As a literal Karen, I’ve had some people wonder over how I feel about my name being used as a pejorative for older White women behaving badly. Specifically, older, so very privileged, White women who think they’re entitled to meddle in the lives of people living while Black.
The name “Karen” was falling out of popularity for 12 years before I came along, so I’m a younger Karen and I don’t know any Karens that aren’t at least 5-10 years older than me. And though I’ve learned that there’s a long(ish) history of calling older, entitled White women “Karen,” it didn’t truly gain traction until more recently.
About 2 years ago, the story of a woman who called the cops on a family having a BBQ was when I first started seeing stories of figurative Karens. “Karens” call managers, call the police, and call out (usually) Black people for simply living. And the “Karens” don’t mind that people are taking video of their actions and sharing it online. Because they know 9 times out of 10 it won’t hurt them.
That’s the entitlement and privilege of being White in a world built by and for the benefit of White people.
But it’s mean to call someone a Karen, right?
Nah, not really.
But what about people named Karen? It’s mean to them!
My personal take: if I feel uncomfortable or attacked because someone else is being called a Karen when that someone else is treating human beings horribly, then I have bigger issues to work out within myself.
The literal Karens of the world don’t need collective rage to stop this from happening. I’d rather people spend their energy building empathy and compassion for people who are being unfairly attacked by the “Karens” of the world.
The reaction to the “Karen” label was called out in this tweet that laid out an important double-standard ( (the original poster, OP, has since deleted the tweet, but it lives on elsewhere):
White women have been calling Black women “Shenaenae”, “La’Quisha”, and “ShaNiqua” in a demeaning manner since the 80’s. Latinas were called “Consuela”, “Guadalupe”, or “Maria” and Asian women were called “Ling-Ling”, but they can’t handle being called Karen for 11 months.
I’m old enough to remember this happening…a lot. And not once did I call out people for the act of racism that it is. I’ve probably even done it myself and I know I laughed along with others. Because I’ve done racist things I’m not proud of.
It would be fair to ask why it’s wrong to do this to Black, Latinx, and Asian women, but not wrong to do it to White women. Totally fair question, but first - another objection to the use of “Karen.”
One brave journalist actually suggested it’s a slur. (Yikes 😬)
The claim that “Karen” is a slur is so bizarre, wildly inappropriate, and just…wrong. Think about every racial slur you know: Which of those words comes even remotely close to being as tame and innocuous as “Karen”?
I refuse to type any racial slurs here but I have no problem talking about “Karens.” Don’t take my word for it, though. Karen Attiah tackled this one already so I can restrict my comments to the following two cents worth of personal info:
In roughly two years of being personally aware of the figurative “Karens,” I haven’t lost a client, a job, been treated poorly while living, been denied appropriate medical care, or any other prejudicial act because of my name. Because other women being labeled “Karens” has zero impact on me. People who don’t know me don’t even know my name is Karen until I tell them.
But BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of colour) experience these things daily. The power structure of our society was built by White people to benefit White people and White people still hold greater power. This power imbalance is why it’s not wrong to do this to White women the way it’s wrong for White people to demean women of colour with names chosen to bolster racist stereotypes.
Here’s where I’ll admit that when I first saw this trend, I wasn’t a fan. It felt wrong. I got that little punch to the gut feeling. But I got over myself when I listened to the lived experiences of BIPOC and realized the “Karen” label is never going to be adequate justification for me or anyone else to claim victimhood.
Not when someone like Amy Cooper so swiftly weaponizes her privilege, knowing what happens when police are called on Black men.
No Karen - literal or figurative - who has White skin is being oppressed by BIPOC because the world we live in doesn’t work that way. “Karens” can get their feelings hurt or experience the stress of their actions being called out via viral video. But that isn’t and never will be true oppression. It’s a consequence and there should be consequences for what these women do.
I don’t ever want to be a figurative Karen. I’m also not a victim of the internet mob speaking out against “Karens” any more than the Beckys, Chads, or Kyles. The women who have earned the “Karen” label are actually entitled assholes who intentionally cause unnecessary trauma and hurt in human beings for no reason.
And while I don’t speak for all the literal Karens of the world (and there are probably plenty who don’t agree with me), I’m personally not bothered in the least about my name being used to call out racist, entitled, abusive behaviour.
