View Full Version : What is a “Karen”?
My kid, who has increasingly become my window on popular culture, has been using the term “Karen” as a pejorative. I’m gathering it means some sort of obnoxious female of a certain age.
I find this puzzling. Was there some fictional or real Karen who acted badly? It seems awfully specific
It's a meme floating around and she's getting bashed by a white cat for what she says. It's derogatory. Here's an example: and here's a google: https://www.pinterest.com/karencarlson65/karen-memes/
I've a sick sense of humor. Most of them make me laugh out loud:~)
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e7/32/1e/e7321e73568a977b94b02f605e43e292.jpg
I think it might come from a movie.
Teacher Terry
4-14-20, 12:34pm
Funny!
iris lilies
4-14-20, 12:47pm
White Middle class privileged clueless woman, once known derogatorily as Soccer Mom. She is not Woke.
I have heard her male equivalent is “Chad” but I can’t confirm that.
Yep. It will be a hit - it bashes women, promotes alcohol and assumes that is normal and acceptable. That model has worked for years.
Yep. It will be a hit - it bashes women, promotes alcohol and assumes that is normal and acceptable. That model has worked for years.
This has been around for several years. Much is not alcohol based. I don't view it as woman bashing, I view it as idiot bashing. Just as often could be a male.
I fully admit a lot of them make me laugh! When ya live in a redneck state, ya see a LOT of it in real life! I shake my head a LOT! Including at my 40th HS reunion when quite a few still haven't grown up.
The ones being called a Karen are typically self righteous and entitled, and of the Gen X age.
The, "I want to talk to your manager," and "put my kid in to play" type. Also the first ones to whip out a a phone to call the police if she sees 2 or 3 minority folks hanging around.
ToomuchStuff
4-14-20, 11:19pm
To the best of my knowledge, the place it started was Reddit.
Here is an example of some of the stories that make youtube:
https://youtu.be/cbMm0Vekqk0
mschrisgo2
4-15-20, 3:47am
Is Karen related to Felicia?
Is Karen related to Felicia?
No doubt.
3160
I find it all amusing and who doesn't need to laugh right now?
catherine
4-15-20, 11:44am
I find it all amusing and who doesn't need to laugh right now?
I agree.. I think these are hilarious! I never heard of "Karen" before.
No doubt.
3160
That is funny!
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/07/style/its-karentown.html
If you have time, go to "Reader Picks" in the "Comments." Not all the readers were amused, but then we never are.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/07/style/its-karentown.html
If you have time, go to "Reader Picks" in the "Comments." Not all the readers were amused, but then we never are.
I won't sign up to read it. I have no doubt many are not amused.
I love the NYT readers comments. The narcissism, the preening, the status anxiety, the rigid orthodoxy, the moral panic at the very thought someone may think differently. The tension between the urge to sneer at the middle class and the instinctual need to treat the mockery of any woman’s behavior of any sort as an affront to feminism.
Anything from “My name is Karen and I’m absolutely wonderful” to generations, classes, genders and races battling for ultimate victim status.
I love the NYT readers comments. The narcissism, the preening, the status anxiety, the rigid orthodoxy, the moral panic at the very thought someone may think differently. The tension between the urge to sneer at the middle class and the instinctual need to treat the mockery of any woman’s behavior of any sort as an affront to feminism.
Anything from “My name is Karen and I’m absolutely wonderful” to generations, classes, genders and races battling for ultimate victim status.
I disagree! What drivel you just spouted about comments that you happen to disagree with. I have not read the NYT, to be honest, but still see your comments as drivel along the same nature that you are deriding. :devil:
ApatheticNoMore
4-19-20, 12:01pm
anyone who has ever lived as a woman in this society for any period of time and thought about it, can sense the latent sexism in such memes. I mean really.
However the stuff posted in this thread was pretty funny, I suspect it has a darker side than this, but yea funny.
I have no idea what the NYT article is about either, I'm Gen X and I don't think I know any "Karen's" I'm not sure I even know any people named Karen, one person my age as a kid I think, and someone's mom as a kid (so of course no Gen Xer).
iris lilies
4-19-20, 12:17pm
I love the NYT readers comments. The narcissism, the preening, the status anxiety, the rigid orthodoxy, the moral panic at the very thought someone may think differently. The tension between the urge to sneer at the middle class and the instinctual need to treat the mockery of any woman’s behavior of any sort as an affront to feminism.
