The term “Karen” is a vernacular, derogatory term, used to stereotypically describe a middle-aged, entitled white woman, with a cropped bob hairstyle, and who asks to “speak to the manager” in retail environments.
The term has more recently evolved to describe a white woman who exhibits belittling behaviour towards ethnic minority groups, service workers and members of the LGBTQ+ community, often weaponising her white privilege.
One of the first viral uses of the term “Karen” relates to Amy Cooper, a white woman in Central Park, who called the police on Christian Cooper, a black man (of no relation) after he asked her to leash her dog according to park rules. Defensively, Amy called the police, explaining “I’m going to tell them there’s an African American man threatening my life.” The incident, which Christian recorded and shared on social media, became a striking example of the power imbalances and racial tensions that are present in society.
The term “Karen” has further evolved to include a wider range of behaviours and is now often used to describe any woman who is seen to exhibit entitled or difficult behaviour, regardless of race.
The term has thus faced criticism for being stereotypical and misogynistic, as it uses a woman’s name to encapsulate negative behaviour, therefore reinforcing negative gender biases. As a generalised term to negatively describe outspoken women, the term can also discourage women from speaking up, regardless of the validity of her concerns.
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