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| Boilerpipe Text | Content creator doing a Karen impression
Karen
is a pejorative
slang
term typically used to refer to a
middle class
woman who is perceived as
entitled
or excessively demanding.
[
1
]
The term is often portrayed in
memes
depicting middle-class white women who use their
white
and
class privilege
to demand their own way.
[
1
]
[
2
]
Depictions include demanding to "speak to the
manager
", being
racist
, or wearing a particular
bob cut
hairstyle.
[
3
]
It was popularized in the aftermath of the
Central Park birdwatching incident
in 2020, when a woman called the police during a disagreement over the requirement for her dog to be leashed in an area of the park.
[
2
]
The term has been criticized by some as racist,
sexist
,
ageist
,
classist
, and controlling women's behavior.
[
3
]
The term has occasionally been applied to male behavior.
[
3
]
[
4
]
During 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media, including during the
COVID-19 pandemic
and
George Floyd protests
.
[
1
]
The Guardian
called 2020 "the year of Karen".
[
5
]
Origin
In
African-American culture
, there is a history of calling difficult white women or those who "weaponize" their position by a generic pejorative name.
[
6
]
In the
antebellum era
(1815–1861), "
Miss Ann
" was used.
[
7
]
In the early 1990s, "
Becky
" was used.
[
8
]
As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".
[
9
]
Linguist Kendra Calhoun connects "Karen" stereotypes to the older "
soccer mom
".
[
10
]
For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.
[
11
]
Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by
Amanda Seyfried
) from the 2004 film
Mean Girls
,
Dane Cook
's 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album
Retaliation
,
[
12
]
and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the
Nintendo Switch
console who exhibits perceived antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".
[
13
]
[
14
]
In December 2017, Karen memes regarding entitled women went viral on
Reddit
, the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen taking custody of their children. The posts led to the creation of the subreddit r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.
[
12
]
[
13
]
A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originating among black people to refer to unreasonable white women.
[
8
]
[
15
]
The term was popularized on
Black Twitter
as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids'
lemonade stands
"
[
8
]
or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".
[
6
]
Bitch
magazine described
Karen
as a term that originated with black women but was co-opted by white men.
[
16
]
In an article on high-profile incidents in the U.S. of white women calling the police on black people,
The Guardian
called 2020 "the year of Karen".
[
5
]
Meaning and use
Kansas State University
professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said that a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.
[
8
]
According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends".
[
8
]
Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for
Bitch
, agrees, saying that a Karen does not view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves".
[
16
]
The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.
[
13
]
[
17
]
Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,
[
1
]
[
3
]
[
8
]
[
13
]
[
18
]
racism,
[
19
]
excessive use of Facebook, and a particular
bob haircut
with blond
highlights
. Pictures of
Kate Gosselin
and
Jenny McCarthy
's bob cut are often used to depict a Karen,
[
20
]
and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.
[
13
]
[
12
]
[
17
]
[
21
]
According to Apryl Williams of the
University of Michigan
, the memes "actively call out
white supremacy
and call for restitution".
[
6
]
[
22
]
Racial context
Time
called the Karen meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood".
[
23
]
The
Time
article states,
The historical narrative of white women’s victimhood goes back to myths that were constructed during the era of
American slavery
. Black slaves were posited as sexual threats to the white women, the wives of slave owners; in reality,
slave masters were the ones raping their slaves
. This ideology, however, perpetuated the idea that white women, who represented the good and the moral in American society, needed to be protected by white men at all costs, thus justifying racial violence towards Black men or anyone that posed a threat to their power. This narrative that was the overarching theme of
Birth of a Nation
, the 1915 film that was the first movie to be shown at the White House, and is often cited as the inspiration for the rebirth of the KKK.
[
23
]
University of Virginia
media researcher
Meredith Clark
has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom black people feel a need to be careful because she would not hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".
[
8
]
Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when
Saturday Night Live
played a
Jeopardy!
sketch with
Chadwick Boseman
as his
Black Panther
character
T'Challa
.
[
7
]
[
24
]
The Guardian
notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence". Contemporary Karens have been compared to
Carolyn Bryant
(a white woman whom
Emmett Till
was accused of offending, resulting in his lynching), and in literature,
Mayella Ewell
(a fictional character in the 1960 novel
To Kill a Mockingbird
).
[
5
]
"It was through that performance that Amy Cooper took on the mantle of an American archetype: the white woman who weaponizes her vulnerability to exact violence upon a Black man. In history, she is Carolyn Bryant, the adult white woman whose complaint about a 14-year-old Emmett Till led to his torture and murder at the hands of racist white adults. In literature, she is Scarlett O’Hara sending her husband out to join a KKK lynching party or Mayella Ewell testifying under oath that a Black man who had helped her had raped her. In 2020, she is simply Karen."
The meme became most popular in 2020 when the
Black Lives Matter
movement surged in response to multiple events.
[
5
]
[
25
]
André Brock
, a
Georgia Tech
professor of black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the
coronavirus pandemic
, the
murder of George Floyd
, and the
Central Park birdwatching incident
, noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.
[
23
]
He said that the virality of the two videos was the result of an "
interest convergence
" in which the pandemic "
intersected
with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear".
[
23
]
Apryl Williams of the
University of Michigan
called it a "Black activist meme", saying that it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to black people.
[
23
]
Williams, who has traced Karen's historical lineage, writes, "In the past, Black bodies were controlled in public spaces by threats of violence, lynching, and routine, targeted racialized terror that dictated who Black people could speak to, where they were allowed to live, and in which spaces they were able to exist. Presently, the routine act of calling the police on Black people in public spaces extends this historical practice of regulating Black bodies to maintain White supremacist order."
[
5
]
Multiple writers have rejected accusations of the term being equivalent to "the
N-word
for white women", and when a Twitter user ran a poll asking if the word should be banned on that platform, over 96% voted "no".
[
18
]
[
26
]
[
27
]
Karen Attiah
, Global Opinions editor for
The Washington Post
, claims that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.
[
28
]
Male context
The term is generally used to refer to women, but
The Atlantic
noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president
Donald Trump
the "Karen in chief".
[
4
]
[
29
]
It's considered negative because it reflects a disregard for others' perspectives, a tendency to escalate minor issues, and an entitlement to special treatment, all of which can lead to conflict and harm in social interactions.
[
1
]
Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling
Elon Musk
"Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of
COVID-19 testing
became
viral
.
