Is Karen considered a racial slur?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Yes. It's only used with regard to white women. If its not racist, please let me know what I can call a similarly situated black, hispanic, asian, etc. woman.

It's not racist, and you can call them Karen if they're being a Karen. You can even call a dude Karen. Everyone will understand what you mean. Can we get back to real problems now?

+1

And we can call you a racist for slinging around slurs. Sound good?

It’s not racist.

It is and you know it.

It’s not racist at all FFS. Do you even know what racism means? Sexism? Get a dictionary.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Yes. Racist and sexist. When you take a term associated with a specific race, age, gender, or nationality and use it to negatively describe an action, that term is a slur.

A “Karen” refers to a white, older woman. Using a term that reflects age, race, and gender to denigrate another is using the term as a slur.

Our society doesn’t look at it like a slur, because it’s seen as socially acceptable to denigrate white women. Same with the term “Becky”.

I call people out on it all the time. We should be encouraging women to use their voices.

100, even when -- or maybe especially when -- that is a group of women who have been silenced and told that what they have should is good enough for them.

Karens are infraction vigilantes, we don’t need “hall monitors” in society. I don’t encourage this speaking and those [people] need to stop trying to control others.

+1 (with correction)

Do we need hall monitors to correct the hall monitors? Maybe just leave people alone.

It has nothing to do with being a vigilante or correcting others. A Karen is going over someone's head to get what she wants. Which I am all for. That's why this is a generational thing -- in the olden days, people actually cared about others. If someone had a complaint, it was taken seriously, in most situations. Now if you complain to someone behind the counter they just go into greyrock mode and pretend they're not there. In the olden days, if you spoke to a manager about that they would be appalled and try to make it right -- because customers mattered. These days no one matters -- not the customer and not the indentured servant behind the counter and not the manager. We're all just part of the money-making machine. Irrelevant. That's why the Karen is ridiculous -- she can't accept that she means nothing in this world. Just like the rest of us.

We should all be Karens. We should all speak up and say, dammnit my experience matters.

This is the original Karen:

You have just applied your very own definition. This is not what everyone means. The insult is meaningless if everyone uses it differently. Karen is sometimes just asking to be treated like everyone else.

Says the person making up a whole new definition of the word.

Therr have been multiple definitions given here. There isn’t universal agreement. Is it a racist vigilante? An annoying older woman? A rude male customer? Take your pick.

You’re confused because you’re focusing on the person, not the behavior.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If a server hands you an incorrect or incomplete order, of course you should ask to have it corrected. If the server is of another race, how is that racist? The whole thing is ridiculous.

Again, it all depends on how you interact with people. Ask nicely and don’t talk down to anyone and you’ll be fine.

Don't be an uppity woman, eh?

Don’t be a rude MFer.

Or try to rent an available bike to get home from work from an entitled teen? How does that fit?

Was this the nurse person? Probably rude.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I’m a middle aged white woman and do not consider it a racial slur. Karens are busybodies and misdemeanor vigilantes against minorities. Not sure why other middle age women want to defend this behavior and label it racist?

When did this become part of the Karen stereotype? I’m a middle aged white woman and when I first started hearing the term, I took it as a light hearted stereotype of a certain type of demanding woman. It always seemed as if the term were meant to be comical and not taken too seriously. All of a sudden it morphed into something much more sinister. That Karen was a racist who went after minorities. This wasn’t part of the original use was it?

It’s not a demanding woman. It is a woman asserting her privilege(many times it’s white woman privilege) and putting others around her in their place. It’s the contempt and distain for anyone who they view as lesser(which is everyone).

*disdain

Why attach a common name to this? Because it is an easy way to denigrate middle-aged women who simply don’t matter anymore. Why can’t you see this?

Dp. They can’t see it because they are too ingrained in a system that diminishes women, while denying it’s happening. Kinda like systemic racism.. systemic misogyny is alive and well, but apparently more tolerated by DCUM.

Please if you don’t matter and are displaced why are you comfortable acting like you have special privileges vs everyone else? People are not calling a random white woman “Karen”. They are calling out the(usually) white, upper class woman who is going out of her way to enforce her privilege and entitlement.

Exactly. It’s about the bad behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It's only used with regard to white women. If its not racist, please let me know what I can call a similarly situated black, hispanic, asian, etc. woman.

