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A Karen - Time to Stop

(111 Posts)
FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 25-Mar-25 09:59:08

I think the male versions are referred to as ‘gammons’.

Freya5 Tue 25-Mar-25 09:51:59

Yes, it's used , usually by men, although I see some women armchair know it all use it too as a derogatory word. Usually because they don't fall in with the status quo. Well I know a Karen, and she will certainly speak her mind, good for her.

fancythat Tue 25-Mar-25 09:47:52

grandMattie

I thought a Karen was an Essex girl!

I thought Karen was supposed to mean someone who is a bit of a wallflower.

Name calling is not nice.

Babs03 Tue 25-Mar-25 09:47:18

I have two friends calked Karen. And yes it is insulting. Stereotyping like this is lazy and ignorant, as well as misogynistic.

TerriBull Tue 25-Mar-25 09:47:00

Yes agree, it's lazy and by extension meaningless, where's the Ken equivalent?. In fact entitled people come in all ages. Other threads I've read over on MN relate to those managing young people in the workforce and their observations as to objections by a younger demographic as to why they don't wish to undertake certain tasks that a previous generation may not have questioned. That's not to malign everyone from that age group, but just to say it's something that has cropped up.

kittylester Tue 25-Mar-25 09:45:32

Some of the best women I know are called Karen!

grandMattie Tue 25-Mar-25 09:43:42

I thought a Karen was an Essex girl!

RosieandherMaw Tue 25-Mar-25 09:39:06

Hear, hear!
Those who know me will know why!
I have got over it (mostly) but I always found it hurtful especially thinking of my dear parents who chose the name to be different, a touch of homage to the German side of the family, but mostly to be unique.
I realise names have a different resonance in the US, perhaps comparable to our reference to “Hyacinth” which does no favours to anybody whose name that actually is.
PS I AM an older lady who is not afraid g stand up for myself, so perhaps I should be flattered! 🤣🤣🤣

GrannyGravy13 Tue 25-Mar-25 09:31:18

One of my closest and oldest friends who I have known for nearly forty years is named Karin, and I know a few others.

A line needs to be drawn under this misogynistic slur.

Coconutty Tue 25-Mar-25 09:27:07

I agree, I think it should be stopped. Hopefully it will be when people realise it’s really misogynistic.

Musicgirl Tue 25-Mar-25 09:15:40

On MN at the moment, there is a very interesting discussion on the lazy, misogynistic and ageist use of it name Karen to describe an older lady who is not afraid to stand up for herself. As Karen was a very popular name for girls born in the fifties and sixties, it is exactly targeted at the demographic of most of us here. There is no male equivalent. It is also upsetting for ladies called Karen. I would be interested in your thoughts, especially if your name is Karen or you have been insulted by being called a Karen