THE KAREN LABEL (thread)
"KAREN" is a short-hand way to describe a phenomenon that existed long before social media shone a light on it: the use of White Privilege by some women to punish non-white folks for actions the "Karens" of this world have deemed "unacceptable!" 1/5
"KAREN" is a short-hand way to describe a phenomenon that existed long before social media shone a light on it: the use of White Privilege by some women to punish non-white folks for actions the "Karens" of this world have deemed "unacceptable!" 1/5
The general understanding is that women who engage in Karen-like behavior are doing so due to underlying racist beliefs or tendencies and that the behavior they label as “unacceptable” would not be criticized if engaged in by a white person. 2/5
While some may regard it as a “slur” the use of “Karen” is one way to shame those who engage in racist or racist-like behavior & it may help in reducing the occurrence or frequency of such behavior. The avoidance of public shame can be a powerful motivator for change. 3/5
As with any stereotype or label, there may be instances when the use of it are unjustified or mistaken. In such situations it’s important to point out why a person shouldn’t be called a “Karen” in that instance so as to preserve the ongoing power & utility of the label. 4/5
The use of "Karen" to describe certain racist behaviors is unlikely to wane anytime soon. In fairness there should also be a male version of this title that is equally effective in labeling similar behavior by white men because racism is not limited to one gender only! 5/5
KAREN: "A slang term for middle-aged white women who have become infamous online for their shameless displays of entitlement, privilege, and racism — and their tendency to call the police when they don’t get what they want."
time.com/5857023/karen-…
time.com/5857023/karen-…