[
30
]
[
31
]
Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name.
[
32
]
[
33
]
Ken
[
1
]
[
33
]
[
34
]
[
35
]
[
36
]
and Kevin
[
37
]
[
38
]
are commonly used names. The
Jim Crow-era
male equivalent to Miss Ann was
Mister Charlie
.
[
39
]
Criticism
The term has been called
racist
,
sexist
,
ageist
,
classist
, and
misogynist
by some.
Hadley Freeman
, columnist and features writer for
The Guardian
,
[
40
]
argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".
[
41
]
Jennifer Weiner
, writing in
The New York Times
during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.
[
42
]
In August 2020,
Helen Lewis
wrote in
The Atlantic
, "
Karen
has become synonymous with
woman
among those who consider
woman
an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."
[
3
]
Lewis also noted what she called the "
finger trap
" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."
[
3
]
British journalist and feminist
Julie Bindel
asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on class prejudice?"
[
1
]
[
43
]
Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in
The Atlantic
, asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.
[
8
]
Nina Burleigh
wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".
[
44
]
Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at
Know Your Meme
, stated to
Business Insider
in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online."
[
12
]
The term is characterized as a pejorative or controlling term for women's behavior. The term has been criticized as preventing women from speaking up for themselves. Writer Ahmed Pierstorff says, "The Karen archetype is just the most recent, millennial-sanctioned attempt to keep women in their place."
[
45
]
The term has been criticized as fueling
misogynistic
stereotypes, such as when it is paired with calling women "shrill" or "loud mouthed."
[
46
]
Use of the term has been criticized as bias where women are judged more harshly than men for the same behaviors.
[
47
]
Women named Karen have been bullied and felt they could not share opinions without being labelled and silenced.
[
46
]
One recent study found that the perceived disrespect and abuse they experience because of their name has had a negative impact on the mental health of women who are named Karen. Some 23 percent of the study participants reported that they had been verbally threatened and seven percent reported that they had been physically assaulted after others heard their name. Such discriminatory treatment is similar to the "namism" experienced by others who bear given names that have been used as slurs for racial or cultural groups. Participants in the study came from a variety of religious, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, reflecting the widespread popularity of the name Karen for women in the
Anglosphere
during the mid-20th century.
[
48
]
Writer, speaker, and activist
Sarah Haider
calls it a "term of abuse" and explains it is used in place of calling women slurs and to get away with socially acceptable misogyny.
[
49
]
In a UK employment case in June 2025, the employment judge said that the term "Karen" was pejorative and borderline racist, sexist, and ageist.
[
50
]
Notable examples
In 2018, a former New York and New Jersey Port Authority police commissioner,
Caren Turner
, was filmed berating two
Tenafly, New Jersey
, police officers for pulling over a car in which her daughter was riding.
[
51
]
The video emerged in 2021.
[
51
]
During the
COVID-19 pandemic
, the term was used to describe women abusing
Asian-American
health workers due to the virus's origins in
Mainland China
,
[
52
]
those
hoarding
essential supplies such as toilet paper, and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce
quarantine
[
42
]
and those who
protested the continuance of the restrictions
because they prevented them visiting
hair salons
and other businesses,
[
8
]
as well as over being forced to wear
face masks
inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.
[
8
]
Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.
[
44
]
In May 2020,
Christian Cooper
wrote about encountering a woman in Central Park whose "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" in response to him recording their disagreement over the requirement for her dog to be leashed in the area.
[
53
]
He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.
[
53
]
[
54
]
In December 2020,
Miya Ponsetto
was dubbed "SoHo Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter
Keyon Harrold
, in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An
Uber
driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in
Ventura County, California
, and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.
[
55
]
[
56
]
[
57
]
[
58
]
During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.
[
59
]
In September 2025, while attending a baseball game between the
Miami Marlins
and
Philadelphia Phillies
, a fan retrieved a home run ball to give to his son. The fan was confronted by a woman, and he gave her the ball to avoid confrontation.
[
60
]
Having been televised, several women were incorrectly identified as the "Phillies Karen" by the Internet and subjected to harassment.
[
61
]
Legislation
In July 2020,
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
member
Shamann Walton
introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act, which proposed changing the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.
[
62
]
The Act was passed unanimously in October of that year,
[
63
]
after which Williams noted "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".
[
23
]
Other uses
The mid-2019 formation of
Tropical Storm Karen
in the
Atlantic hurricane
basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.
[
64
]
In July 2020,
Domino's Pizza
ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";
[
1
]
the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.
[
1
]
[
65
]
In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a
parody advertisement
for a fictional
American Girl
"Girl of the Year" character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a
track suit
, bob haircut and
openly carrying
a
semi-automatic pistol
while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from the doll line, who took umbrage to the use of their name and
trade dress
, stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."
[
66
]
Boing Boing
, however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the
Streisand effect
, though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.
[
67
]
In July 2020, the
BBC
called the
Wall of Moms
"a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly
not
being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."
[
1
]
Karens for Hire began in early 2022, charging a fee to help people with complaints against companies.
[
68
]
The
Filipino
slang term
Marites
bears a similar meaning and connotation to Karen,
[
69
]
although the term is more often used in a humorous or light-hearted way, especially in reference to the stereotypical gossip-monger in Filipino neighborhoods.
[
70
]
In Poland, the slang term
madka
(distorted spelling of the word "matka" – mother) has a similar meaning.
Madka
is a young, burdensome woman raising children, having a demanding attitude towards others, considering herself better because she gave birth to a child. She believes that for this reason alone she deserves special consideration, she should receive everything for free and her children can do whatever they want because "they are just kids".
[
71
]
[
72
]
In Serbia, the given name
Slavica
(
Serbian Cyrillic
:
Славица
) has the similar meaning.
[
73
]
As Ivana Stojanov of
Nova.rs
wrote: "Slavica is our copy of Karen, mostly a middle-aged woman who dramatizes, likes to attack people in her free time, mostly cashiers. She is frustrated, dissatisfied, anti-vaxxer, she does not
believe in wearing masks
and
corona
in the age of a pandemic, she believes that
Bill Gates
and
[George] Soros
are
controlling us all from the shadows
, and that they will surely microchip us. She probably knows when you left the apartment and came home, she'll stop you on the stairs to ask why you didn't have a baby when it was due, but she'll also give you a lesson about how you'd be better off walking a child instead of a puppy."