Anything from “My name is Karen and I’m absolutely wonderful” to generations, classes, genders and races battling for ultimate victim status.
speaking of victim status, I was just today thinking about my high susceptibility to COVID19 death and destruction. I am old, fat, have high blood pressure and probably other metabolic issues that put me at risk. I am a total victim.
It is a great time to be alive! :)
speaking of victim status, I was just today thinking about my high susceptibility to COVID19 death and destruction. I am old, fat, have high blood pressure and probably other metabolic issues that put me at risk. I am a total victim.
It is a great time to be alive! :)
Likewise. Add single status and cue Music of Doom. (I'm not sure about the blood pressure and metabolic issues; they could be OK, but I have no idea.)
Speaking of victim shaming, I tried to think of another series so - how about those poor 'rednecks'? I was rather surprised when I looked up the redneck jokes and chose not to copy and paste but let you go with the link if so inclined. There were just four that were sort of OK for me to post except I would add yellow mustard to the ketchup on the table.
http://jokes4us.com/peoplejokes/redneckjokes/redneckjokes.html
http://www.lotsofjokes.com/redneck_jokes_1.asp
Your only condiment on the dining room table is the economy size bottle of ketchup.
The rear tires on your car are at least twice as wide as the front ones.
You consider "Outdoor Life" deep reading.
You prominently display a gifts bought at Graceland.
Speaking of victim shaming, I tried to think of another series so - how about those poor 'rednecks'? I was rather surprised when I looked up the redneck jokes and chose not to copy and paste but let you go with the link if so inclined. There were just four that were sort of OK for me to post except I would add yellow mustard to the ketchup on the table.
http://jokes4us.com/peoplejokes/redneckjokes/redneckjokes.html
http://www.lotsofjokes.com/redneck_jokes_1.asp
Your only condiment on the dining room table is the economy size bottle of ketchup.
The rear tires on your car are at least twice as wide as the front ones.
You consider "Outdoor Life" deep reading.
You prominently display a gifts bought at Graceland.
I loved Jeff Foxworthy! I saw him live in the late 90s.
You know you're a redneck...if you hear "just say no to crack" and it reminds you to pull up your pants.
You know you're a redneck...if "jiggle the handle" is the most commonly used phrase in your house.
:moon:
"
You know you’re a redneck if you don’t particularly care if people call you a redneck or not.
Teacher Terry
4-20-20, 11:23am
I saw Jeff Foxworthy in person when I first came to Reno in 1997. Mostly he told hilarious stories. He ended the show with the red neck jokes.
Since we've stayed on the topic of Rednecks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwlny1hcUh0
You know you’re a redneck if you don’t particularly care if people call you a redneck or not.
And you know you're a Karen if you call your neighbors Rednecks.
"Karens" have been explained as the kind of person who constantly complains to the manager (and dominates Next Door, probably). And likely calls the police on any minority people she considers "misbehaving."
Since we've stayed on the topic of Rednecks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwlny1hcUh0
That was funny. I honestly never knew that much about rednecks so looking up this term and listening to Foxworthy has been another of the SLF's educational moments.
There is more to the term than what you are seeing here. There is a history involving the term's use in the South from Reconstruction on.
Not sure it's a term I want to use, really. There are other words that were used to describe people that we have abandoned from that era as well.
So if you're a Canadian, as you are Razz, I'd do a little more research before you accept what you're reading here as an accurate history of what the word means.
But if throwing around perjoratives is your idea of humor, then by all means, dig in.
There can be occasional cross border confusion. Some time ago I was in a grocery store with a hapless Haligonian who wanted to pick up a quart of “homo milk”.
I don’t think all that many 21st century Americans would be much offended by being referred to as a “redneck”.
I don’t think all that many 21st century Americans would be much offended by being referred to as a “redneck”.
I guess it depends on how it's used. The way I've seen it used lately is as a term of derision and as a lifelong redneck I was not amused.
iris lilies
4-20-20, 2:11pm
There is more to the term than what you are seeing here. There is a history involving the term's use in the South from Reconstruction on.
Not sure it's a term I want to use, really. There are other words that were used to describe people that we have abandoned from that era as well.
So if you're a Canadian, as you are Razz, I'd do a little more research before you accept what you're reading here as an accurate history of what the word means.
But if throwing around perjoratives is your idea of humor, then by all means, dig in.
I thought you were referring to “Karen!”at first, haha.
