Karen is my Name

I’m just wondering what country you are from I’m from the UK and I’ve never heard the name Karen being described in a derogatory way although I have heard the names Mandy and Tracy used in that way

Hi Lesley

I’m in the UK. It has been in the UK for a few years… sounds like the virus doesn’t it!

If you follow the link in my first post you can see how it is being used.

Barmeyoldbat

I must say I tried the site using different names, even used some rare names and ethnic names. All came out saying the same. So, if you want to change your name what the hell are you going to call yourself. Load of rubbish. Personally if I was named Karen I would ignore the insults, it’s just a trend and will go out of fashion at sometime

Hi Barmy

Did you enter your name in the box on the left above the bright blue line? If you use it with your name it will change every mention of the name Karen to your name. The calculator has shows real life use of the name Karen, those uses don’t change only the name changes.

The purpose of the generator is to give people an idea of how it would make them feel if it were their name being used in such a way.

Hope this helps

Oriel
I admire your patience!

Some people are completely missing the point of the Generator!

MawBe

Whether you are a Sharon, Tracey, Barbie, Hyacinth or Karen
“ No one can make you feel inferior without your consent ."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Try it.

I don’t feel inferior.

I happen to object to being insulted by people using my name as a sexist and racist slur!

I think I get the generator thing, I’m guessing it’s putting you into Karen’s shoes.
What I don’t understand, and I’m sure Oriel can enlighten me, is, yes it’s offensive, it’s vile, it’s disgusting, so why go searching for it. Ignore it.

I’ve posted a link below outlining the history of the use of the name Karen as a slur if anyone’s interested.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_(slang)

Sara
Op isn’t ‘searching for it’.
It exists and is prevalent in many circles.
Just because you or others ‘haven’t heard of it’, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.

Fanny
I know it exists!
I’m not saying Karen’s can completely avoid it, but avoid sights where you know you’re going to find this vile filth.

If it’s prevalent in many circles, avoid those circles

FannyCornforth

Oriel
I admire your patience!

Yeah, I know!

I feel that, hopefully, if someone learns about what is going on it will be worth the effort.

Oriel
I too admire your patience, I don’t necessarily understand where you are coming from, there we must agree to differ.
But I’m sure you have brought our attention to a lot of stuff we were probably unaware of.

MawBe

Whether you are a Sharon, Tracey, Barbie, Hyacinth or Karen
“ No one can make you feel inferior without your consent ."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Try it.

This! You might not be able to change the use of the 'Karen' meme/slur, but you can change your reaction to it. I used the name generator thing - didn't have the slightest effect on me at all. Rise above, reclaim the name as your own. It will all blow over sometime soon and another name will become the target.

Sara1954

I think I get the generator thing, I’m guessing it’s putting you into Karen’s shoes.
What I don’t understand, and I’m sure Oriel can enlighten me, is, yes it’s offensive, it’s vile, it’s disgusting, so why go searching for it. Ignore it.

Hi Sara

Yes, you're exactly right about the generator.

In answer to your question... I don't go searching for it, I see it almost every day.

When my stepson told me about the meme out of concern I googled it. What I saw shocked me to the core. I was awake the whole night and by 6am I was in tears. I hoped it would all die down and waited a year before realising that it was getting worse and that I needed to change my name.

One of things that has surprised me is how some people haven't heard of it. Clearly we all move in different circles and read and watch different things. That said the fact that the Telegraph (centre to right wing), The Guardian (Centre to left wing), the BBC, etc, etc in the UK and numerous outlets in the US have all had features relating to its use. From this you can gauge that it is mainstream.

Here's a link to an article in the Telegraph from 2020

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

Sara1954

If it’s prevalent in many circles, avoid those circles

No-one can ignore the circles they move in unless they stop living!

It is everywhere

You could say the same about Sharon, Tracey , Kevin and certain names in England, though this was before the internet.

The thing is if you still move in the same circles as you did before everyone will still know you are Karen. If it bothers you that much then I don't see that a name change will help. Therapy might though.

