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?

you find white the term white women's tears offensive

when it has been explained to you how white woman have used emotional manipulation that is racist

what do you think about the issue of the racism itself ?

What you really should put is some women have used emotional manipulation in all manner of things. Just the same as some people have made false claims of racism where none existed to improve their argument.

She doesn’t.
Calling out racism is apparently racism.
She’s already used racist terms for black people.
I wouldn’t even bother anymore.

We are discussing racism. White people have power.

This is specifically about white women.

Do you mean my post where I immediately apologised for my faux pas?

I showed the history of the term 'Karen' which somebody asked me to do. I showed it went back to a derogatory term of white women used by black people. Calling out false claims of racism in the current use of the 'Karen' term is not unreasonable.

so what is the issue of the term white woman's tears

if the issue is a white woman using emotional manipulation as a form of racism towards a black woman

that white is used rather than just woman or that she is being accused of racism but to yourself no racism is involved

The issue is that it is not restricted to race. All people of all races or sex, are capable of forms of emotional manipulation. Your statement that it is a white woman thing is incredibly racist.

Would it be ok to say black woman's tears when it is used against a white woman to gain an advantage?

No. Because while no doubt there will be isolated incidents where an individual women who happens to be black may have used tears to gain advantage, its not a recognised pattern of behaviour with an underlying power dynamic in black women's favour.
WWT refers to a repeated behaviour on the part of white women to present themselves as fragile, weak and vulnerable to harm from black people in order to incite other white people to punish or control black people on their behalf. Also as an excuse for white men to harm black people "I was protecting this helpless woman".
There is no corresponding parallel for black women as the black community has not had the power to extract vengeance in return for making them cry, so its simply not a thing.
Just like when talking about sexism you can't just flip the sexes in a scenario and pretend it's the same, you can't with racism either. Both have to be seen in the context of where the power lies and who is able to harm who.

ARealitycheck · Yesterday 23:07
Again if you wish to research the history of the term, you will actually find it was used as a term by black women to be disparaging towards white people.

You have just looked at something from Wikipedia and focused on the word "difficult" How about the next part of the sentence which states" or those who "weaponize" their position ". So white women ,from their position of white privilege , use a perceived fragility such as crying or "You're attacking me" in order to shut down black women.

How is it racist

if someone is recognising racist behaviour towards them from a white woman using emotional manipulation how is that racist

or are you suggesting that people do not recognise racism or racism only counts if its explicit

are white women dealing with racism and black women are safe in the knowledge knowing that their voice/opinion will be taken as the truth especially when dealing with authorities

I'm sure back in 1825 when the usage of 'Miss Ann' by black people to describe white people they worked for, likely has credence that Miss Ann weaponised her position.

Two hundred years on in 2025, that isn't the case. Some of you are trying to claim racism from white people to black people that isn't there. In the cases of people using emotional blackmail to gain something, it might just be because they are assholes not because of their colour.

White women have more power than black women.

And apologizing after a racist slur doesn’t erase the fact you said it.

Gretchen was continually commented on for making a mistake about a case and called racist.

Here is the thing. You as a white woman were comfortable enough to write that and then go on to deny systemic racism.

The system is set up for white people.

You can’t be a victim of a system that protects you.

ARealitycheckI'm sure back in 1825 when the usage of 'Miss Ann' by black people to describe white people they worked for, likely has credence that Miss Ann weaponised her position. Two hundred years on in 2025, that isn't the case. Some of you are trying to claim racism from white people to black people that isn't there. In the cases of people using emotional blackmail to gain something, it might just be because they are assholes not because of their colour."

II don't know why you are so determined to negate the lived experiences of the black women on this thread .

I don't think it's because "they" are afraid. Karen is one of many terms designed to automatically discount the views, opinions and experiences of a person or group of people who are different in some way. There are loads of terms that are used in this manner, for instance right-wing, leftie, liberal, conservative, reactionary, transphobe, white, boomer, millenial. Used by different people but all used for the same reason - it is intended to shutdown discussions and write people off as outdated/irrelevant/offensive.

I don't think it's fear that drives people to use these terms, it's more that they are lazy and can't be bothered to come up with a rational response. It's a way of trying to make an opinion trump a fact.

How are you so sure that there is so little racism. Report after report informs us there is in out institutions (UK). People speak out about their own experiences

If a man told me that I did not or rarely had to deal with sexism I would know he is talking rubbish. If I pointed out that I do and how I do and he still dismissed my experiences of sexism well I would then know he is sexist not just stupid

OK your offence is noted.

And no - it was not just about white women being difficult. It was about white women leveraging their womanhood to claim victimhood versus black women and escape accountability for racism.

Whether you like it or not. People are more comfortable calling out false racist claims today. Just as you have noted my offence at your false claim that being called a 'Karen' is racist towards black people.

I and millions of others will happily ignore your faux outrage at non racist comments and trying to make them something to complain about.

Well, I'm white and I'm actually interested to learn the origins of the term and am appalled by the (racist) comments here trying to undermine the experiences of black women.

Do you not see how you sound exactly like a man trying to dismiss a woman’s experience with sexism?

Also you are the only one on this thread to use a racist slur. Perhaps it’s your own racism that makes you unable to see your white privilege.

I highly recommend the book White Fragility. It’s incredibly well written and educational.

a previous poster complained about the term Karen, as it was racial appropriation

I can’t find this. Are you sure you’re not talking about when I said the term had been appropriated and misused?

This. Not sure where OP got her definition of karen from but you need to return it. Karens are people who feel entitled to say and do anything even when they're wrong. Nothing to do with age

@Quiinkong To be fair, you're the one that need to "return it"

Karen refers to people called...Karen

Any other "use" is shite. Despite all the noise on this thread, it's a put down used by those who are not bright enough to describe behaviours in an adult manner.

so Karen used by people acknowledging that they are aware that someone has been racist towards them are not apparently bright enough to inform racist of their racism

once again people think its fine to tell others how they should deal with racism wtf its astonishing

You're not making any sense.

I didn't say that being called a Karen was racist towards black people.

I said the actions of being a Karen is racist towards black people.

I think ARealitycheck has some problems with comprehension.