Karen is my Name

Oriel
Strangely enough, that’s exactly what they said about my name on your link ?

It’s a USA term that was meant to insult woman who were considered ( another horrible term) trailer trash or racist or homophobic or anti abortion etc etc and some of the women so nick named were truly awful, awful shouty loud common women, unfortunately as it’s travelled the ocean it’s meaning has been interpreted to cover a more general disliked woman

I don’t think I d change my name but I can certainly see why someone would if they were getting stick I only know one Karen and she seems fine I guess it depends what circles you walk in

Kandingski it wasn’t black calling white ‘Karen’ it was a group of white women who were very vocal racists and homophobes ( probably trump fans or similar ) who got called Karens they happened to be white racists so then it moved to any woman who was mouthy/ racist/ homephobic and then on to anyone who was in the age group and had strong opinions and probably not that classy if you see what I mean
It’s the original ‘karen’s’ who were racist

Sara1954

I know three Karen’s, and none of them have the slightest concern, in fact they all see the funny side.
It will likely be a five minute wonder anyway.

It isn’t a five minute wonder - I wish that it were. It’s been going on for 10 years already and is growing.

Do you know why your friends see it as funny? What is it that they find amusing?

I can’t find anything remotely humorous in it at all… and I do have a lively sense of humour. It seems strange that anyone should feel remotely OK about being insulted.

It’s easy to say you wouldn’t change your name ( from Karen)
If you are retired or work somewhere where you don’t get a hard time because of this.
The Karen I knew ( now has a new name) being a teacher got unrelenting jibes about it from teenagers in class and even a couple of members of staff. She looked for a new teaching job and changed her name and is much happier as a result.
It’s awful, and is maybe a short lived thing ( you have to hope)
But meanwhile, many Karens are having a bad time.

Never heard of it being used in a derogatory fashion.
My sisters name was Karen and i my Dil`s mother is called Karen.
I certainly wouldn`t change my name because of it.

I know three Karen’s, and none of them have the slightest concern, in fact they all see the funny side.
It will likely be a five minute wonder anyway.

Oriel I just meant I didn't see the point of it as the things it offered for my name were absurd anyway.
They had no impact on me I'm afraid.

FannyCornforth

Thank you Oriel

Like many people, I’m fascinated by names.
I started a thread on here called something like ‘What name would you chose for yourself?’
How did you go about choosing your new name?

I wanted to keep the same initials so I chose the name Katherine. I believe that Karen is a derivative of that name so it seemed right. My friends now call me Kat.

NotSpaghetti

I really wouldn't do this.
It will be over soon anyway and someone else with a different name will suffer.

I don't understand the empathy generator to be honest.

There's no sign of it being over unfortunately. It's been gathering strength since 2011.

I'm not sure if you mean you don't know how to use the generator or if you don't see the point of it. I'll try to explain below...

The point of it is that it brings home how someone would feel if it were their name being abused.

To use it enter your own name in the box above the bright blue band. Once you've done this the name Karen is substituted by your own name on all the illustrations of the current use of Karen. So, for instance a 'Karen starter pack' is mentioned on the first page, if your name was Ruth the "Karen Starter Pack' would become the 'Ruth Starter Pack'. and so on

I looked up my own name - Shelley, and it has very similar connotations. I would never change it though, it’s my name and it’s me, a million times different to the kind of women it’s associated with. If I was called Karen I would simply say, I am not A Karen, I AM Karen, and my version is very different to the stereotype.

Thanks for explaining Oriel, being born in the 60’s quite a few of my friends have been called Karen ( two were black funnily enough ) but it’s no more common than other names of that era, ( Michele, Ann, Joanne, Caroline etc ) so it’s a all bit strange.
I’m horrified that it’s being used as an insult towards white women, because as the article says, imagine a name insult towards any other group.

lemongrove

Hello Oriel and I do know a Karen who has changed her name for those reasons....she is a teacher and got a lot of stick!

Tell her she is not alone!

It would be interesting to learn how many women have actually changed their name or are thinking about doing so. I imagine there will be quite a few.

I really wouldn't do this.
It will be over soon anyway and someone else with a different name will suffer.

I don't understand the empathy generator to be honest.

Thank you Oriel

Like many people, I’m fascinated by names.
I started a thread on here called something like ‘What name would you chose for yourself?’
How did you go about choosing your new name?

FannyCornforth

You must feel so strongly to change your name. It’s very sad, but I do understand how you feel.
What do your friends and family think?

Yes, it wasn't something I did lightly but in the end I thought life's too short to be embarrassed by your name.

My friends and family fully understood and supported my need to change it. It was my stepson who first told me about the abuse of my name. Strangely, I haven't found it at all difficult to use my new name. I think I'd grown to dislike my old name so much because of the negativity surrounding it that I never wanted to use it again. I feel so relieved not to have to use it.