[
74
]
See also
Angry white male
Karen
(film)
Becky (slang)
Bye, Felicia
Bye Felipe
Chad (slang)
Cracker (term)
Gammon (insult)
OK boomer
Trixie (slang)
Prima donna
Miss Ann
Stereotypes of white Americans
References
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
Nagesh, Ashitha (July 30, 2020).
"What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from?"
.
BBC News
.
BBC
.
Archived
from the original on October 14, 2020
. Retrieved
November 22,
2020
.
'Karen' is associated with the kind of person who demands to 'speak to the manager' in order to belittle service industry workers, is anti-vaccination, and carries out racist micro-aggressions, such as asking to touch black people's hair. But a predominant feature of the 'Karen' stereotype is that they weaponise their relative privilege against people of colour - for example, when making police complaints against black people for minor or even - in numerous cases - fictitious infringements.
^
a
b
Greenspan, Rachel (October 26, 2020).
"How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme"
.
Insider
.
Archived
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. Retrieved
November 22,
2020
.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Lewis, Helen (August 19, 2020).
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.
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.
ISSN
1072-7825
. Retrieved
August 22,
2020
.
^
a
b
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.
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October 12,
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.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Wong, Julia Carrie
(December 27, 2020).
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.
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.
Archived
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. Retrieved
December 27,
2020
.
The image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence
^
a
b
c
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.
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.
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.
^
a
b
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.
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.
Archived
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a
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e
f
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.
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.
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^
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"
'Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids"
.
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.
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.
^
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.
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.
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2022
.
^
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.
Business Insider
.
Archived
from the original on August 26, 2023
. Retrieved
July 17,
2020
.
While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said.
^
a
b
c
d
Greenspan, Rachel (May 27, 2020).
"How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme"
.
Business Insider
.
Archived
from the original on August 26, 2023
. Retrieved
May 29,
2020
.
^
a
b
c
d
e
Romano, Aja (February 5, 2020).
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.
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.
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April 21,
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.
^
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"
.
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.
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. Retrieved
June 13,
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.
^
Goldblatt, Henry (July 31, 2020).
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"
.
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.
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. Retrieved
February 6,
2021
.
^
a
b
Lewis, Rachel Charlene (April 10, 2020).
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.
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April 21,
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.
^
a
b
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.
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. Retrieved
May 30,
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.
^
a
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External links
Karen
entry at
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## Contents
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- [1 Origin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Origin)
- [2 Meaning and use](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Meaning_and_use)
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- [2\.1 Racial context](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Racial_context)
- [2\.2 Male context](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Male_context)
- [3 Criticism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Criticism)
- [4 Notable examples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Notable_examples)
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- [4\.1 Legislation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Legislation)
- [5 Other uses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Other_uses)
- [6 Related terms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#Related_terms)
- [7 See also](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#See_also)
- [8 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#References)
- [9 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#External_links)
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# Karen (slang)
19 languages
- [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86_\(%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%A9_%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9\) "كارين (لغة دارجة) – Arabic")
- [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(Meme\) "Karen (Meme) – German")
- [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(jerga\) "Karen (jerga) – Spanish")
- [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%86_\(%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA_%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A2%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2\) "کارن (عبارت تحقیرآمیز) – Persian")
- [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(argot\) "Karen (argot) – French")
- [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%9F "קארן – Hebrew")
- [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(peyorasi\) "Karen (peyorasi) – Indonesian")
- [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%BA%90%EB%9F%B0_\(%EC%86%8D%EC%96%B4\) "캐런 (속어) – Korean")
- [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slanga\) "Karen (slanga) – Malay")
- [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\) "Karen (slang) – Dutch")
- [Norsk bokmål](https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\) "Karen (slang) – Norwegian Bokmål")
- [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(g%C3%ADria\) "Karen (gíria) – Portuguese")
- [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD_\(%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B3\) "Карен (сленг) – Russian")
- [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\) "Karen (slang) – Simple English")
- [Српски / srpski](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD_\(%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B3\) "Карен (сленг) – Serbian")
- [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slanguttryck\) "Karen (slanguttryck) – Swedish")
- [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(argo\) "Karen (argo) – Turkish")
- [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD_\(%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B3\) "Карен (сленг) – Ukrainian")
- [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%87%AF%E4%BC%A6_\(%E8%B4%AC%E7%A7%B0\) "凯伦 (贬称) – Chinese")
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pejorative term and meme
Content creator doing a Karen impression
**Karen** is a pejorative [slang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slang "Slang") term typically used to refer to a [middle class](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_class "Middle class") woman who is perceived as [entitled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entitlement_\(psychology\) "Entitlement (psychology)") or excessively demanding.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) The term is often portrayed in [memes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_meme "Internet meme") depicting middle-class white women who use their [white](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege "White privilege") and [class privilege](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_privilege "Class privilege") to demand their own way.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ins-2) Depictions include demanding to "speak to the [manager](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_manager "Business manager")", being [racist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racist "Racist"), or wearing a particular [bob cut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_cut "Bob cut") hairstyle.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3) It was popularized in the aftermath of the [Central Park birdwatching incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_birdwatching_incident "Central Park birdwatching incident") in 2020, when a woman called the police during a disagreement over the requirement for her dog to be leashed in an area of the park.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ins-2)
The term has been criticized by some as racist, [sexist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexist "Sexist"), [ageist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageist "Ageist"), [classist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classist "Classist"), and controlling women's behavior.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3) The term has occasionally been applied to male behavior.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3)[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ATL-4)
During 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media, including during the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic") and [George Floyd protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd_protests "George Floyd protests").[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")* called 2020 "the year of Karen".[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
## Origin
In [African-American culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_culture "African-American culture"), there is a history of calling difficult white women or those who "weaponize" their position by a generic pejorative name.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020a-6) In the [antebellum era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antebellum_era "Antebellum era") (1815–1861), "[Miss Ann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Ann "Miss Ann")" was used.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bates-2020-7) In the early 1990s, "[Becky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_\(slang\) "Becky (slang)")" was used.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-9) Linguist Kendra Calhoun connects "Karen" stereotypes to the older "[soccer mom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_mom "Soccer mom")".[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-10)
