A Karen - Time to Stop

I'm a Karen and I hate the expression. The trouble is if you tell people they are so wrong in using that expression then they accuse you even more of being a "Karen". You can't win. So ignore and hope that the trend will soon die.

Shakin' Stevens, Ali G and Steve Coogan have all made my name a joke at various stages. I like to think I've maintained my dignity throughout and it's all blown over.

Churchview

Shakin' Stevens, Ali G and Steve Coogan have all made my name a joke at various stages. I like to think I've maintained my dignity throughout and it's all blown over.

Best thing to do. Can't imagine what your name could be though! Shakin' Stevens?

My consultant was called Tracy. First name. Bloke. Nobody ever mentioned it

We did have Kevin’s

"Whoa, whoa Julie, if you love me truly
Do you want me Julie, to be, to be your very own?"

Ah yes, I remember now Churchview

And of course , Kevin, Bluebelle I actually dated a Kevin for a while. He hated the name.

Another friend of mine, Martin. He was called Fartin* Martin all the time.

Names can be crosses to bear.

The word Karen is now used to describe pretty much any older women who holds views that loud voices on the Internet disagree with. I have seen it used against women for holding views on all sorts of subjects from abortion to surrogacy. It's just part of the misogyny of the 'progressives'.

Churchview

"Whoa, whoa Julie, if you love me truly
Do you want me Julie, to be, to be your very own?"

Oh, but they loved you.
Truly!

If someone wants to make a point about racism they should call the perpetrators racists. If they want to talk about people with a sense of entitlement, they should call them entitled. The 'Karen' trope is too general to be meaningful, and designed to close down older women.

I mostly see it used against women who tell young mothers that their children should be physically punished ('warm her butt' and so on) on FB reels showing toddlers having tantrums. The answers, 'shut up, Karen' are as offensive as the comments themselves. Neither side is listening to the other, and both are writing off whole groups of people for seeing things differently from one another - a bit like words such as 'Remoaners' and 'Gammons' - it's like watching children shouting insults at one another instead of discussing the issue.

Speaking in cliches copied from the media cheapens debate and stops people from thinking things through, whether that is about 'Karens', 'gammons' the economy 'falling off a cliff', the NHS being 'on its knees' or whatever. It's lazy and tiresome.

In this case, picking a name that is more common in women of a certain age is also ageist and sexist, and 'Karenist', as people with that name are no more or less likely to be any of the things of which they are accused.

Karens can find hope in the fact that we don't hear of people being called a 'Wally', or a 'Herbert' any more, though - it will fade in time, and another name will probably be hijacked by the hard of thinking.

Oh, and I once lived near a family who had a Karen, a Darren and a Sharon in the house .

Doodledog We had all three back in primary school class…so very “mod” and all decent sorts.

It must be a British thing because as far as I’ve heard that name doesn’t evoke anything here at all. The ones that tend to get a bit of ribbing are the strange names that people make up but it is not cruel ribbing as with ‘Karen’. I remember in the old days a woosie bloke was referred to as a ‘right MaryEllen’ so I suppose it is part of our lives.

I spent my teenage years in Essex but never met a Karen. My experience was of Essex girls working in the City and quickly being promoted. Sorry for all the Karens out there who were treated badly.

I have 2 Karen’s - really

My eldest daughter who is a “Karen” I don’t bother arguing with her I just pull rank and tell her how it’s going to be, she is however a very effective manager and justifies the stereotype.

My second wife who is not a “Karen”, she is calm, confident, competitive and very popular socially, having that forename doesn’t bother her, because she isnt a dominant type.

nanna8

It must be a British thing because as far as I’ve heard that name doesn’t evoke anything here at all. The ones that tend to get a bit of ribbing are the strange names that people make up but it is not cruel ribbing as with ‘Karen’. I remember in the old days a woosie bloke was referred to as a ‘right MaryEllen’ so I suppose it is part of our lives.

No, nanna8 it’s US.

Primrose53

I understood a Karen was an older woman who had very strong opinions and told people what she thought without them asking. A Karen is never wrong, always complaining about things and super critical and very nosey.

This is how it is used here. It is insulting, frankly, especially to all the ladies actually called Karen - of whom there probably a fair number on GN.

Musicgirl

Primrose53

I understood a Karen was an older woman who had very strong opinions and told people what she thought without them asking. A Karen is never wrong, always complaining about things and super critical and very nosey.

This is how it is used here. It is insulting, frankly, especially to all the ladies actually called Karen - of whom there probably a fair number on GN.

It is intended as an insult which in itself is insulting to use a name like that.

I suppose in the same way that teenagers can be called 'Kevins'.

I seem to remember calling a teenage boy a ‘Kevin’ was done in a humorous almost affectionate way as it’s a phase you hope they’ll all grow out of. 🤔

Referring to a woman as a ‘Karen’ is derisive and anyone who finds it funny wouldn’t be on my Christmas card list.

nanna8

It must be a British thing because as far as I’ve heard that name doesn’t evoke anything here at all. The ones that tend to get a bit of ribbing are the strange names that people make up but it is not cruel ribbing as with ‘Karen’. I remember in the old days a woosie bloke was referred to as a ‘right MaryEllen’ so I suppose it is part of our lives.

It's definitely not just a British thing - it's all over America too!

There is a programme on YouTube called Karma for Karen’s which is police bodycam of Karens being arrested. Definitely not actors.

Rosie,

I raised my children in the US. I visit somewhat regularly as I have family there still. You don’t have to believe these situations are real. They are whether you believe it or not. I’m not referencing silly Tik Tok videos. Your opinion does not invalidate these people’s experiences.

And FYI it isn’t really hard to verify the incidents Rula and I referenced. They made national news in the US because the videos went viral. People lost their jobs because companies did not want to be associated with these racist pinheads. Ignorance of the validity of these cases is willful. It only leads one to question why one would choose to be ignorant of them. Again, not justifying the use of Karen, but it’s a bit thick to dismiss the experiences of marginalized groups simply because you don’t want their experiences to be true.

Oh dear BlessedArt
I’m not referencing silly Tik Tok videos

My opinion was of TikTok videos in response to Rula’s post of 13.13 yesterday where she said:
There are numerous clips on TikTok/YouTube with these white women behaving quite shockingly

Thank you for validating it.

I hate to say this, but my Daughter is a Karen, in name and temprerment. By her own admission she was going to be a M.I.L. from hell. She's not been part of my life for many years, her selfishness was dreadful. If it was'nt about her forget it.

My Daughter is an Essex girl and she is Karen, she does speak her mind and told me to get lost.I can relate to this.