It's not racist, and you can call them Karen if they're being a Karen. You can even call a dude Karen. Everyone will understand what you mean. Can we get back to real problems now?

+1

And we can call you a racist for slinging around slurs. Sound good?

It’s not racist.

It is and you know it.

It’s not racist at all FFS. Do you even know what racism means? Sexism? Get a dictionary.

Do you know the definition of racism? Because clearly this fits the definition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a server hands you an incorrect or incomplete order, of course you should ask to have it corrected. If the server is of another race, how is that racist? The whole thing is ridiculous.

Again, it all depends on how you interact with people. Ask nicely and don’t talk down to anyone and you’ll be fine.

Don't be an uppity woman, eh?

Don’t be a rude MFer.

Or try to rent an available bike to get home from work from an entitled teen? How does that fit?

Was this the nurse person? Probably rude.

Of course they weren't. It's not rude to rent an available bike. Obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a middle aged white woman and do not consider it a racial slur. Karens are busybodies and misdemeanor vigilantes against minorities. Not sure why other middle age women want to defend this behavior and label it racist?

When did this become part of the Karen stereotype? I’m a middle aged white woman and when I first started hearing the term, I took it as a light hearted stereotype of a certain type of demanding woman. It always seemed as if the term were meant to be comical and not taken too seriously. All of a sudden it morphed into something much more sinister. That Karen was a racist who went after minorities. This wasn’t part of the original use was it?

It’s not a demanding woman. It is a woman asserting her privilege(many times it’s white woman privilege) and putting others around her in their place. It’s the contempt and distain for anyone who they view as lesser(which is everyone).

*disdain

Why attach a common name to this? Because it is an easy way to denigrate middle-aged women who simply don’t matter anymore. Why can’t you see this?

Dp. They can’t see it because they are too ingrained in a system that diminishes women, while denying it’s happening. Kinda like systemic racism.. systemic misogyny is alive and well, but apparently more tolerated by DCUM.

Please if you don’t matter and are displaced why are you comfortable acting like you have special privileges vs everyone else? People are not calling a random white woman “Karen”. They are calling out the(usually) white, upper class woman who is going out of her way to enforce her privilege and entitlement.

Exactly. It’s about the bad behavior.

Then use a word describing the behavior. How hard is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It's only used with regard to white women. If its not racist, please let me know what I can call a similarly situated black, hispanic, asian, etc. woman.

It's not racist, and you can call them Karen if they're being a Karen. You can even call a dude Karen. Everyone will understand what you mean. Can we get back to real problems now?

+1

And we can call you a racist for slinging around slurs. Sound good?

It’s not racist.

It is and you know it.

It’s not racist at all FFS. Do you even know what racism means? Sexism? Get a dictionary.

Do you know the definition of racism? Because clearly this fits the definition.

+1. Posters saying Karen doesn’t refer to specifically white women are just lying and excusing their own misogyny.

[Anonymous]

I'm an UMC white woman. And, frankly, the elite and wealthy white women I'm around do not act like "karens" because they generally don't have to. When you predominately shop at expensive places, go on expensive vacations, and live in expensive neighborhoods, you don't have to fight.

I don't think this term silences or hurts wealthy, UC white women. Because those women DGAF. They are happy and protected in their bubbles and they can afford to live in nice neighborhoods, go on nice vacations, shop in nice stores and order everything online so that they can minimize unpleasantness. When someone is rude to them, they generally have the bandwidth to cope because their lives are relatively low stress.

I compare this to friends who are more MC or LWC, and those are the women I think would more likely be name "karens" because they are constantly having to fight for everything. I don't think they are trying to wield their privilege as much as they are trying to cope with a world that demands so much from them, while at the same time treating them with zero respect and sometimes open hostility bc they are no longer sexually valued and they dared to ask for anything.

These are the same women helping their parents, kids, spouses, working, and running their households, while generally being treated like crap in a lot of situations.

I agree with the pp who said "karen" silences women and we should stop using it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It's only used with regard to white women. If its not racist, please let me know what I can call a similarly situated black, hispanic, asian, etc. woman.

It's not racist, and you can call them Karen if they're being a Karen. You can even call a dude Karen. Everyone will understand what you mean. Can we get back to real problems now?

+1

And we can call you a racist for slinging around slurs. Sound good?

It’s not racist.

It is and you know it.

It’s not racist at all FFS. Do you even know what racism means? Sexism? Get a dictionary.