For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-11) Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [Amanda Seyfried](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Seyfried "Amanda Seyfried")) from the 2004 film *[Mean Girls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_Girls "Mean Girls")*, [Dane Cook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dane_Cook "Dane Cook")'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album *[Retaliation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retaliation_\(Dane_Cook_album\) "Retaliation (Dane Cook album)")*,[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12) and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [Nintendo Switch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch "Nintendo Switch") console who exhibits perceived antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-14) In December 2017, Karen memes regarding entitled women went viral on [Reddit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddit "Reddit"), the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen taking custody of their children. The posts led to the creation of the subreddit r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)
A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originating among black people to refer to unreasonable white women.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-15) The term was popularized on [Black Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Twitter "Black Twitter") as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' [lemonade stands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemonade_stand "Lemonade stand")"[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020a-6) *[Bitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitch_\(magazine\) "Bitch (magazine)")* magazine described *Karen* as a term that originated with black women but was co-opted by white men.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020a-16) In an article on high-profile incidents in the U.S. of white women calling the police on black people, *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")* called 2020 "the year of Karen".[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
## Meaning and use
[Kansas State University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_State_University "Kansas State University") professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said that a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends".[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for *Bitch*, agrees, saying that a Karen does not view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves".[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020a-16)
The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-KYM-17) Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3)[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-The_Philadelphia_Inquirer-2020-18) racism,[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-19) excessive use of Facebook, and a particular [bob haircut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_haircut "Bob haircut") with blond [highlights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_highlighting "Hair highlighting"). Pictures of [Kate Gosselin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Gosselin "Kate Gosselin") and [Jenny McCarthy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_McCarthy "Jenny McCarthy")'s bob cut are often used to depict a Karen,[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-20) and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-KYM-17)[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-21)
According to Apryl Williams of the [University of Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan "University of Michigan"), the memes "actively call out [white supremacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_supremacy "White supremacy") and call for restitution".[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020a-6)[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-22)
### Racial context
*[Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_\(magazine\) "Time (magazine)")* called the Karen meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood".[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) The *Time* article states,
> The historical narrative of white women’s victimhood goes back to myths that were constructed during the era of [American slavery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_slavery "American slavery"). Black slaves were posited as sexual threats to the white women, the wives of slave owners; in reality, [slave masters were the ones raping their slaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States#Sexual_abuse,_reproductive_exploitation,_and_breeding_farms "Slavery in the United States"). This ideology, however, perpetuated the idea that white women, who represented the good and the moral in American society, needed to be protected by white men at all costs, thus justifying racial violence towards Black men or anyone that posed a threat to their power. This narrative that was the overarching theme of *[Birth of a Nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_Nation "Birth of a Nation")*, the 1915 film that was the first movie to be shown at the White House, and is often cited as the inspiration for the rebirth of the KKK.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23)
[University of Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Virginia "University of Virginia") media researcher [Meredith Clark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Clark "Meredith Clark") has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom black people feel a need to be careful because she would not hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when *[Saturday Night Live](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live "Saturday Night Live")* played a *Jeopardy\!* sketch with [Chadwick Boseman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadwick_Boseman "Chadwick Boseman") as his *[Black Panther](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_\(film\) "Black Panther (film)")* character [T'Challa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%27Challa_\(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe\) "T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)").[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bates-2020-7)[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-24) *The Guardian* notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence". Contemporary Karens have been compared to [Carolyn Bryant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_Bryant "Carolyn Bryant") (a white woman whom [Emmett Till](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Till "Emmett Till") was accused of offending, resulting in his lynching), and in literature, [Mayella Ewell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayella_Ewell "Mayella Ewell") (a fictional character in the 1960 novel *[To Kill a Mockingbird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird "To Kill a Mockingbird")*).[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
> "It was through that performance that Amy Cooper took on the mantle of an American archetype: the white woman who weaponizes her vulnerability to exact violence upon a Black man. In history, she is Carolyn Bryant, the adult white woman whose complaint about a 14-year-old Emmett Till led to his torture and murder at the hands of racist white adults. In literature, she is Scarlett O’Hara sending her husband out to join a KKK lynching party or Mayella Ewell testifying under oath that a Black man who had helped her had raped her. In 2020, she is simply Karen."
—[Julia Carrie Wong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Carrie_Wong "Julia Carrie Wong") in *The Guardian*.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
The meme became most popular in 2020 when the [Black Lives Matter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter "Black Lives Matter") movement surged in response to multiple events.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-25) [André Brock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Brock "André Brock"), a [Georgia Tech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Tech "Georgia Tech") professor of black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [coronavirus pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States "COVID-19 pandemic in the United States"), the [murder of George Floyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_George_Floyd "Murder of George Floyd"), and the [Central Park birdwatching incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_birdwatching_incident "Central Park birdwatching incident"), noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) He said that the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[interest convergence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest_convergence "Interest convergence")" in which the pandemic "[intersected](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectionality "Intersectionality") with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear".[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) Apryl Williams of the [University of Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan "University of Michigan") called it a "Black activist meme", saying that it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to black people.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) Williams, who has traced Karen's historical lineage, writes, "In the past, Black bodies were controlled in public spaces by threats of violence, lynching, and routine, targeted racialized terror that dictated who Black people could speak to, where they were allowed to live, and in which spaces they were able to exist. Presently, the routine act of calling the police on Black people in public spaces extends this historical practice of regulating Black bodies to maintain White supremacist order."[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
Multiple writers have rejected accusations of the term being equivalent to "the [N-word](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-word "N-word") for white women", and when a Twitter user ran a poll asking if the word should be banned on that platform, over 96% voted "no".[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-The_Philadelphia_Inquirer-2020-18)[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-26)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-27) [Karen Attiah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Attiah "Karen Attiah"), Global Opinions editor for *[The Washington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post "The Washington Post")*, claims that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-28)
### Male context
The term is generally used to refer to women, but *[The Atlantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic "The Atlantic")* noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") the "Karen in chief".[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ATL-4)[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-29) It's considered negative because it reflects a disregard for others' perspectives, a tendency to escalate minor issues, and an entitlement to special treatment, all of which can lead to conflict and harm in social interactions.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [Elon Musk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk "Elon Musk") "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [COVID-19 testing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_testing "COVID-19 testing") became [viral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_phenomenon "Viral phenomenon").[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-30)[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-31) Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-32)[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-fatherly-33) Ken[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-fatherly-33)[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-34)[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-forbescohen-35)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-mashable-36) and Kevin[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-kqed-37)[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-insider-38) are commonly used names. The [Jim Crow-era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws "Jim Crow laws") male equivalent to Miss Ann was [Mister Charlie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Charlie "Mister Charlie").[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-39)