I now have my passport, driving licence, bank accounts, insurance, healthcare, etc, etc all in my new name. It took a while to sort it all out (mainly due to the virus) but it was worth it.

It's not just used about racism anymore, certainly not in this country, it's used to say shut up about anything really.

nanna8

It is a British thing. We don’t have those connotations here with that particular name. I’d ignore it , feel sorry for them as it says more about those judgemental people than ever it does about Karens. All the Karens I have met have been lovely,kind and bubbly people.

Sadly it is very much a British thing.

I'll try to explain the inexplicable...

Its not so much a connotation with the name, its used to abuse a section of society, namely white middle aged women. The name Karen was very popular in 50's and 60's so by virtue of this fact Karens are now middle aged to elderly. I don't know why it is felt that these women need to be silenced but apparently they do.

The name is used as a coverall slur.

An example... if someone is, say, being racist, or vile, or abusive instead of saying 'you're a racist' 'you're being vile' 'you're abusive' the go-to word is to say that you're 'a Karen'.

Being a Karen is the catch all word to describe any negative behaviour. If you go to the link I posted in my first post you'll be able to see how the name is being used.

nanna8 It started off in America, as the OP stated. Whilst you might not have a Karen as catch all term for women where you are, there are others around the world; the Australian "Sheila" for example. Very hard to just ignore it when your name is being used by half the world as a term for a lazy, over privileged, greedy, racist, opinionated white woman.

I love the name Karen and can’t for the life of me think why it has become the subject of such abuse. I suspect it is an Australian “thing”, maybe there was a whole generation of Karen’s. it’s what I consider a fairly modern name but obviously feminine, I recall there were a lot of Sharon’s about when I was in primary school but they got over it! I suggested Karen as a possibility for youngest Granddaughter but it was considered ancient

It is a British thing. We don’t have those connotations here with that particular name. I’d ignore it , feel sorry for them as it says more about those judgemental people than ever it does about Karens. All the Karens I have met have been lovely,kind and bubbly people.

lazy, sexist and racist misogynistic insult

I read the thread on Mumsnet and followed the link in the OP; typed in my Christian name and realised, first hand, just how denigrating and belittling it is to have your name used as a catch all slur. It's using a woman's name as a lazy, sexist and misogynistic insult. This isn't just a young person's thing at all; quite recently we had 3 GN posters using the term "being a Karen" to close down a discussion and any opposing opinions. Thankfully, all 3 were later banned but they demonstrated how people, of any age, can shut down the opinions, thoughts and experiences of women.

MawBe

^I expect that most of you will be aware of the 'Karens'. The use of the name Karen as a go-to insult denoting a middle aged white woman who is ignorant, bossy, insensitive, vulgar and uncouth^.

After around a year of seeing the term being used increasingly often I realised that it was having such a negative effect on me so I made the decision to change my name

It is indeed a dreadful attitude and it is appalling that you should have felt so pressured and, indeed bullied, to go to these lengths.
However, US perceptions of names are different to those in this country.
Without wishing to cause offence, Kevin, Trevor, Sharon are all among names which have had negative connotations in the U.K. - not in the US
(please don’t jump on me for quoting these, my nephews and niece in Canada have these names so there is no prejudice on my part!)
The negative connotations can work the other way too.
The type of “Karen” quoted is typical in the US not necessarily here - think of our Hyacinth Bucket, would the average US citizen have any idea what we are talking about?
And don’t get me started on “Essex Girl”, “White Van Man” or “Blondes” in general . I think it was Dolly Parton who said something like “ I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde.”
I am sad for OP though, because her parents chose that name for her and instead of feeling browbeaten into changing it, she should be proud of who she is.

I think the names you list were used in a jokey way. In the case of Karen it is so much worse. There is real hatred behind its use. I don't know why older white women are being targeted but it is becoming obvious that they are. Obviously it is far, far worse when you are actually called Karen.

I had been weighing up whether to go to the hassle and expense of changing my name and then I saw someone carrying a placard stating 'We say Karen to be nice, what we mean is c*nt'. I knew then that I had to do it. I didn't realise how badly it had affected me until I actually changed my name and felt massive relief.

Can you believe that there is even a film due to be released soon called 'Karen'. You can guess the scenario... Lets put it this way its not a comedy!

The Karen meme did start in the States (I believe in 2011) but certainly for the past 2 or 3 years it is prevalent in the UK.

I worked with three Karens at the same time, who were all lovely, and very good at their jobs.
There was another Karen in the same job who fitted the given unflattering description perfectly.

Hello Oriel and I do know a Karen who has changed her name for those reasons....she is a teacher and got a lot of stick!