Karen is my Name

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.

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.

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/

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.

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 ?

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

You seem to be developing a different agenda here.

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.

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.

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.

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,

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 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'.?

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.

Riverwalk

Oriel I'm sorry that you felt you had to take the drastic step of changing your name but now having done that you still seem very exercised about the whole thing. Would it not be better for your wellbeing to move on.

I imagine the majority of Karens have chosen to ignore the whole thing.

What if some smart-arse comes up with a take on your new name?

I've been aware of 'Karen' for a few years but honestly don't see it much - do you frequent Twitter, online chats, etc, a lot? I'm reasonably clued-up on trends, read newspapers & magazines online and other, have adult children and grandchildren so I'm not unaware but rarely come across it.

In the past the Traceys, Sharons, Waynes & Kevins had to put up with assumptions, jokes etc in real life and on TV, not as a result of hanging around on the internet.

I hope you're happy with your new name and don't come to regret the change.

Hi River

The reason for posting this thread is that I feel it is a way of fighting back against the hatred going on against older white women and especially those called Karen. The problem is that if someone called Karen takes exception to being abused then of course they are only displaying 'Karen' behaviour. It's a Catch 22 situation. It is a means of silencing older women.

I'm hoping that it can be stopped in the UK from reaching the same proportions that it has in the US. If you're interested read the thread you'll see where I'm coming from hopefully.

By the way, I'm not on facebook, twitter, tic-tok, inst, etc. I do read a lot and watch YouTube.

I know that I won't regret changing my name - I had come to hate my old name.

@Barmeyoldbat and @Sara1954

Maw is not right. You can agree with her of course but that doesn't make what she says correct.

In fairness neither of you seem to comprehend fully what the subject matter is about. You're not basing your opinion on fact.

Oriel I'm sorry that you felt you had to take the drastic step of changing your name but now having done that you still seem very exercised about the whole thing. Would it not be better for your wellbeing to move on.

I imagine the majority of Karens have chosen to ignore the whole thing.

What if some smart-arse comes up with a take on your new name?

I've been aware of 'Karen' for a few years but honestly don't see it much - do you frequent Twitter, online chats, etc, a lot? I'm reasonably clued-up on trends, read newspapers & magazines online and other, have adult children and grandchildren so I'm not unaware but rarely come across it.

In the past the Traceys, Sharons, Waynes & Kevins had to put up with assumptions, jokes etc in real life and on TV, not as a result of hanging around on the internet.

I hope you're happy with your new name and don't come to regret the change.

MawBe

Whatever happened to “ Karen solidarity” OP?
It’s not all about you, but if you cannot let it go, you are the only person who will feel hurt.

Stereotypes and memes will always be with us, but we do not need to perpetuate the prejudice by old IV on to the resentment or hurt.
You can choose to be a victim - or you can choose to let it go. And as for coming down on me like a ton of bricks can I remind you of Tim Minchin’s song “Prejudice” (I hope Kazzie gets this too ?)
Think on.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVN_0qvuhhw&vidve=5727&autoplay=1

You're one to talk about 'Karen solidarity'!

What's with the 'Think on' remark.

Are you usually this arrogant and rude? You you said you were proud of yourself - perhaps it stems from that?

You labelled me (albeit passive agresively) as being a woman displaying the typical 'Karen' traits despite having changed name. Is that evidence of your solidarity? - if it is, then you can keep it.

You have been rude and dismissive toward me on every one of your posts bar the first one.

No-one is choosing to be a victim here - that is your perception. Stop trotting out your book learned therapy-speak.

Maw is right and has explained it well, I have tried but I have awful brain fog for some days and everything seems like a jigsaw in my head. Thank Maw for putting it so well.

Maw is right

I have no idea where “ old IV” came from
I meant (and thought I had written) holding ?

Whatever happened to “ Karen solidarity” OP?
It’s not all about you, but if you cannot let it go, you are the only person who will feel hurt.

Stereotypes and memes will always be with us, but we do not need to perpetuate the prejudice by old IV on to the resentment or hurt.
You can choose to be a victim - or you can choose to let it go. And as for coming down on me like a ton of bricks can I remind you of Tim Minchin’s song “Prejudice” (I hope Kazzie gets this too ?)
Think on.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVN_0qvuhhw&vidve=5727&autoplay=1

SusieFlo

It’s a load of rubbish!

Care to expand on your statement!

It’s a load of rubbish!

kazziecookie

Hi again Oriel.
I think you have been great. You have raised awareness to (I am surprised to say) to many on here that either do not know or have no idea how bad the use of Karen as a pejorative is. You have also explained what we women named Karen have to deal with and how it can effect our life.
I do not go searching for it but I use the internet quite a lot so yes I see it all the time. I even have seen it on my local village internet group (in Wales) and when I asked them not to use Karen in that way I got so much abuse I felt I had to take myself off the group which I found really sad as all I had asked was not to use my name. It was a talk about not wearing face masks and Karens wouldn’t wear them.
I don’t think we will stop people using it and that it will run for much longer but hopefully we can raise awareness as to just how hurtful it is to women named Karen.

Hi there Kazzie,

I think you're absolutely right... if we can raise awareness that might, just might, stop it becoming worse.

Sadly, it's hard for women to speak out about it, as you described in your post. This of course is one of the main drivers - the meme shuts women down and especially people named Karen.

I find it incredible that it isn't perceived as a hate speech and dealt with accordingly. I know there were three women who appeared on 'This Morning' trying to point out how hateful the use of the Karen meme was. They then got accused on social media of being typical 'Karens' !

MawBe

^Please don’t think we understand because we are not called Karen it’s because we have seen it before and nothing will change^

But I am, and although I am aware of the meme -and yes it can be hurtful- I don’t encounter it in my everyday life and certainly don’t let it get to me .
However when I suggested as such I got short shrift from OP.
Made me wonder why.

You didn't get short shrift... you were rude and dismissive toward me and I called you on it. You then went on to insult me further with your sarcastic post below...

^How ironic Oriel
I try to send a supportive PM as a Karen to somebody who objects to being classified as a opinionated middle class woman with no manners.
Abd this is what I get?
And you say you have changed your name too confusedconfused^

You are now continuing on the same theme accusing me of giving you short shrift.