topic Re: What Is A Karen? in Community Chat

What Is A Karen?

Nancy Drew — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:18:00 GMT

Usually I get slang. I even know the term Karen isn't even new. But I don't really know what people mean when they use it. I think a tattletale but there has to be more to it than that.

Re: What Is A Karen?

Linmo — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:21:29 GMT

@Nancy Drew Googled it - I didn't know either. "Karen is a mocking slang term for an entitled, obnoxious, middle-aged white woman."

Re: What Is A Karen?

grandma2pkmh — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:58:56 GMT

I edited my post to remove link. Everyone answered perfectly

Re: What Is A Karen?

geezerette — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:25:55 GMT

According to dictionary dot com:

"Karen is a mocking slang term for an entitled, irritable middle-aged white woman."

Wikipedia says:

"Karen is a pejorative slang term that is used to typify a person perceived to be entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is considered appropriate or necessary."

Re: What Is A Karen?

haddon9 — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:44:10 GMT

@Nancy Drew I've been wondering lately too about this. I have a close friend named Karen and I feel sorry for anyone who has the name (like Debbie "Downer" too).

Why all of a sudden the use of Karen as the stereotyped name for an obnoxious middle aged white woman who has three children at home, is entitled and asks to speak to the manager (BTW, most Karens are Boomers and no longer have kids at home) ...at least that's the portrait that I have gotten from reading various sites online about it.

There's even an article in the NY Times on "Karen"!

Re: What Is A Karen?

Dinaki — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:28:19 GMT

Isn't Karen a women's name?

In Europe, in short we call her also Carie.

Re: What Is A Karen?

AuntG — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:31:15 GMT

Another perfectly good name being turned into the object of criticism. It seems a "Karen" might be somewhat of a bully herself. I was going to guess it might be a cheapskate. We had a lady at work who always made a pan of eight-eight cent brownies for every event. Other people would bring hot dishes or delectable desserts to our work events and Karen brought those hard unfrosted brownies!

Re: What Is A Karen?

Pearlee — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:33:27 GMT

@Dinaki Yes it is a woman's name but is also used in slang as posted above by other posters.

Re: What Is A Karen?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:33:42 GMT

I wouldn't use a perfectly nice name like Karen to describe this type of woman.

The couple I've had the misfortune to encounter I just referred to as bi*ch. lol

Re: What Is A Karen?

moonandthestars — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:33:50 GMT

Wow! I never even heard this before. Where have i been?!! When did it start? Where did it start? Why did it start? Is it based on a movie character?

Re: What Is A Karen?

Vivian — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:36:23 GMT

I think this silliness will not last. Like "bye Felicia" the name Karen will last for awhile and then disappear, as it should.

Re: What Is A Karen?

Pearlee — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:38:42 GMT

@moonandthestars It has been in a particular news story since Memorial Day. The incident occurred in Central Park so you can Google it; it's been heavily reported in the NY Post. It is a hot topic so best not to go into details here.

Re: What Is A Karen?

kelshar — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:41:13 GMT

Isn't Karen more of a baby boomer name?

Either way, I don't like what's been done to that name. I feel bad for women named Karen.

Re: What Is A Karen?

haddon9 — Thu, 28 May 2020 20:12:07 GMT

@moonandthestars wrote:
Wow! I never even heard this before. Where have i been?!! When did it start? Where did it start? Why did it start? Is it based on a movie character?

@moonandthestarsIt seems like it's been around for a while ...not sure how long but I've only just noticed it the last few weeks.

I think it's just nasty!

Re: What Is A Karen?

beach-mom — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:43:24 GMT

@haddon9 wrote:
@Nancy Drew I've been wondering lately too about this. I have a close friend named Karen and I feel sorry for anyone who has the name (like Debbie "Downer" too).

Why all of a sudden the use of Karen as the stereotyped name for an obnoxious middle aged white woman who has three children at home, is entitled and asks to speak to the manage (BTW, most Karens are Boomers and no longer have kids at home) ...at least that's the portrait that I have gotten from reading various sites online about it.

There's even an article in the NY Times on "Karen"!

@haddon9 - Like you, one of my closest friends is Karen. And like others, when I've read this in news articles lately I had no idea what they were talking about. Then after this latest use of it, I kind of figured it out and I'm disgusted.

If another name was used like this by another group we would not stand for this. I think it's terrible people are tolerating it now.

Re: What Is A Karen?

deepwaterdotter — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:48:12 GMT

Rather unfortunate for ladies who were given the lovely name of Karen by their parents. There's a poodle down the street who answers to the name Karen. She seems peppy and friendly.

Re: What Is A Karen?

Pearlee — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:49:36 GMT

@beach-mom. 👍 Well said.

Re: What Is A Karen?

moonandthestars — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:50:26 GMT

Thanks @Pearlee I'll look it up, I guess I took a few days off from the news.

First impression though ... don't like that name being used to profile someone negatively.

Debbie Downer is/was funny (to me) and is very different. It had the two words in the name, was based on a comedic character and skit and obviously did not imply that all debbie's were downers.

Re: What Is A Karen?

JaneMarple — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:51:20 GMT

I found out about "Karens" from reading Reddit several months ago. Why that name was picked? I have no idea.

Re: What Is A Karen?

moonandthestars — Thu, 28 May 2020 19:52:44 GMT

Thanks @haddon9 . I agree. Nasty. Not ok.