Feminist Suggests “Karen” Is A Sexist Slur Against Women, People Drop Some Knowledge On What “Karen” Really Means
Now that the majority of the world is in lockdown, much of what was happening outside has moved into the cyberspace that we call the internet. And, as we all know by now, everything that happens on the internet is out there for good.
UK journalist, author, and feminist campaigner against sexual violence Julie Bindel has sparked a heated debate on whether anyone else thinks the term (or as she put—slur) “Karen” is considered woman-hating and is based on class prejudice. And the internet was torn on this issue.
There are a lot of questions being asked online, but rarely do they cause heated debates such as this
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Journalist Julie Bindel asked if “Karen” is a derogative slur and voiced her opinion about it
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Julie also ventured to say in her next few tweets that the term “Karen” is definitely used by enough white men for it to have morphed into a misogynistic slur, furthering her point that it is classism and ageism. She also reminded her followers that there were other names used as “slurs” in the vein of “Karen,” including Sharon, Tracy, and Becky.
On one end, there were people who were in support of Julie’s remark. For example, Hadley Freeman, author of the book House of Glass, said that the term is sexist, classist, and ageist, specifically in that order.
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She drew analogies to other female names in history to support her idea
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People who uphold this idea claim that the word “Karen” is a slur because it is used in a derogatory fashion to pin a stereotype of a white upper-class woman in her 30s–40s to a person. So, in that sense, yes, it is sexist, classist, and ageist.
Julie followed up with another short tweet nearly an hour later saying that she has a friend named Karen and she loves her dearly, which was interpreted by some as “I have friends named Karen, so I can use that slur and not get in trouble.”
Not only did she say that “Karen” was sexist and classist, but it was also racist
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Some supported her idea, like Hadley Freeman, author of the book House of Glass
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Besides meaning self-entitled, obnoxious, and middle-aged woman, Karens also have the following haircuts
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However, a vast majority of Internauts were of a completely different opinion
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However, the vast majority of responses to Julie’s tweet were of a different opinion, not only shedding light on how “Karen” Julie’s comment actually sounded, but also on the fact that the term doesn’t even come close to actual slurs and proceeding to explain what a “Karen” actually refers to.
While some were against this idea in their regular jokey fashion, others took it seriously and challenged Julie’s statement by explaining what actual racism and slurs are. Others ventured to explain the origins of “Karen” and how it is not really a slur as much as a word used to describe an entitled, obnoxious, middle-aged white woman, who may or may not be racist. Also, it’s a meme.
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Many went to explain how “Karen” Julie’s comment actually sounded
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Others explained that the term doesn’t even come close to actual slurs and said what a “Karen” actually refers to
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Here’s how the rest of the internet reacted to this tweet
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So, what are your thoughts on the term “Karen”? Is it a slur, is it actually racist, sexist, or classist, or are people in the wrong here? Let us know in the comments below!
I only saw a few arguments on how its a slur and a lot on how its not. Others may disagree but i think being called a Karen has a lot to do with being disrespectful and entitled. I think if you don't want to be called a Karen, don't act like one. If you disagree please comment, I would like to hear don't just start heavily downvoting any other opinions. Thanks stay safe
I agree. You should only be called a Karen if you act like one.
Well...what if her name is Karen? What should I call her?
Karen"s are women. Period!
I agree. Karen is a not "slur" for any race, or gender, just people, all people, who act a certain way.
So what happens when that is the name you have been given? Is it your fault that someone decided to make that a slur? I just feel that it is horrific to be singled out as one type of individual, based solely on the name your parents chose at birth. My mother, who has passed, would have been extremely hurt by the slur. I know she liked her name, and I think it would have caused her pain. Why is it okay that in 2020 we are even discussing this? It's bullying. I don't care where it originated, it's the generalization of women, to keep you quite, and it should not be tolerated. Aren't we supposed to be examples to our children?
Honestly, when I think of the term "Karen," I picture the haircut and the whole "I need to speak to the manager" BS. I really didn't think much of it, but when I think about it now, what should a person do if their name is Karen. It might cause them to be judged the wrong way without even seeing what type of person they truely are. I don't think it's a major attack on women since we also have "those names" for men. Like "Chad." I knew someone who was named Elsa for example and people rolled their eyes when they heard her name because of Frozen, but legit that is a real name. People judged her based off of that and I think thats the issue. I don't think the terms need to be fixed, but how we perceive it... by not being douchy about it? I don't know how to explain in honestly
Um, see above comment. So, just how do I act?