Yes, the moniker Karen has been used on a thread I moderate on Nextdoor to refer to someone who does not appear to be minding her own business when she was inquiring about minority citizens hanging out at her building downtown.
Karens and Chads are regularly reprimanded on Nextdoor for showing any concern about misbehavior with low level laws such as panhandling, having unleashed dogs and picking up dog poop, joining in the nightly “howl” during lockdown, having current licenses on their automobiles.
So, such names as 'redneck' or 'Karen' can be considered pejorative terms which brings us back to the original post, does it not?
frugal-one
4-20-20, 3:14pm
I guess it depends on how it's used. The way I've seen it used lately is as a term of derision and as a lifelong redneck I was not amused.
Many times see trump supporters classified as rednecks (no snark intended).
Maybe a "redneck" would be a "hoser" in Canada?
Not sure. But implication is that they are stupid and stubborn.
I'm from Michigan. Jeff Foxworthy, in an interview with a Detroit area country music station in the mid-90s, said Michigan was a distribution point to other locations for rednecks! :D He said he also came up with his first redneck joke in Michigan.
Michigan is DEFINITELY full of rednecks. Great folks, but definitely rednecks. I think this is because during World War II a lot of folks moved up from KY, TN, and other places in Appalachia, to work in the Detroit wartime factories. Arsenal of Democracy and all that. They stayed up there afterwards. There are towns in the Detroit area known as "Taylortucky" and "Ypsitucky" (Ypsilanti). We joked, that they bred like rabbits and passed the hillbilly accent down to their kids, even if all they did was go back to Appalachia one week a year in the summer. The rednecks/hillbillies talked about this themselves!
I'm from Michigan. Jeff Foxworthy, in an interview with a Detroit area country music station in the mid-90s, said Michigan was a distribution point to other locations for rednecks! :D He said he also came up with his first redneck joke in Michigan.
Michigan is DEFINITELY full of rednecks. Great folks, but definitely rednecks. I think this is because during World War II a lot of folks moved up from KY, TN, and other places in Appalachia, to work in the Detroit wartime factories. Arsenal of Democracy and all that. They stayed up there afterwards. There are towns in the Detroit area known as "Taylortucky" and "Ypsitucky" (Ypsilanti). We joked, that they bred like rabbits and passed the hillbilly accent down to their kids, even if all they did was go back to Appalachia one week a year in the summer. The rednecks/hillbillies talked about this themselves!
Wow, very interesting! And you opened the door for me to plug one of my favorite books, The Dollmaker by Harriett Arnow (the movie with Jane Fonda is incredible)
Description on Wikipedia: "The Dollmaker is a novel by Harriette Arnow. It is the story of Gertie Nevels and her family's migration from their Kentucky homeland to industrial Detroit during World War II." Gertie Nevels is a fictional heroine of mine.
Awesome book.
ToomuchStuff
4-21-20, 1:11am
There is more to the term than what you are seeing here. There is a history involving the term's use in the South from Reconstruction on.
Not sure it's a term I want to use, really. There are other words that were used to describe people that we have abandoned from that era as well.
So if you're a Canadian, as you are Razz, I'd do a little more research before you accept what you're reading here as an accurate history of what the word means.
But if throwing around perjoratives is your idea of humor, then by all means, dig in.
This post brought me a laugh, because it reminded me, of watching "The Last Waltz" and one of the people I was there with, said "good southern boys", to which I laughed. He couldn't understand, and then didn't believe me when I said from Canada.
This post brought me a laugh, because it reminded me, of watching "The Last Waltz" and one of the people I was there with, said "good southern boys", to which I laughed. He couldn't understand, and then didn't believe me when I said from Canada.
We watch a Canadian television show and people are always talking about going "down south" to Montana. It makes me laugh.
I don't know the origin, but it far precedes the Smudge the Cat meme. I've heard it described as a female, usually a soccertype mom for whom nothing is good enough and always has a complaint, is always entitled and offended and usually wants to speak to manager over ridiculously average things. Things that when I was young were just considered everyday things and 'that happens' sort of things. I was recently given a sick cat to care for and it acted so ungrateful and so offended at all we did to bring it back from deaths door that we called it "Karen".
iris lilies
4-22-20, 9:07am
That is hilarious about the Karen cat!
iris lilies
6-14-20, 6:03pm
I thought this reference to Karen was cute
3267
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.