The Karen meme silences White women

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never called someone a "Karen," either here or elsewhere (excepting, of course, using someone's actual name). I do think there is a sexist strain to the use of the term, because sexism and racism and classism are interwoven into all of this culture, including our language.

I respect that this is Jeff's site, and that he is concerned about the use of the term.

I'm a white, middle-aged woman, and I think that focusing on white, middle-aged women's feelings about "Karen" right now is really tone-deaf.

I think it’s tone deaf (and dangerous in the long term) to sweep sexism under the rug right now. A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and that includes injustice to women.
Black people say: show us your boards. The same can be said about women on the boards.

You don't think it can be named as a sexist term without going on and on about someone's feelings in reaction to it, which recenters the discussion on their emotional reactions?

In another thread today Jeff says something to the effect of, it’s disturbing that so called “woke” people don’t see the sexism in the term and continue to use it - and I totally agree. That’s what I am fighting against and unfortunately it still needs to be said because they’re not stopping using it. Once people agree it’s sexist and stop using it, I’ll definitely stop talking about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm a white middle-aged white woman. I've had run-ins with Karens! Op, why didn't you just call from the sidewalk and ask them to bring the smoothie curbside? Did you consider that maybe, the store clerks were very busy and perhaps, were unable to do the advertised curbside? You saw lines of people-think about why they were not doing curbside.

Or, you could choose to just leave and go somewhere else. That's your right, and fine too. But it would have been a Karen if you had asked why everyone was in the store (they were there for smoothies, duh).

I don't feel silenced because of the Karen memes, but then I'm not one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I'm a white middle-aged white woman. I've had run-ins with Karens! Op, why didn't you just call from the sidewalk and ask them to bring the smoothie curbside? Did you consider that maybe, the store clerks were very busy and perhaps, were unable to do the advertised curbside? You saw lines of people-think about why they were not doing curbside.

Or, you could choose to just leave and go somewhere else. That's your right, and fine too. But it would have been a Karen if you had asked why everyone was in the store (they were there for smoothies, duh).

I don't feel silenced because of the Karen memes, but then I'm not one.

The answer to this is earlier in the thread. I believe it was discussed more than once. There was nobody answering the phones, and no place io input it as text with the order.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never called someone a "Karen," either here or elsewhere (excepting, of course, using someone's actual name). I do think there is a sexist strain to the use of the term, because sexism and racism and classism are interwoven into all of this culture, including our language.

I respect that this is Jeff's site, and that he is concerned about the use of the term.

I'm a white, middle-aged woman, and I think that focusing on white, middle-aged women's feelings about "Karen" right now is really tone-deaf.

I think it’s tone deaf (and dangerous in the long term) to sweep sexism under the rug right now. A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and that includes injustice to women.
Black people say: show us your boards. The same can be said about women on the boards.

You don't think it can be named as a sexist term without going on and on about someone's feelings in reaction to it, which recenters the discussion on their emotional reactions?

In another thread today Jeff says something to the effect of, it’s disturbing that so called “woke” people don’t see the sexism in the term and continue to use it - and I totally agree. That’s what I am fighting against and unfortunately it still needs to be said because they’re not stopping using it. Once people agree it’s sexist and stop using it, I’ll definitely stop talking about it.

I would support anyone in not using the term, and I have no objection to naming it as sexist. You can do that in one short sentence.

I think that focusing on white, middle-aged women's feelings about "Karen" right now is really tone-deaf. It can be named a sexist term without going on and on about someone's feelings in reaction to it, which recenters the discussion on certain people's emotional reactions.
I

[Anonymous]

Karen is both sexist and racist. As a PP noted, it’s a dehumanizing perjorative term and should be shunned by all sides if we’re ever going to make this world better.

I’m also note surprised by the so-called “woke” people. They’re a groupthink mob. If you don’t agree with them, then you’re verbally attacked, insulted, and put down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I'm a white middle-aged white woman. I've had run-ins with Karens! Op, why didn't you just call from the sidewalk and ask them to bring the smoothie curbside? Did you consider that maybe, the store clerks were very busy and perhaps, were unable to do the advertised curbside? You saw lines of people-think about why they were not doing curbside.

Or, you could choose to just leave and go somewhere else. That's your right, and fine too. But it would have been a Karen if you had asked why everyone was in the store (they were there for smoothies, duh).

I don't feel silenced because of the Karen memes, but then I'm not one.

The answer to this is earlier in the thread. I believe it was discussed more than once. There was nobody answering the phones, and no place io input it as text with the order.

I

Then, why didn't OP just assume that the workers were probably swamped (sounds like it since she said there were lines)? So either go in and get the smoothie, or go somewhere else. But to go in and ask why everyone is in the store or go off on the workers for not being curbside-yeah, that's Karen. Isn't this obvious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I'm a white middle-aged white woman. I've had run-ins with Karens! Op, why didn't you just call from the sidewalk and ask them to bring the smoothie curbside? Did you consider that maybe, the store clerks were very busy and perhaps, were unable to do the advertised curbside? You saw lines of people-think about why they were not doing curbside.

Or, you could choose to just leave and go somewhere else. That's your right, and fine too. But it would have been a Karen if you had asked why everyone was in the store (they were there for smoothies, duh).

I don't feel silenced because of the Karen memes, but then I'm not one.

The answer to this is earlier in the thread. I believe it was discussed more than once. There was nobody answering the phones, and no place io input it as text with the order.