I think you just have to brush it off. There will always be idiots in this world, but anyone with any sense will not think twice about your name. I know several women who are actually named Karen. When I talk to them, I don't think "Oh, like the meme"; I just think, "Hey, it's my friend, Karen."
I’ve seen the name used just to abuse white women on social media if someone doesn’t like they they say. I’ve also seen many edited videos to try to portray someone as a ‘Karen’ even if there was some just cause to their actions. It’s become a very deragotory slur directed at white women. It’s hate speech. I guess some find ways to justify name calling by saying it’s not racial and it’s deserved when someone is called it. The fact that it’s not as old as other slurs apparently jusitifies it’s use, as in its payback. At the end of the day it’s overused for many many different reasons and it’s meant to disparage and harm. So you decide
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"Karen" refers to a personality type, and I don't think it's got a whole lot to do with color. ANY woman of any race can be a Karen - it's about BEHAVIOR, not gender. ...//... Men can be Karens to, you know. I've seen a couple in action and yep, those guys are total Karens.
The correct term for a male Karen, I believe, is “Kyle”. Chad also is used.
And Brad. And Keith.
No Chad means "hot guy".
As for being 'classist', honestly, it's usually the more well-off women who act like a 'Karen', feeling like they're entitled to treat others like dirt. So... she really doesn't know what she's talking about at all. Maybe she got called a 'Karen' and thus got all up in arms about it.
Actually, her argument is even more stupid than that. She's saying that Karen is a common working class name. She's assuming that people who are actually named Karen are largely working class, so it's an insult to the working class women who are actually named Karen. That's why it's supposedly classist. It's a REALLY stupid line of reasoning. Literally ANY name could be popular among the working class, because there are so many working class people.
I think people have way too much time on their hands and some of them don't have the creativity to fill that time productively, so they troll. (At least I hope it's just trolling and not trully being that thin skinned)
I think she's serious. I worked with a woman who would get second hand offended about the weirdest things. She got mad at me when I said I was going down to the Mexican store for some candied yams. She said I should call them "Hispanics", because "calling people Mexican is racist". I told her they were definitely Mexican. They literally came from Mexico. They sell stuff from Mexico there. She said she didn't know that because "All those people look and sound the same, but we should still call them Hispanics just to be safe". OMG, that woman was so stupid!
At least you're not a John, guy who pays for sex. And where I'm from a Harry means classless and tacky redneck. Plenty of guy's names being used like this too, who cares?
Not so, used only for older women who are white. Not men.
I disagree. It’s directed at white women and in a very small percentage of cases where it’s applied to other races, it’s prefaced by ‘the Mexican Karen’ etc. it’s become very nasty lately with edited videos of who’re women being paraded about to prove they are ‘Karens’. I’ve seen many white women called it on social media for simply stating a different point of view. It’s hate speech
Speaking as a black woman, I don't see how anyone can say that being called a Karen is similar to the N-word. Being called out for being disrespectful to people in the service industry is what being called a Karen is about. If you don't want to be called a Karen don't act like one. These so called Karens have more privilege than the people they say are insulting them.
I really agree with you. I am not african-american so I cannot say that I have been called any words like that. But I am Jewish and I have been called some nasty words and told to do some bad stuff (Someone told me to take a hot shower, a hot shower is a gas chamber) And to think that people are getting mad because they are privileged, entitled people makes me mad.
I am sorry that people talked to you that way. That's what makes this whole argument ridiculous is that there are people out there who have been treated much worse and the only reason is the color of their skin or their religion.
I'm sorry that happened to you. It's hard and painful to have to deal with such basic people and the insane things they say.
Spot on
Honestly, I'm a bit confused where race suddenly fits into this discussion. I always thought of 'Karen' as designing someone who acts (wrongfully) entitled and isn't all that bright. Nothing sexist or racist about it, imho (unless you decide to make it that way by calling all women 'karen' or something like that; and nothing stops you from calling a man 'karen' if he acts the karen way)
Then change it to Bettina and see how you like it? Millions of people speaking badly about you, as if they know you, attacking, insulting, it is bullying at it's finest.