## Criticism
The term has been called [racist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racist "Racist"), [sexist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexist "Sexist"), [ageist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageist "Ageist"), [classist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classist "Classist"), and [misogynist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogynist "Misogynist") by some. [Hadley Freeman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_Freeman "Hadley Freeman"), columnist and features writer for *The Guardian*,[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-40) argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-41) [Jennifer Weiner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Weiner "Jennifer Weiner"), writing in *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")* during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-weiner-42)
In August 2020, [Helen Lewis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Lewis_\(journalist\) "Helen Lewis (journalist)") wrote in *The Atlantic*, "*Karen* has become synonymous with *woman* among those who consider *woman* an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3) Lewis also noted what she called the "[finger trap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_trap "Finger trap")" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3)
British journalist and feminist [Julie Bindel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Bindel "Julie Bindel") asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on class prejudice?"[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Parsons-43) Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in *The Atlantic*, asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) [Nina Burleigh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Burleigh "Nina Burleigh") wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Burleigh-2020-44) Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [Know Your Meme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Your_Meme "Know Your Meme"), stated to *[Business Insider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Insider "Business Insider")* in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online."[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12)
The term is characterized as a pejorative or controlling term for women's behavior. The term has been criticized as preventing women from speaking up for themselves. Writer Ahmed Pierstorff says, "The Karen archetype is just the most recent, millennial-sanctioned attempt to keep women in their place."[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-45)
The term has been criticized as fueling [misogynistic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogynistic "Misogynistic") stereotypes, such as when it is paired with calling women "shrill" or "loud mouthed."[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Strickler-2020-46) Use of the term has been criticized as bias where women are judged more harshly than men for the same behaviors.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-47)
Women named Karen have been bullied and felt they could not share opinions without being labelled and silenced.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Strickler-2020-46) One recent study found that the perceived disrespect and abuse they experience because of their name has had a negative impact on the mental health of women who are named Karen. Some 23 percent of the study participants reported that they had been verbally threatened and seven percent reported that they had been physically assaulted after others heard their name. Such discriminatory treatment is similar to the "namism" experienced by others who bear given names that have been used as slurs for racial or cultural groups. Participants in the study came from a variety of religious, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, reflecting the widespread popularity of the name Karen for women in the [Anglosphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglosphere "Anglosphere") during the mid-20th century.[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-48)
Writer, speaker, and activist [Sarah Haider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Haider "Sarah Haider") calls it a "term of abuse" and explains it is used in place of calling women slurs and to get away with socially acceptable misogyny.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-49)
In a UK employment case in June 2025, the employment judge said that the term "Karen" was pejorative and borderline racist, sexist, and ageist.[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-50)
## Notable examples
In 2018, a former New York and New Jersey Port Authority police commissioner, [Caren Turner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caren_Turner "Caren Turner"), was filmed berating two [Tenafly, New Jersey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey "Tenafly, New Jersey"), police officers for pulling over a car in which her daughter was riding.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bonfiglio-2021-51) The video emerged in 2021.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bonfiglio-2021-51)
During the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic"), the term was used to describe women abusing [Asian-American](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian-American "Asian-American") health workers due to the virus's origins in [Mainland China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainland_China "Mainland China"),[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-52) those [hoarding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding "Hoarding") essential supplies such as toilet paper, and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [quarantine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantine "Quarantine")[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-weiner-42) and those who [protested the continuance of the restrictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_over_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") because they prevented them visiting [hair salons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_salon "Hair salon") and other businesses,[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) as well as over being forced to wear [face masks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_masks_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic") inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Burleigh-2020-44)
In May 2020, [Christian Cooper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Cooper "Christian Cooper") wrote about encountering a woman in Central Park whose "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" in response to him recording their disagreement over the requirement for her dog to be leashed in the area.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Nir-2020-53) He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Nir-2020-53)[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-54)
In December 2020, [Miya Ponsetto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miya_Ponsetto "Miya Ponsetto") was dubbed "SoHo Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [Keyon Harrold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyon_Harrold "Keyon Harrold"), in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [Uber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber "Uber") driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [Ventura County, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventura_County,_California "Ventura County, California"), and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-56)[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-57)[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-58) During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-59)
In September 2025, while attending a baseball game between the [Miami Marlins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Miami_Marlins_season "2025 Miami Marlins season") and [Philadelphia Phillies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Philadelphia_Phillies_season "2025 Philadelphia Phillies season"), a fan retrieved a home run ball to give to his son. The fan was confronted by a woman, and he gave her the ball to avoid confrontation.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-60) Having been televised, several women were incorrectly identified as the "Phillies Karen" by the Internet and subjected to harassment.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-61)
### Legislation
In July 2020, [San Francisco Board of Supervisors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Board_of_Supervisors "San Francisco Board of Supervisors") member [Shamann Walton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamann_Walton "Shamann Walton") introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act, which proposed changing the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-62) The Act was passed unanimously in October of that year,[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-63) after which Williams noted "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23)
## Other uses
The mid-2019 formation of [Tropical Storm Karen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Karen_\(2019\) "Tropical Storm Karen (2019)") in the [Atlantic hurricane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_hurricane "Atlantic hurricane") basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-64)
In July 2020, [Domino's Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino%27s_Pizza_Enterprises "Domino's Pizza Enterprises") ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-65)
In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a [parody advertisement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parody_advertisement "Parody advertisement") for a fictional [American Girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Girl "American Girl") "Girl of the Year" character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [track suit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_suit "Track suit"), bob haircut and [openly carrying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openly_carrying "Openly carrying") a [semi-automatic pistol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_pistol "Semi-automatic pistol") while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from the doll line, who took umbrage to the use of their name and [trade dress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_dress "Trade dress"), stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-mccarter-66) [Boing Boing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boing_Boing "Boing Boing"), however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [Streisand effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect "Streisand effect"), though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Beschizza-67)
In July 2020, the [BBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC "BBC") called the [Wall of Moms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_of_Moms "Wall of Moms") "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly *not* being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)
Karens for Hire began in early 2022, charging a fee to help people with complaints against companies.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-68)
## Related terms
The [Filipino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_language "Filipino language") slang term *[Marites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marites_\(slang\) "Marites (slang)")* bears a similar meaning and connotation to Karen,[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-marites-69) although the term is more often used in a humorous or light-hearted way, especially in reference to the stereotypical gossip-monger in Filipino neighborhoods.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-70)
