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Life can be tough if you’re named Karen—the internet now associates this name with some women who are entitled and want to speak to everyone’s managers. Keep in mind that the term 'Karen' isn't meant to insult all women; it's used to poke fun at super-entitled problematic people. The Karen meme is the female equivalent of the Kyle meme and you can check out our post about the times that the internet destroyed fragile masculinity right here. Now, we know that most women named Karen out there are probably awesome people in real life, but the name has become a part of internet and meme culture.

The ‘Eff You Karen’ subreddit is one of the places that is dedicated to “the hatred of Karen” as they put it. We’re not fans of hating other people, you can’t deny that this online community makes some hilarious Karen content. We’ve collected some of the best Karen memes, so scroll down, upvote your faves, and check out the ‘Eff You Karen’ subreddit when you have the chance.

Bored Panda reached out to Matt Schimkowitz, Know Your Meme's Senior Editor, and spoke with him about Karen memes, and how some people find them offensive and insensitive to women. "As [the meme] grows from a parody of a common social experience of someone demanding to speak to a manager to a statement about white privilege, the stakes over the meaning of the meme grow as well. So I think that users of the meme should be cognizant that what they're meme-ing might not be their intent anymore. It's very possible that the meme could grow even farther to exhibit misogynistic tendencies, which are somewhat already present." Scroll down for the rest of our interview with Matt.

Some people have even stated that Karen memes allegedly promote so-called 'incel culture.' However, Know Your Meme's Senior Editor Matt doesn't believe that this is the case. "I don't think statements about white privilege necessarily align with most of that philosophy. I could see those with sexist beliefs using Karen as a catchall for all women, which is where things get really ugly and suddenly 'Karen,' a meme we all enjoyed and used with abandon is connected to something many would find offensive," he said.

Matt pointed out that most meme humor has a certain level of maliciousness to it. It's an inbuilt 'feature' of memes, in other words. "Meme-ing can be nihilistic artform and rewards really ugly behavior in some cases. Sometimes, what starts as a fairly inoffensive meme can grow into something really hateful, like Pepe the Frog. I could see that happening to Karen—though, I'm not really sold one way or the other on the debate."

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He continued: "Personally, because I'm kind of iffy on the intent of the meme and where it's going, I probably wouldn't call someone a Karen or use the Karen meme, judging the trajectory of its meaning. The meme's meaning will change depending on who is meme-ing it and what their intent is, and that could alter how we all view Karen. As I tell most people, you should always meme with caution. These images, nicknames and jokes frequently have unknown origins and could be connected to some really hateful areas of the internet."

Matt said that it's been hard to pin down the exact origin of the Karen meme. However, he personally thinks that the most convincing origin story is Dane Cook's 2005 comedy special bit "The Friend That Nobody Likes" which names Karen as the friend no one likes. "This is one of the earliest examples that we have to using a specific name to stand in for a whole type of person, and it's a comedic trope that we've seen dozens of times over the last 15 years," Matt stated his position.

“Every group has a Karen and she is always a bag of douche," Cook said during his stand-up routine. “And when she's not around, you just look at each other and say, 'God, Karen, she's such a douchebag!'”

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Tina Hugh
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve given myself insulin shots in public and have never had anyone say anything. My stereotype of white women is that they wouldn’t notice and if they did, their first impulse would be to, if anything, help and comfort me.

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One alternative theory is that it all started with the hit 2004 movie Mean Girls (I still rewatch it every year) which had the ditzy and insensitive character, Karen Smith. This sparked the ‘Oh My God, Karen, You Can’t Just Ask Someone Why They're White’ meme and things snowballed from there.

Another theory about the so-called rise of Karen states that things got started with the character Karen from 1989’s Goodfellas.

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I zzi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best Karen ever...seems like she can educate the herds

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Hans
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The problem is not considering equations as a foreign language. The problem is considering a foreign language to be something bad.