Blondiescot

MawBe

Whether you are a Sharon, Tracey, Barbie, Hyacinth or Karen
“ No one can make you feel inferior without your consent ."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Try it.

This! You might not be able to change the use of the 'Karen' meme/slur, but you can change your reaction to it. I used the name generator thing - didn't have the slightest effect on me at all. Rise above, reclaim the name as your own. It will all blow over sometime soon and another name will become the target.

The Roosevelt quote relates to feeling inferior. I don't feel inferior but I do object to my name being used as a slur.

Seeing as how the meme has been going now since at least 2011 some say 2004 it isn't going away, quite the opposite in fact it is growing.

If you read this thread you'll see that a teacher not only changed her name but also her job because of abuse she received from staff and teenaged pupils.

It's not something you can rise above because you'll rarely, if ever, have someone confront you with it in person. It is more a case of realising how it colours people's view of you. Heaven forbid you might need to complain!

Oriel
I’m sorry you find it everywhere, I am aware of it, but can’t remember the last time I came across it.
I asked one of my Karen’s yesterday if she was aware that Karen’s are actually changing their names. and she said “whoever told you that rubbish?”

OnwardandUpward

You could say the same about Sharon, Tracey , Kevin and certain names in England, though this was before the internet.

The thing is if you still move in the same circles as you did before everyone will still know you are Karen. If it bothers you that much then I don't see that a name change will help. Therapy might though.

No, you can't say the same thing about Sharon, Tracey, Kevin, etc. They were all used fairly lightheartedly. The Karen meme is hateful and vile.

Of course everyone in my circle know that I was called Karen. Are you saying that being called Karen makes me what the Karen meme purports as if my name defines my character?

They also know that that I don't feel inferior. They admire me for changing my name... I didn't just endure it, I did something about it.

Sara1954

Oriel
I’m sorry you find it everywhere, I am aware of it, but can’t remember the last time I came across it.
I asked one of my Karen’s yesterday if she was aware that Karen’s are actually changing their names. and she said “whoever told you that rubbish?”

Why did you post that? Are you trying to diminish what I am saying?

Your friend thinks it rubbish... fine, I can only assume she hasn't looked on the internet lately.

I am perfectly aware of what the generator was trying to do, it was just an observation, I wondered if it didn’t re-act to certain names. For the life of me I still can’t see what all the fuss is about, it is just another imported trend that will go with time, in fact you rarely hear it used except in certain circles and probably age groups.

Sara1954

Oriel
I too admire your patience, I don’t necessarily understand where you are coming from, there we must agree to differ.
But I’m sure you have brought our attention to a lot of stuff we were probably unaware of.

Thanks for the patience admiration!

I don't know why you don't understand where I coming from. What more can I say to explain. I've posted so many times trying to answer questions from folk and give illustrations of what I'm talking about.

You say you don't understand where I'm coming from and that your view differs. Can I ask why?

The whole point of my thread was to see if anyone here had felt it necessary to change their name. I came to Gransnet because there are more likely to be people named Karen by virtue of their age. I also wanted to flag up what is going on. Which you say I've done (thank you).

I have given my own personal account of what has happened to me because of a meme I have no control over. There are many, many women who have suffered in the UK, US and, to some extent, other countries. Is it so hard to feel empathy for your fellow women who are being abused?

This thread is truly shocking.
I had heard of ‘Karen’ only fleetingly from a thread on Mumsnet but had no idea of the extent of it as my social media use is limited.

I must go around with my head in the sand as I have never heard or seen this anywhere.
I put my name into the generator and it was horrible, my sympathies to you Oriel

I’m going to ask my 2 young sons (24&26) about it for their views .

Oriel, I'm perfectly capable of standing up for myself on the occasions when I do need to complain about something. And if anyone called me a 'Karen', they'd be given very short shrift indeed! The point I'm making is that you can't do anything about how other people view you - whether that is about your name or something else - the only thing you can control is how you react to it.