In Poland, the slang term *madka* (distorted spelling of the word "matka" – mother) has a similar meaning. *Madka* is a young, burdensome woman raising children, having a demanding attitude towards others, considering herself better because she gave birth to a child. She believes that for this reason alone she deserves special consideration, she should receive everything for free and her children can do whatever they want because "they are just kids".[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-71)[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-72)
In Serbia, the given name *Slavica* ([Serbian Cyrillic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Cyrillic_alphabet "Serbian Cyrillic alphabet"): Славица) has the similar meaning.[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-73) As Ivana Stojanov of [Nova.rs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_\(Serbia\) "Nova (Serbia)") wrote: "Slavica is our copy of Karen, mostly a middle-aged woman who dramatizes, likes to attack people in her free time, mostly cashiers. She is frustrated, dissatisfied, anti-vaxxer, she does not [believe in wearing masks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-mask "Anti-mask") and [corona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_denialism "COVID-19 denialism") in the age of a pandemic, she believes that [Bill Gates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates "Bill Gates") and [\[George\] Soros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros "George Soros") are [controlling us all from the shadows](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros_conspiracy_theories "George Soros conspiracy theories"), and that they will surely microchip us. She probably knows when you left the apartment and came home, she'll stop you on the stairs to ask why you didn't have a baby when it was due, but she'll also give you a lesson about how you'd be better off walking a child instead of a puppy."[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-74)
## See also
- [Angry white male](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_white_male "Angry white male")
- [*Karen* (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(film\) "Karen (film)")
- [Becky (slang)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_\(slang\) "Becky (slang)")
- [Bye, Felicia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye,_Felicia "Bye, Felicia")
- [Bye Felipe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye_Felipe "Bye Felipe")
- [Chad (slang)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_\(slang\) "Chad (slang)")
- [Cracker (term)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_\(term\) "Cracker (term)")
- [Gammon (insult)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammon_\(insult\) "Gammon (insult)")
- [OK boomer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_boomer "OK boomer")
- [Trixie (slang)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trixie_\(slang\) "Trixie (slang)")
- [Prima donna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prima_donna "Prima donna")
- [Miss Ann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Ann "Miss Ann")
- [Stereotypes of white Americans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_white_Americans "Stereotypes of white Americans")
## References
1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-9)
Nagesh, Ashitha (July 30, 2020). ["What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from?"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201). *BBC News*. [BBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC "BBC"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201014172912/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201) from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020. "'Karen' is associated with the kind of person who demands to 'speak to the manager' in order to belittle service industry workers, is anti-vaccination, and carries out racist micro-aggressions, such as asking to touch black people's hair. But a predominant feature of the 'Karen' stereotype is that they weaponise their relative privilege against people of colour - for example, when making police complaints against black people for minor or even - in numerous cases - fictitious infringements."
2. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ins_2-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ins_2-1)
Greenspan, Rachel (October 26, 2020). ["How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme"](https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5). *Insider*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144408/https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5) from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-5)
Lewis, Helen (August 19, 2020). ["The Mythology of Karen"](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/). *[The Atlantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic "The Atlantic")*. [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1072-7825](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1072-7825). Retrieved August 22, 2020.
4. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ATL_4-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ATL_4-1)
Graham, David A. (May 28, 2020). ["The Karen in Chief"](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/). *[The Atlantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic "The Atlantic")*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
5. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-5)
[Wong, Julia Carrie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Carrie_Wong "Julia Carrie Wong") (December 27, 2020). ["The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism). *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221003051502/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism) from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2020. "The image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence"
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lang-2020a_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lang-2020a_6-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lang-2020a_6-2)
Lang, Cady (June 25, 2020). ["How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood"](https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/). *[Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_\(magazine\) "Time (magazine)")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/) from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bates-2020_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bates-2020_7-1)
Bates, Karen Grigsby (July 14, 2020). ["What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch"](https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen). *[NPR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR "NPR")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200718204237/https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen) from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
8. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-9)
Tiffany, Kaitlyn (May 6, 2020). ["How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain"](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/). *[The Atlantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic "The Atlantic")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200519145242/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/) from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
9. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-9)**
Narizhnaya, Khristina; Lapin, Tamar; Brown, Ruth (October 12, 2018). ["'Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids"](https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/). *[New York Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Post "New York Post")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811132309/https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
10. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-10)**
Romano, Aja (July 21, 2020). ["How "Karen" evolved from entitled mom to mask-off racist"](https://www.vox.com/21317728/karen-meaning-meme-racist-coronavirus). *Vox*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220211023545/https://www.vox.com/21317728/karen-meaning-meme-racist-coronavirus) from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
11. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-11)**
Greenspan, Rachel (May 27, 2020). ["How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme"](https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5). *[Business Insider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Insider "Business Insider")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144408/https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5) from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2020. "While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said."
12. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BI_12-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BI_12-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BI_12-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BI_12-3)
Greenspan, Rachel (May 27, 2020). ["How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme"](https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5). *[Business Insider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Insider "Business Insider")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144408/https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5) from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
13. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Romano_13-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Romano_13-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Romano_13-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Romano_13-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Romano_13-4)
Romano, Aja (February 5, 2020). ["Karen: The anti-vaxxer soccer mom with speak-to-the-manager hair, explained"](https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager). *Vox*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200421174030/https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager) from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
14. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-14)**
Frank, Allegra (October 25, 2016). ["Nintendo Switch's best, most revealing meme is antisocial 'Karen'"](https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video). *Polygon*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200724133356/https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video) from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-15)**
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16. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020a_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020a_16-1)
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Abcarian, Robin (May 23, 2020). ["Column: Is the 'Karen' meme sexist? Maybe, but it's also apt"](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly). *Los Angeles Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211029201613/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly) from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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Dozier, Rob (August 21, 2018). ["Why Memes Making Fun of White People Demanding to 'Speak to the Manager!' Are So Popular Right Now"](https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/bbq-becky-permit-patty-apple-store-lady-why-laughing-at-white-entitlement-feels-so-appropriate.html). *[Slate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate_\(magazine\) "Slate (magazine)")*. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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Schmitt, Carolyn (February 3, 2021). ["Deconstructing the 'Karen' meme"](https://hls.harvard.edu/today/deconstructing-the-karen-meme/). *Havard Law Today*.