I

Then, why didn't OP just assume that the workers were probably swamped (sounds like it since she said there were lines)? So either go in and get the smoothie, or go somewhere else. But to go in and ask why everyone is in the store or go off on the workers for not being curbside-yeah, that's Karen. Isn't this obvious?

The answer to this is also earlier in the thread. I think you can find a lot of answers to your questions there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I'm a white middle-aged white woman. I've had run-ins with Karens! Op, why didn't you just call from the sidewalk and ask them to bring the smoothie curbside? Did you consider that maybe, the store clerks were very busy and perhaps, were unable to do the advertised curbside? You saw lines of people-think about why they were not doing curbside.

Or, you could choose to just leave and go somewhere else. That's your right, and fine too. But it would have been a Karen if you had asked why everyone was in the store (they were there for smoothies, duh).

I don't feel silenced because of the Karen memes, but then I'm not one.

The answer to this is earlier in the thread. I believe it was discussed more than once. There was nobody answering the phones, and no place io input it as text with the order.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never called someone a "Karen," either here or elsewhere (excepting, of course, using someone's actual name). I do think there is a sexist strain to the use of the term, because sexism and racism and classism are interwoven into all of this culture, including our language.

I respect that this is Jeff's site, and that he is concerned about the use of the term.

I'm a white, middle-aged woman, and I think that focusing on white, middle-aged women's feelings about "Karen" right now is really tone-deaf.

I think it’s tone deaf (and dangerous in the long term) to sweep sexism under the rug right now. A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and that includes injustice to women.
Black people say: show us your boards. The same can be said about women on the boards.

You don't think it can be named as a sexist term without going on and on about someone's feelings in reaction to it, which recenters the discussion on their emotional reactions?

In another thread today Jeff says something to the effect of, it’s disturbing that so called “woke” people don’t see the sexism in the term and continue to use it - and I totally agree. That’s what I am fighting against and unfortunately it still needs to be said because they’re not stopping using it. Once people agree it’s sexist and stop using it, I’ll definitely stop talking about it.

I would support anyone in not using the term, and I have no objection to naming it as sexist. You can do that in one short sentence.

I think that focusing on white, middle-aged women's feelings about "Karen" right now is really tone-deaf. It can be named a sexist term without going on and on about someone's feelings in reaction to it, which recenters the discussion on certain people's emotional reactions.
I

I’m not creating a thread on the topic but I’m chiming in where I see it & I just have to take it as it comes. I am short and succinct mostly. But here we are on page 20-something and people still don’t understand.

But anyway, glad u & I are on the same page re: the sexist nature of its use.

[Anonymous]

Reposted to fix formatting for clarity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I'm a white middle-aged white woman. I've had run-ins with Karens! Op, why didn't you just call from the sidewalk and ask them to bring the smoothie curbside? Did you consider that maybe, the store clerks were very busy and perhaps, were unable to do the advertised curbside? You saw lines of people-think about why they were not doing curbside.

Or, you could choose to just leave and go somewhere else. That's your right, and fine too. But it would have been a Karen if you had asked why everyone was in the store (they were there for smoothies, duh).

I don't feel silenced because of the Karen memes, but then I'm not one.

The answer to this is earlier in the thread. I believe it was discussed more than once. There was nobody answering the phones, and no place io input it as text with the order.

Then, why didn't OP just assume that the workers were probably swamped (sounds like it since she said there were lines)? So either go in and get the smoothie, or go somewhere else. But to go in and ask why everyone is in the store or go off on the workers for not being curbside-yeah, that's Karen. Isn't this obvious?

The answer to this is also earlier in the thread. I think you can find a lot of answers to your questions there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I’m not creating a thread on the topic but I’m chiming in where I see it & I just have to take it as it comes. I am short and succinct mostly. But here we are on page 20-something and people still don’t understand.

But anyway, glad u & I are on the same page re: the sexist nature of its use.

Honestly, we are. But if this were an academic discussion and had stayed short and succinct in the posts, there probably wouldn't be 28 pages of this.

I hope you can see why focusing on how bad it makes women feel to be called "Karen" right now is derailing and tone-deaf. It gets in the way of the actual criticism of it.

[Anonymous]

I read the thread. I actually do know the answer-reading the OP's thought process answered that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I read the thread. I actually do know the answer-reading the OP's thought process answered that.

Excellent that you are not having to ask the same question as PP did, then.

[Anonymous]

Really, OP needs to think about the answers-it's why she feels offended by Karen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a white middle aged woman. Due to the Karen meme I feel like I lost my voice. When there is an injustice, I will hesitate to speak up. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly a subset of entitled middle aged white women, however, there are other non entitled white women as well who now feel silenced after fighting to find our voice.

And now you know what it feels like to be silenced. Your privilege is RAGING, OP. What a stupid thing for someone to be upset about. Go live your life and stop caring about MEME's and Karen and other trivial bullshit. This is not a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’m not creating a thread on the topic but I’m chiming in where I see it & I just have to take it as it comes. I am short and succinct mostly. But here we are on page 20-something and people still don’t understand.

But anyway, glad u & I are on the same page re: the sexist nature of its use.

Honestly, we are. But if this were an academic discussion and had stayed short and succinct in the posts, there probably wouldn't be 28 pages of this.

I hope you can see why focusing on how bad it makes women feel to be called "Karen" right now is derailing and tone-deaf. It gets in the way of the actual criticism of it.

I also don’t believe in reverse racism but I can’t control what other people say in these threads.

[Anonymous]

Fair enough.