Why is it socially acceptable to stereotype and vilify white women as a whole?

[TheTERFnextDoor]

I've seen this a lot recently, often from other white women bizarrely, and I don't understand why it's socially acceptable?

I think it goes without saying that in most groups, you get good and bad people. White women are surely no different in that respect? Yes, many of them are privileged, and they don't face the discrimination that other categories might. I accept that. However, that doesn't change the fact that they aren't some homogeneous mass of people, surely?

I am genuinely trying to learn here, so I'd appreciate all responses, particularly those that disagree

So I’m imagining being silenced and shut down then? It’s all an issue with my perception is it? Nothing to do with living in a racist society where white feminists especially have great difficulty admitting to any part in racism. This irony is bittersweet.

What is the term for men who do this?

It was not first coined by the anti racist movement.

It’s mostly from the BBC article by Ashitha Nageth.

Ken

You're here on a forum posting your posts like the rest of us.

Can you point me to any evidence of that being used in a derogatory way?

Incidentally, other people say it’s Brad. Interesting that no one seems sure. Almost like it isn’t a thing.

There is no male name that has the archetypal reach of Karen, probably because the trope it's describing, mouthy middle aged woman who doesn't know her place, has existed for centuries in the fishwife and the scold. The closest thing I can think of is "gammon", but that isn't a proper name.

It was first used by we Black people to describe these behaviours.

Ereshkigalangcleg · Today 09:11
There is no male name that has the archetypal reach of Karen, probably because the trope it's describing, mouthy middle aged woman who doesn't know her place, has existed for centuries in the fishwife and the scold. The closest thing I can think of is "gammon", but that isn't a proper name.

If they were too mouthy they got lobotomised at one point.

So I’m imagining being silenced and shut down then? It’s all an issue with my perception is it?

I'm sorry you experience that from people. But what does that actually have to do with the use of misogynistic slurs? You are free to speak here, I'm challenging some of what you are saying, that's all.

It was first used by we Black people to describe these behaviours.

As far as I know social media it was first used by a misogynistic man about his ex wife, I don't know his race. The racism angle came later and hasn't really made it to the U.K. in the same way for everyone. The trope already existed.

Google suggests Ken.

Or maybe Greg, Terry, Chad, Chaz, Eric, Steve, Donald, Kevin, Craig or Richard.

Those are just the ones that show up on a snapshot of the top half of the first page of results. There are a multitude of suggestions because there is no male equivalent to 'Karen'.

There’s no one term/slang name that lasts for ever. We switch them up now and then because, frankly, white people keep taking them and fucking them up. The Karen and Ken used to be Becky and Brad. It’s definitely a thing, why else would we never get to keep anything we invent for ourselves?

Exactly, Becky morphed into Karen, because the Karen "talk to the manager" meme originated elsewhere and they gradually merged into one archetype.

His wife’s name was Karen, so that’s a bit of a naff way to justify inventing slang that has a completely different meaning and origin.

And black people may possibly use Brad and Ken frequently, I don't know, I'll defer to you on that, but they are not in common use by everyone in the same way as Karen.

Karen was Becky. They’re not two separate things that combined.

I wouldn't be drawn to a book shaming white women for manipulative tears.

Just seen @FrostyFifi post requoted and agree completely. That poor woman.

My ancestors are Irish, so this whites = oppressors notion doesn't sit right with me. Many white people across Europe weren't oppressing anybody. They were eking out a living before, between and after various world wars. Spanish people still can't talk about life under Franco. The phrase white women's tears is so deliberatively dismissive and so offensive.

Karen is being misused by many who have no right to use it and have no idea what it means. The “A Karen asked me to leave the beach because my bikini was too tiny” is just click bait bad journalism. That’s not Karen behaviour.

Ok, we'll have to agree to differ. I don't agree.

Interesting because Becky as used in the US is Jewish. It can be an affectionate insult if used by Jewish people themselves- ‘Don’t be such a Bec’, but also used in a racist way to characterise and dismiss young Jewish women. Funny how the groups who seem to ‘need’ taking down for their privilege are so often women and - of course- the Jews are always good for a kicking.

My ancestors are Irish, so this whites = oppressors notion doesn't sit right with me. Many white people across Europe weren't oppressing anybody. They were eking out a living before, between and after various world wars. Spanish people still can't talk about life under Franco. The phrase white women's tears is so deliberatively dismissive and so offensive.

This. It's a completely American-centric view.

I’m not sure why it’s so difficult to appreciate that the UK is a very different landscape to the US. All of what you are describing doesn’t exist here (certainly Becky and Brad and uniquely US terms). That’s not to say that racism isn’t real or happens in the Uk, but the term ‘Karen’ is only even used as a way to shut down opinionated women here and particularly but younger white men and women (though I know a few Asian men too). I have never heard my black colleagues use it (but interestingly, I have heard it used against a middle aged black colleague who is a TU rep).

I think it’s clear you know very little about the UK. I live in the most deprived city in the UK. Talking about racist, privileged, well connected white women is worlds away from the actual reality of life for many of us and it’s the massive generalisation of all white women (in the whole world?) from a particular culture that makes your views misogynist. Whilst you might mistakenly thing UK and US are similar due to a shared language, we are very, very different places culturally.

Karen is being misused by many who have no right to use it and have no idea what it means. The “A Karen asked me to leave the beach because my bikini was too tiny” is just click bait bad journalism. That’s not Karen behaviour.

The point is that it is being used in that way, and women are going to react to it. I don't actually agree with your origin story, but even if I did it's transcended that now, especially in the U.K.