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ZombieGirl
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, very true! One restaurant I worked at...the managers would schedule you on Sunday as a punishment, lol. Like if you were late too many times, they wouldn't fire you, they would schedule you double shifts on Sundays for like a month or so. Sunday crowds are the worst

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I zzi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh how the every person in the world wishes they were a oppressed, marginalised group....do they think it's cool?

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Freya the Wanderer
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to judge each dog individually. However, there may be good reasons for dog weight limits. Just another reason to have cats instead.

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Freya the Wanderer
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of "pro-lifers" are consummate hypocrites. They mightily protect embryos and fetuses, but don't give a rat's butt about children who have been born.

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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

karens find every way possible to be mean to others and make a big deal out of their small mistakes but dont care when they or their kids do some thing ten times as bad

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Ami Temi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG! I feel like desinfecting the whole house with bleach after reading so much hatred. I can't even find the right words to describe how this makes me feel. I really hope Karma will teach her a lesson!

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Tracey Hirt
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m so tired of hearing, “You just need to stop buying avocado toast and lattes, and then you can afford a house.”

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𝕏𝕩ℝ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕩𝕏
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to cry this Is hilarious. I lost it at 1 am. My parents came to my room to ask if I’m ok.

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Kathy Baylis
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And Death says, “Don’t worry Karen. You’ll be meeting him soon enough. No need to bring a sweater.”

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Ami Temi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good reaction! The nerve this talentless, useless idiot has! That whole family is just too much...

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate that people Christmas shop on Thanksgiving. People didn't use to shop on Thanksgiving because the stores weren't open.... but chain owners are greedy.

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Carrie Henderson
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a great cartoon. Would be so much better without the massive sexism (and no, I'm not talking about Karen here).

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depicus
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The irony was certainly lost on her but when our political elite do the same what can you say !!!

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Meyer Weinstock
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My perception is that these 'Karens' here in the US are not likely Catholic or Orthodox, so their so-called 'temples' are these repurposed warehouses with non-religious names, but follow a Pietist or Anabaptist theological demagoguery which feeds into their smug self-importance. Hence, 'Karen' is born. -Rev Dr M

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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cousin's wife is an anti-vaxx mom. When their oldest turned 14 and could see the doctor by herself, she asked to be vaccinated. She had to wait until she was 16 to make her own medical decisions, but when she turned 16, she went and got vaccinated.

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not racist if you are referring to behavior. It is racist when (as below) there is a photo of white women doing normal things and you say they are terrible humans.

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like she is the original Karen, but she doesn't have "the cut"

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Ani Archeron
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

openly admitting this level of disregard of public opinion while in a democratically elected position baffles me

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Hedwig
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's funny, but the ones taking pictures of women with Karen haircuts are kinda stereotyping in my opinion..

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Dorothy Parker
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even Joey know better than to not leave his future offspring unprotected. Or potentially harm other people's children.

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Tracey Hirt
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s because you’re lucky enough to have the other parents vaccinate their kids! What do you think happens when you have a community of Karens and one kid gets the measles?

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Maureen McDermott
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's no different than when they go to another country and are upset when natives don't speak English. At least learn how to ask "Do you speak English?" in French/Italian/Spanish, etc

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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reportedly. I have lovely grandparents and older relatives who can’t figure out their electronics, and sometimes they just want company or an opportunity to talk. The trap usually goes like this: a few sentences complaining about some technical thing and before I know it, it’s been an hour and they’ve pried into my life while distracting me with food.

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right!? I have a 30 something Male Karen the other day. What is that nonsense!?

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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Healing crystals" are really expensive but if you go to an actual mineral show where they talk about the science behind these beautiful rock formations, you can find that they don't have any healing properties and that you can buy them for way cheaper because they are supposed to be collected for s c i e n c e.

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Tina Hugh
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s four women doing nothing. Yeah, they all have wedge cuts, but really?

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... okay, now this one just strait out says white women are terrible. I've worked in Customer service, horrible people come in various colors and genders

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So a bunch of women can't get a photo together? You assume based on their age and skin color they are bad people? It's there a term for that?

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