Karen is my Name

So what don’t I comprehend?

Internet memes?
I can ignore those

People making snide Karen jokes? Nobody does that to my face (and lives to tell the tale ?)
How people called Karen feel?
Well, I suppose I might having lived with the name for 73 years

Feeling put down by it?
I refer you back to the Eleanor Roosevelt quote.

Bottom line is that there are infinitely worse examples of discrimination.

Nobody ever barred me from voting because of my name
Ever refused me admission to anywhere because of my name
“Stopped and searched” me because of my name
Knelt on my neck and killed me because of my name.

So as one Karen to another - get over yourself.

I think those on GN stating that they know lots of 'nice Karens' ( I do) are rather missing the point. This is bullying of an identifiable group ie white women of a certain age, and it is not acceptable at all. Just imagine if the bullying was aimed at another name which is usually associated with say, black men, a name like Leroy? Imagine the uproar if someone was described as being a right old 'Leroy'? It is nasty, it is unnecessary, and it is divisive. Turn it around; a middle aged woman in Sainsbury's complains about the beef joint she bought being out of date, all around are people sniggering at 'Karen', dismissing her complaints as typical of her age, ethnicity, class. Now see the same situation when a black man complains; do people dismiss him as typical of his age, ethnicity and class and see a 'Leroy'.?

Gill
Okay. What you are saying is true, but what can you do?
The perpetrators of this hate are probably loving a post like this, they have caused upset and dissent, their job is done.
Surely as mature women, we don’t have to like it, but we can choose to ignore it.

You really are scraping the barrel now aren't you... more preaching and rudeness thrown in for good measure

Knelt on my neck and killed me because of my name.

Wait... could this be the same George Floyd who held a gun to a woman's pregnant belly and was jailed for it!

------------------------------------------------------
from factcheck org

Floyd pleaded guilty in 2009 to aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He was not charged with kidnapping or assault.

According to the complaint in the case, filed in 2007, Floyd was one of six men who forced his way into the Houston home that Aracely Henriquez shared with Angel Negrete and a 1-year-old child.

One of the men claimed to be from the water department in order to get Henriquez to open the door. Then Floyd, who was described as the biggest of the men who pulled up in a black Ford Explorer, forced his way in and “placed a pistol against the complainant’s abdomen, and forced her into the living room,

Sara1954

Gill
Okay. What you are saying is true, but what can you do?
The perpetrators of this hate are probably loving a post like this, they have caused upset and dissent, their job is done.
Surely as mature women, we don’t have to like it, but we can choose to ignore it.

I don't think it solves anything by ignoring it. The perpetrators probably don't love this thread because it is alerting people to what is going on. A surprising number of people here had never heard of it before.

Most people on this forum were extremely supportive - I hope no-one was upset by it.

I hardly ever post on forums but felt strongly that the abuse needs to be out in the open and then hopefully dealt with.

Oriel

You really are scraping the barrel now aren't you... more preaching and rudeness thrown in for good measure

Knelt on my neck and killed me because of my name.

Wait... could this be the same George Floyd who held a gun to a woman's pregnant belly and was jailed for it!

------------------------------------------------------
from factcheck org

Floyd pleaded guilty in 2009 to aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He was not charged with kidnapping or assault.

According to the complaint in the case, filed in 2007, Floyd was one of six men who forced his way into the Houston home that Aracely Henriquez shared with Angel Negrete and a 1-year-old child.

One of the men claimed to be from the water department in order to get Henriquez to open the door. Then Floyd, who was described as the biggest of the men who pulled up in a black Ford Explorer, forced his way in and “placed a pistol against the complainant’s abdomen, and forced her into the living room,

Had no intention of joining in until you posted that about George Floyd.

I am a little concerned that you think the Karen thing is all about older white women. It’s only about a certain type of woman.

I’m starting to sense different undertones.

the post about George Floyd is irrelevant to what is being discussed on this thread which is about the use of the name Karen to villify women of a certain demographic.