I am not comparing. But payback doesn’t make it right. It’s hate speech and it’s deragotory. I’ve seen it used only towards white women and merely for stating a different opinion. It would be like finding a stereotype of a black woman because of a girl named Shaniqua and then if I didn’t like what you said saying ‘Ok Shaniqua’ and just throwing that out at black women all the time for different things. It’s abusive. It’s overused now and it’s a verbal weapon.
Or do they? I mean, these women are being mocked mercilessly and demeaned online, whereas every single news publication is listening to black people's complaints and justifications for using the term Karen. Case in point this article.
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Yes Mrs. Waterford. Pointing at Julie: "Karen karen karen"
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This is so horrible. Karen is a name and it is hurtful to call people it. I have an aunt named Karen and she is just about the sweetest woman in the world. Also a lot of people are saying things like,” if don’t what to be called a Karen, don’t act like one. “ this creates a system where people( especially women as they are the ones being call this) fell afraid to speak in fear of being called that one something similar. Is that really a world we want to live in?
Nobody is called a Karen just for speaking. It's the whole attitude of entitlement and the classism of believing they are much better than other people, especially people who are "serving", such as waiters and shop assistants. Be nice and try other people with respect. If you have to complain, be objective and try to understand you and your children/husband are not the centre of the universe. The world I don't want to live in is a world where entitled idiots can harass others just because they think they are "just a waiter/cleaner/deliverer/etc" and don't deserve any respect.
I only saw a few arguments on how its a slur and a lot on how its not. Others may disagree but i think being called a Karen has a lot to do with being disrespectful and entitled. I think if you don't want to be called a Karen, don't act like one. If you disagree please comment, I would like to hear don't just start heavily downvoting any other opinions. Thanks stay safe
I agree. You should only be called a Karen if you act like one.
Well...what if her name is Karen? What should I call her?
Karen"s are women. Period!
I agree. Karen is a not "slur" for any race, or gender, just people, all people, who act a certain way.
So what happens when that is the name you have been given? Is it your fault that someone decided to make that a slur? I just feel that it is horrific to be singled out as one type of individual, based solely on the name your parents chose at birth. My mother, who has passed, would have been extremely hurt by the slur. I know she liked her name, and I think it would have caused her pain. Why is it okay that in 2020 we are even discussing this? It's bullying. I don't care where it originated, it's the generalization of women, to keep you quite, and it should not be tolerated. Aren't we supposed to be examples to our children?
Honestly, when I think of the term "Karen," I picture the haircut and the whole "I need to speak to the manager" BS. I really didn't think much of it, but when I think about it now, what should a person do if their name is Karen. It might cause them to be judged the wrong way without even seeing what type of person they truely are. I don't think it's a major attack on women since we also have "those names" for men. Like "Chad." I knew someone who was named Elsa for example and people rolled their eyes when they heard her name because of Frozen, but legit that is a real name. People judged her based off of that and I think thats the issue. I don't think the terms need to be fixed, but how we perceive it... by not being douchy about it? I don't know how to explain in honestly
Um, see above comment. So, just how do I act?
I think you just have to brush it off. There will always be idiots in this world, but anyone with any sense will not think twice about your name. I know several women who are actually named Karen. When I talk to them, I don't think "Oh, like the meme"; I just think, "Hey, it's my friend, Karen."
I’ve seen the name used just to abuse white women on social media if someone doesn’t like they they say. I’ve also seen many edited videos to try to portray someone as a ‘Karen’ even if there was some just cause to their actions. It’s become a very deragotory slur directed at white women. It’s hate speech. I guess some find ways to justify name calling by saying it’s not racial and it’s deserved when someone is called it. The fact that it’s not as old as other slurs apparently jusitifies it’s use, as in its payback. At the end of the day it’s overused for many many different reasons and it’s meant to disparage and harm. So you decide
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"Karen" refers to a personality type, and I don't think it's got a whole lot to do with color. ANY woman of any race can be a Karen - it's about BEHAVIOR, not gender. ...//... Men can be Karens to, you know. I've seen a couple in action and yep, those guys are total Karens.
The correct term for a male Karen, I believe, is “Kyle”. Chad also is used.
And Brad. And Keith.
No Chad means "hot guy".
