A Karen - Time to Stop

Do any of us really know what a 'Karen' is? I had never thought of it as being an older woman afraid to speak up for herself.

I thought it was something like an entitled, not too bright 'Essex' type young woman not that I've ever used the term or thought much about it.

I'm none the wiser after reading this post.

I love my name, born in the 60’s

I don’t like it either, for the same reasons I don’t like being stereotyped as a ‘Boomer’, and why the name Karen (which I’ve always liked) was singled out for this purpose, I have no idea.
But I don’t think it means an older woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself.
It’s more that it implies a sense of entitlement and an arrogance towards others. Rula’s example is a good one.

Crossed posts knspol

I think it’s pathetic using a name to describe multiple people. I love my name, but I know that people snigger when they hear it.

I know two Karens, one a close friend with a lovely personality who isn’t bothered one jot about the Karen palaver, and another who is more of an acquaintance.

I was surprised to receive a Christmas card from the acquaintance signed with a new name, her husband’s remained the same. It obviously bothered her.

Hmmm, you sound like a real Karen (just joking).

I never knew Karen was used in relation to woman of a certain age who weren’t afraid to speak their mind. I always thought it meant any entitled woman who felt they were superior to others. I worked with a lady called Karen who on the whole was really lovely with one exceptionally rude comment to me regarding my allergies.

The male equivalent in France is Kevin. Boys with this name (1990s) often came from families which were influenced by American series and didn’t seem to do well academically.

A right proper Charlie.
A Holy Joe
A Nellie...

I’m a Karen born in 1960 and used to be so shy…standing up (politely for oneself or others ) is nothing to be ashamed of but it gets me when rude, impolite people are called ‘Karen’s’ !

Does anyone on this thread actually know anyone who uses such terms as 'Karen' and 'Kevin' in the ways described? I know of the terms but only because they've been reported in the media. Anyone who used such a term of me is not someone whose opinion I would care about. As for feeling offended, why be offended by something so childishly silly?

Tanjamaltija

A right proper Charlie.
A Holy Joe
A Nellie...

Yes, and I'm sure there are more. Shrugtastic.

grandMattie

I thought a Karen was an Essex girl!

Really! That’s Sharon 😂😂😂

NannaFirework

I’m a Karen born in 1960 and used to be so shy…standing up (politely for oneself or others ) is nothing to be ashamed of but it gets me when rude, impolite people are called ‘Karen’s’ !

It’s normally used to describe a woman “complaining” or “objecting” to things they find rude and offensive, rather than them being rude.

Cossy

NannaFirework

I’m a Karen born in 1960 and used to be so shy…standing up (politely for oneself or others ) is nothing to be ashamed of but it gets me when rude, impolite people are called ‘Karen’s’ !

It’s normally used to describe a woman “complaining” or “objecting” to things they find rude and offensive, rather than them being rude.

Like Victoria Gillick in the 70s?

according to google :- "Karen" is a pejorative term used online to describe a perceived entitled, demanding, and unreasonable, often middle-aged white woman, who uses her perceived privilege to get her way

According to a names dictionary we have Karen is the Danish form of Catherine.

"A Karen" is that google definition - a completely different fish (or kettle thereof) so no-one needs to get confused.

🙃

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202503/medium-lxsc1-img-4800.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202503/medium-ajwt79-img-4616.jpeg

My name is Karen and the last few years having that name has not been pleasant.
I can no longer have an opinion on the internet on any subject without someone closing me down, with comments like “shut the F up Karen. “ “sit down Karen” “oh look we have a real life Karen here”.
I daily see videos of so called ‘Karens” behaving badly. There are T-shirts and mugs etc with not funny Karen slogans on them. There have been a couple of Karen movies made. There are ugly Karen Halloween masks. People often see this as funny, but it is not funny if it happens to be the name my beautiful parents gave me 68 years ago.
I am in a Facebook support group of over 2000 Karens worldwide who are struggling with our name being used this way.
Plus it does spread into our real lives. I have had people laugh to my face when I have told them my name, and one of my online Karen friend had had death threats.
It also affects relatives of women named Karen. I know of a school girl that was bullied because her mums name is Karen.

I am Karen too, have been for over 60 years and don't really like my name. Never have (thanks Mum!). But there's not much i can do about it and this 'don't be a Karen' thing is really tiresome and needs to slope off and die in a dark corner of the internet somewhere. I've not responded to any feeds or comments (this is the first time!) as i get the impression that to defend or deny any Karen comments will leave it wide open for even more ridicule and insults. I try to ignore the jibes but sometimes i wish they'd pick on someone else. I know some fabulous Karens and most of us don't deserve this. I hope it goes away soon.....

Needs to stop, dot!

I don’t think many people I know know about this nonsense and I have not had anything derogatory said to me.
It’s best ignored and not given the oxygen of debate. 4 pages of GN is quite enough,
There’s me being bossy.

Kazzycookie are you in the US or UK? Rather think US.

kazziecookie

Well the anti-Karen brigade members certainly show the level of their intelligence in the notice banning Karen's (sic) from the store.

Yes, I've seen derogatory posts on our local FB page in the UK.

There is also a game called Karen which is based on 1 star reviews.

Very strange.