I think we're all acquainted with the criminal history of George Floyd.

You seem to be developing a different agenda here.

GillT57

the post about George Floyd is irrelevant to what is being discussed on this thread which is about the use of the name Karen to villify women of a certain demographic.

But not ALL white women of a certain age surely I view it as being against the trumpette types ? Intolerant types ?

Hi River,

Yes, I see your point regarding George Floyd. I was responding to Maw's post where she used it to illustrate that worse things are happening in the world and of course there are.

Lucca

GillT57

the post about George Floyd is irrelevant to what is being discussed on this thread which is about the use of the name Karen to villify women of a certain demographic.

But not ALL white women of a certain age surely I view it as being against the trumpette types ? Intolerant types ?

The name Karen was chosen to label women of a certain age and demographic. The name was very popular from approx mid 1950's to mid-1960's. That means that by far the largest group of women named Karen are now middle aged and up and predominantly white.

Here's a link to an article which was written last year which I think sums things up pretty well.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/07/karen-meme-proof-elitism-racism-sexism-now-hallmarks-woke-crowd/

Oriel

Hi River,

Yes, I see your point regarding George Floyd. I was responding to Maw's post where she used it to illustrate that worse things are happening in the world and of course there are.

I left this thread when you started talking about Antifa and BLM.

Sorry. Any sympathy I had has disappeared.

Oriel, don’t patronise me I know perfectly well what it is all about as probably does Sara. What gives you the god given right to state that we don’t understand. What I do understand is that you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. You have changed your name, you don’t use social media so stop looking For Karen news and look and get angry about injustices in this world.

I can`t believe this thread is still going!

Hellogirl1

I can`t believe this thread is still going!

It has become a thread for middle aged white women to bully and criticise the opinions of other middle aged white women! Oh the irony.

Assuming we are all white and middle aged is a bit..... what is the word I am looking for???

OnwardandUpward

Assuming we are all white and middle aged is a bit..... what is the word I am looking for???

ironic is the word you are looking for

Regardless of the meme, I think Karen is a nice name. I would not change it if it was me, especially as so many people on here haven’t heard of being used as a slur or even if they had, would not associate it with a real life person called Karen. I would feel encouraged by that. It does have misogynistic overtones and it is telling that there is no real male equivalent that has gained such notoriety- sadly still women’s behaviour is always scrutinised and more than mens.

Zoejory

Oriel

Hi River,

Yes, I see your point regarding George Floyd. I was responding to Maw's post where she used it to illustrate that worse things are happening in the world and of course there are.

I left this thread when you started talking about Antifa and BLM.

Sorry. Any sympathy I had has disappeared.

I posted topics which were brought up by other posters. In any case, what’s the problem with my having an opinion?

Anyway, to get back on topic…

I didn’t start this thread to get sympathy. I hope to alert people to the fact that there is a very destructive meme which is causing a lot of distress to women in much of the English speaking world.

Oriel
I still feel you are in the minority of Karen’s, obviously my three Karen’s are a very small sample, but they are honestly not bothered, they know it’s out there, but just aren’t particularly interested.

Sara, add my two Karen’s to your who either don’t know or aren’t bothered with their name

Perhaps it’s time for this thread to dwindle away?
It really has taken a turn for the worse
(Please don’t bother having a pop at me for ‘monitoring’ etc)

Barmeyoldbat
And I’m pretty sure there must be a lot more.

Has nobody taken on board what I said about a family member, late 40’s a teacher, who couldn’t stand anymore mocking from both some members of staff and some teenagers who were remorseless with this bullying Karen meme because it was her name.She managed to change to another school and changed her name at the same time.She won’t be the only one by a long chalk.It’s pernicious nonsense and gets to people when others take it to extremes.

Can you imagine the outcry if anyone exhibiting confident outspoken views and was black and a woman was called an Oprah? And reviled and laughed at.
( having just read upthread I see GillT has already put this idea out there using ‘Leroy’.)