As for being 'classist', honestly, it's usually the more well-off women who act like a 'Karen', feeling like they're entitled to treat others like dirt. So... she really doesn't know what she's talking about at all. Maybe she got called a 'Karen' and thus got all up in arms about it.
Actually, her argument is even more stupid than that. She's saying that Karen is a common working class name. She's assuming that people who are actually named Karen are largely working class, so it's an insult to the working class women who are actually named Karen. That's why it's supposedly classist. It's a REALLY stupid line of reasoning. Literally ANY name could be popular among the working class, because there are so many working class people.
I think people have way too much time on their hands and some of them don't have the creativity to fill that time productively, so they troll. (At least I hope it's just trolling and not trully being that thin skinned)
I think she's serious. I worked with a woman who would get second hand offended about the weirdest things. She got mad at me when I said I was going down to the Mexican store for some candied yams. She said I should call them "Hispanics", because "calling people Mexican is racist". I told her they were definitely Mexican. They literally came from Mexico. They sell stuff from Mexico there. She said she didn't know that because "All those people look and sound the same, but we should still call them Hispanics just to be safe". OMG, that woman was so stupid!
At least you're not a John, guy who pays for sex. And where I'm from a Harry means classless and tacky redneck. Plenty of guy's names being used like this too, who cares?
Not so, used only for older women who are white. Not men.
I disagree. It’s directed at white women and in a very small percentage of cases where it’s applied to other races, it’s prefaced by ‘the Mexican Karen’ etc. it’s become very nasty lately with edited videos of who’re women being paraded about to prove they are ‘Karens’. I’ve seen many white women called it on social media for simply stating a different point of view. It’s hate speech
Speaking as a black woman, I don't see how anyone can say that being called a Karen is similar to the N-word. Being called out for being disrespectful to people in the service industry is what being called a Karen is about. If you don't want to be called a Karen don't act like one. These so called Karens have more privilege than the people they say are insulting them.
I really agree with you. I am not african-american so I cannot say that I have been called any words like that. But I am Jewish and I have been called some nasty words and told to do some bad stuff (Someone told me to take a hot shower, a hot shower is a gas chamber) And to think that people are getting mad because they are privileged, entitled people makes me mad.
I am sorry that people talked to you that way. That's what makes this whole argument ridiculous is that there are people out there who have been treated much worse and the only reason is the color of their skin or their religion.
I'm sorry that happened to you. It's hard and painful to have to deal with such basic people and the insane things they say.
Spot on
Honestly, I'm a bit confused where race suddenly fits into this discussion. I always thought of 'Karen' as designing someone who acts (wrongfully) entitled and isn't all that bright. Nothing sexist or racist about it, imho (unless you decide to make it that way by calling all women 'karen' or something like that; and nothing stops you from calling a man 'karen' if he acts the karen way)
Then change it to Bettina and see how you like it? Millions of people speaking badly about you, as if they know you, attacking, insulting, it is bullying at it's finest.
I am not comparing. But payback doesn’t make it right. It’s hate speech and it’s deragotory. I’ve seen it used only towards white women and merely for stating a different opinion. It would be like finding a stereotype of a black woman because of a girl named Shaniqua and then if I didn’t like what you said saying ‘Ok Shaniqua’ and just throwing that out at black women all the time for different things. It’s abusive. It’s overused now and it’s a verbal weapon.
Or do they? I mean, these women are being mocked mercilessly and demeaned online, whereas every single news publication is listening to black people's complaints and justifications for using the term Karen. Case in point this article.
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Yes Mrs. Waterford. Pointing at Julie: "Karen karen karen"
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This is so horrible. Karen is a name and it is hurtful to call people it. I have an aunt named Karen and she is just about the sweetest woman in the world. Also a lot of people are saying things like,” if don’t what to be called a Karen, don’t act like one. “ this creates a system where people( especially women as they are the ones being call this) fell afraid to speak in fear of being called that one something similar. Is that really a world we want to live in?
Nobody is called a Karen just for speaking. It's the whole attitude of entitlement and the classism of believing they are much better than other people, especially people who are "serving", such as waiters and shop assistants. Be nice and try other people with respect. If you have to complain, be objective and try to understand you and your children/husband are not the centre of the universe. The world I don't want to live in is a world where entitled idiots can harass others just because they think they are "just a waiter/cleaner/deliverer/etc" and don't deserve any respect.