As a PP said, 'they are laughing at you... you have no value'.

How many people named Fanny or Dick do you know?

“Female racists aren’t nearly enough of a problem”….

Spoken from a position of immense privilege or complete ignorance.

You have complained about men “dictating to women” what is and what is not sexist….

While engaging in that same behaviour towards black and brown people and dictating to
them what their primary concerns with racism should be.

Hypocrite much?

I know two Fannies no dicks.

I know three Karens two of whom use the term “Karen” with no issue.

It’s not a name. There is no man whose first name is Toxic Masculinity

Why would you continue to sue it when women are telling you it’s harmful and hurtful?