Do you know the definition of racism? Because clearly this fits the definition.

It doesn’t fit any definition of racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It's only used with regard to white women. If its not racist, please let me know what I can call a similarly situated black, hispanic, asian, etc. woman.

It's not racist, and you can call them Karen if they're being a Karen. You can even call a dude Karen. Everyone will understand what you mean. Can we get back to real problems now?

+1

And we can call you a racist for slinging around slurs. Sound good?

It’s not racist.

It is and you know it.

It’s not racist at all FFS. Do you even know what racism means? Sexism? Get a dictionary.

+1 people upset about the word Karen need to get over themselves. And I'm a middle aged white woman. Treat people with kindness, and you're fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a middle aged white woman and do not consider it a racial slur. Karens are busybodies and misdemeanor vigilantes against minorities. Not sure why other middle age women want to defend this behavior and label it racist?

When did this become part of the Karen stereotype? I’m a middle aged white woman and when I first started hearing the term, I took it as a light hearted stereotype of a certain type of demanding woman. It always seemed as if the term were meant to be comical and not taken too seriously. All of a sudden it morphed into something much more sinister. That Karen was a racist who went after minorities. This wasn’t part of the original use was it?

It’s not a demanding woman. It is a woman asserting her privilege(many times it’s white woman privilege) and putting others around her in their place. It’s the contempt and distain for anyone who they view as lesser(which is everyone).

*disdain

Why attach a common name to this? Because it is an easy way to denigrate middle-aged women who simply don’t matter anymore. Why can’t you see this?

Dp. They can’t see it because they are too ingrained in a system that diminishes women, while denying it’s happening. Kinda like systemic racism.. systemic misogyny is alive and well, but apparently more tolerated by DCUM.

Please if you don’t matter and are displaced why are you comfortable acting like you have special privileges vs everyone else? People are not calling a random white woman “Karen”. They are calling out the(usually) white, upper class woman who is going out of her way to enforce her privilege and entitlement.

Exactly. It’s about the bad behavior.

Then use a word describing the behavior. How hard is this?

There isn’t a word for that specific behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It's only used with regard to white women. If its not racist, please let me know what I can call a similarly situated black, hispanic, asian, etc. woman.

It's not racist, and you can call them Karen if they're being a Karen. You can even call a dude Karen. Everyone will understand what you mean. Can we get back to real problems now?

+1

And we can call you a racist for slinging around slurs. Sound good?

It’s not racist.

It is and you know it.

It’s not racist at all FFS. Do you even know what racism means? Sexism? Get a dictionary.

+1 people upset about the word Karen need to get over themselves. And I'm a middle aged white woman. Treat people with kindness, and you're fine.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an UMC white woman. And, frankly, the elite and wealthy white women I'm around do not act like "karens" because they generally don't have to. When you predominately shop at expensive places, go on expensive vacations, and live in expensive neighborhoods, you don't have to fight.

I don't think this term silences or hurts wealthy, UC white women. Because those women DGAF. They are happy and protected in their bubbles and they can afford to live in nice neighborhoods, go on nice vacations, shop in nice stores and order everything online so that they can minimize unpleasantness. When someone is rude to them, they generally have the bandwidth to cope because their lives are relatively low stress.

I compare this to friends who are more MC or LWC, and those are the women I think would more likely be name "karens" because they are constantly having to fight for everything. I don't think they are trying to wield their privilege as much as they are trying to cope with a world that demands so much from them, while at the same time treating them with zero respect and sometimes open hostility bc they are no longer sexually valued and they dared to ask for anything.

These are the same women helping their parents, kids, spouses, working, and running their households, while generally being treated like crap in a lot of situations.

I agree with the pp who said "karen" silences women and we should stop using it.

Oh my god. Do you hear yourself?????
You're wrong.
Signed, a LMC middle aged white woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a server hands you an incorrect or incomplete order, of course you should ask to have it corrected. If the server is of another race, how is that racist? The whole thing is ridiculous.

Again, it all depends on how you interact with people. Ask nicely and don’t talk down to anyone and you’ll be fine.

Don't be an uppity woman, eh?

Don’t be a rude MFer.

Or try to rent an available bike to get home from work from an entitled teen? How does that fit?

Was this the nurse person? Probably rude.

Of course they weren't. It's not rude to rent an available bike. Obviously.

I don’t know the details but people can behave in many different ways.