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["What's in a Karen? (Transcript)"](https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904). *[NPR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR "NPR")*. July 15, 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210417085712/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904) from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
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Attiah, Karen (April 28, 2020). ["Opinion \| The 'Karen' memes and jokes aren't sexist or racist. Let a Karen explain"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/). *Washington Post*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200428204239/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/?arc404=true) from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
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51. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bonfiglio-2021_51-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bonfiglio-2021_51-1)
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Perper, Rosie (May 25, 2020). ["A woman in a video appears to call the police claiming there's an 'African American man threatening my life' – he apparently had asked her to put her dog on a leash"](https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5). *Insider*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144822/https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5) from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
55. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-55)**
Hall, Louise (January 1, 2021). ["NYPD releases new video of woman who falsely accused Black teenager of stealing her phone"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html). *[The Independent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Independent "The Independent")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811133811/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
56. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-56)**
Marcus, Josh (January 7, 2021). ["'Soho Karen' who attacked Black teenager identified"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html). *[The Independent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Independent "The Independent")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811133811/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
57. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-57)**
Gonzalez, Christina (January 7, 2021). ["'SoHo Karen' arrested after viral video showed her tackling 14-year-old boy at a NYC hotel"](https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york). *[KTTV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KTTV "KTTV")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811132309/https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
58. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-58)**
Moynihan, Ellen; Tracy, Thomas (January 9, 2021). ["Supervised release for 'SoHo Karen' Miya Ponsetto on attempted robbery, assault charges for attacking Black teen over missing iPhone"](https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html). *[New York Daily News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Daily_News "New York Daily News")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220810044343/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html) from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
59. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-59)**
Frazier, Charise (March 30, 2021). ["'SoHo Karen' Strikes Again: Miya Ponsetto Interrupts Judge To Say She Wants To Dodge Jail"](https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/). *NewsOne*. [Urban One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_One "Urban One"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811132309/https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
60. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-60)**
Duster, Chandelis. ["Young Phillies fan is gifted swag after adult fan takes his home run ball"](https://www.npr.org/2025/09/06/nx-s1-5532632/phillies-marlins-young-fan-home-run-ball-woman). *NPR*.
61. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-61)**
Gaydos, Ryan (September 8, 2025). ["Woman quells internet hate after being misidentified as 'Phillies Karen': 'I'm a Red Sox fan'"](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/woman-quells-internet-hate-after-being-misidentified-phillies-karen-im-red-sox-fan). *[Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News")*. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
62. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-62)**
Bauman, Anna (July 7, 2020). ["SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal"](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php). *[San Francisco Chronicle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Chronicle "San Francisco Chronicle")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210905032754/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php) from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
63. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-63)**
Har, Janie (October 21, 2020). ["'CAREN Act': San Francisco officials let people sue over racist 911 calls"](https://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls). *[The Mercury News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mercury_News "The Mercury News")*. [Associated Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press "Associated Press"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144858/https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/10/21/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls/) from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
64. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-64)**
Mansoor, Sanya (September 22, 2019). ["Tropical Storm Karen Has the Internet Saying the Storm 'Wants to Speak to a Manager'"](https://time.com/5683398/tropical-storm-karen-memes/). *Time*. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
65. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-65)**
["Domino's Pizza drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897). *[BBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC "BBC")*. July 31, 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811132309/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
66. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-mccarter_66-0)**
McCarter, Reid (July 6, 2020). ["American Girl calls manager over "Karen" doll parody"](https://www.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459). *The A.V. Club*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230710144259/https://www.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459) from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
67. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Beschizza_67-0)**
Beschizza, Rob (July 6, 2020). ["I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down"](https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/). *Boing Boing*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220808064153/https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html) from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
68. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-68)**
Hendrix, Steve (December 26, 2022). ["Cutting through customer service doom-loops by calling in a 'Karen'"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/12/26/karens-for-hire-customer-service-complaints/). *[The Washington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post "The Washington Post")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221226195913/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/12/26/karens-for-hire-customer-service-complaints/) from the original on December 26, 2022.
69. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-marites_69-0)**
Villanueva, Brooke (October 29, 2021). ["All about 'Marites': Here's how the famous nickname became an indelible part of social media"](https://philstarlife.com/geeky/940668-chismosang-marites-meme-justine-luzares-tiktok). *Philstar Life*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230209023547/https://philstarlife.com/geeky/940668-chismosang-marites-meme-justine-luzares-tiktok) from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
70. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-70)**
Legaspi, John (November 11, 2021). ["'Marites': From being just a street gossiper to an online sensation"](https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/11/marites-from-being-just-a-street-gossiper-to-an-online-sensation/). *Manila Bulletin*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230209023549/https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/11/marites-from-being-just-a-street-gossiper-to-an-online-sensation/) from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
71. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-71)**
Wileczek, Anna; Raczyński, Piotr (2021). ["*Madka* i *madkizm*: O stereotypizacji w "antymadkowych" społecznościach internetowych"](https://depot.ceon.pl/bitstream/handle/123456789/21708/Wileczek_Raczynski_Madka_i_madkizm.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y) (PDF). *Prace Językoznawcze*. **23** (1). [Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniwersytet_Warmi%C5%84sko-Mazurski_w_Olsztynie "Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie"): 151–167\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.31648/pj.6326](https://doi.org/10.31648%2Fpj.6326). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1509-5304](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1509-5304).
72. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-72)**
Bańczyk, Emilia (2021). Żmigrodzki, Piotr (ed.). ["Internetowa madka jako wariant stereotypu współczesnej matki"](https://jezyk-polski.pl/index.php/jp/article/view/73/56). *Język Polski*. **101** (2). Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego: 71–86\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.31286/JP.101.2.6](https://doi.org/10.31286%2FJP.101.2.6). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0021-6941](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-6941).
73. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-73)**
Nageš, Ašita (August 21, 2020). ["Slikoviti rečnik društvenih mreža: Ko je i šta je tačno "Karen" ili "Slavica" u internet svetu i odakle taj mim"](https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/svet-53650597). *[BBC News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News "BBC News")* (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved July 14, 2025.
74. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-74)**
Stojanov, Ivana (December 29, 2020). ["Znate li ko je Slavica, najomraženija žena na internetu"](https://nova.rs/magazin/lifestyle/znate-li-ko-je-slavica-najomrazenija-zena-na-internetu/). *[Nova.rs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_\(Serbia\) "Nova (Serbia)")* (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved July 14, 2025.
## External links
- [Karen](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/karen) entry at [Know Your Meme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Your_Meme "Know Your Meme")
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:White_people "Template:White people") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:White_people "Template talk:White people") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:White_people "Special:EditPage/Template:White people")[White people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people "White people") | |
|---|---|
| **Bold** refers to countries, regions and territories in which the majority ethnic group is generally considered to be people of white European descent. | |
| [European emigration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_emigration "European emigration") by location | |
| | |
| [Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Africans_of_European_ancestry "White Africans of European ancestry") | [Algeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieds-noirs "Pieds-noirs") [Angola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Angolans "White Angolans") [Botswana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people_in_Botswana "White people in Botswana") [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people_in_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo "White people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo") [Kenya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people_in_Kenya "White people in Kenya") [Malawi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Malawians "White Malawians") [Morocco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Moroccans "European Moroccans") [Namibia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Namibians "White Namibians") [Reunion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoreilles "Zoreilles") [South Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_South_Africans "White South Africans") [Tunisia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Tunisians "European Tunisians") [Zambia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Zambians "White Zambians") [Zimbabwe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Zimbabweans "White Zimbabweans") |
| Asia | [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europeans_in_Medieval_China "Europeans in Medieval China") [Pakistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Pakistanis "European Pakistanis") |
| North America | [Antigua and Barbuda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Antiguans_and_Barbudans "White Antiguans and Barbudans") [Bahamas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people_in_the_Bahamas "White people in the Bahamas") [Barbados](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Barbadians "White Barbadians") [Bermuda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Bermudians "White Bermudians") **[Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Canadians "European Canadians")** [Caribbean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Caribbean_people "White Caribbean people") [Cayman Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Caymanians "White Caymanians") **[Costa Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Costa_Rica#European_Costa_Ricans "Demographics of Costa Rica")** **[Cuba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Cubans "White Cubans")** [Dominica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Dominicans_\(Dominica\) "White Dominicans (Dominica)") [Dominican Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Dominicans "White Dominicans") [El Salvador](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadorans#White_and_Mestizo_Salvadorans "Salvadorans") [Guatemala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemalans#Criollo_and_other_European_descendants "Guatemalans") [Haiti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Haitians "White Haitians") [Honduras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Honduras#European "Demographics of Honduras") [Jamaica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Jamaicans "White Jamaicans") [Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Mexicans "White Mexicans") [Panama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Panama#European_Panamanians "Demographics of Panama") [Trinidad and Tobago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Trinidadians_and_Tobagonians "White Trinidadians and Tobagonians") **[United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Americans "White Americans")** **[California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Americans_in_California "White Americans in California")** [Hawaii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people_in_Hawaii "White people in Hawaii") **[Maryland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Americans_in_Maryland "White Americans in Maryland")** [Baltimore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_White_Americans_in_Baltimore "History of White Americans in Baltimore") **[Southern United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Southerners "White Southerners")** [Puerto Rico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Puerto_Ricans "White Puerto Ricans") |
| [South America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Latin_Americans "White Latin Americans") | **[Argentina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Argentines "White Argentines")** [Bolivia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Bolivians "White Bolivians") [Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Brazilians "White Brazilians") **[Chile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Chileans "White Chileans")** [Colombia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Colombians "White Colombians") [Paraguay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Paraguayans "White Paraguayans") [Peru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Peruvians "White Peruvians") [Suriname](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Surinamese "White Surinamese") **[Uruguay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uruguayans#Europeans_or_Whites "Uruguayans")** [Venezuela](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelans_of_European_descent "Venezuelans of European descent") |
| [Oceania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europeans_in_Oceania "Europeans in Oceania") | **[Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Australians "European Australians")** [New Caledonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldoche "Caldoche") [Hawaii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people_in_Hawaii "White people in Hawaii") **[New Zealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_New_Zealanders "European New Zealanders")** |
| Historical concepts | [Apartheid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid "Apartheid") [Aryan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan_race "Aryan race") *[Blanqueamiento](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanqueamiento "Blanqueamiento")* *[Castas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta "Casta")* *[Peninsulares](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsulares "Peninsulares")* *[Criollos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criollo_people "Criollo people")* [First white child](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_white_child "First white child") [Honorary whites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_whites "Honorary whites") [Pre-modern conceptions of whiteness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-modern_conceptions_of_whiteness "Pre-modern conceptions of whiteness") [Settler colonialism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settler_colonialism "Settler colonialism") [White Australia policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_policy "White Australia policy") *[The White Man's Burden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Man%27s_Burden "The White Man's Burden")* [White gods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_gods "White gods") |
| Sociological phenomena and theories | [Acting white](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting_white "Acting white") ([Passing as white](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passing_\(racial_identity\) "Passing (racial identity)")) [Becoming white thesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becoming_white_thesis "Becoming white thesis") [Missing white woman syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_white_woman_syndrome "Missing white woman syndrome") [Skin whitening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_whitening "Skin whitening") [White flight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_flight "White flight") [White guilt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_guilt "White guilt") [White privilege](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege "White privilege") [Whiteness studies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiteness_studies "Whiteness studies") [Whitewashing in art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewashing_in_art "Whitewashing in art") [Whitewashing in film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewashing_in_film "Whitewashing in film") [White savior](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_savior_narrative_in_film "White savior narrative in film") [White demographic decline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_demographic_decline "White demographic decline") [White people terms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:White_people_terms "Template:White people terms") [White supremacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_supremacy "White supremacy") [Reverse racism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_racism "Reverse racism") [Anti-White racism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-White_racism "Anti-White racism") [White adjacency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_adjacency "White adjacency") |
| Negative stereotypes of Whites | [In the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_white_Americans "Stereotypes of white Americans") [Appalachian stereotypes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_stereotypes "Appalachian stereotypes") [Basic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_\(slang\) "Basic (slang)") [Becky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_\(slang\) "Becky (slang)") [Crackers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_\(term\) "Cracker (term)") [Hillbilly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly "Hillbilly") [Mountain whites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_white "Mountain white") [Okie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okie "Okie") [Peckerwood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckerwood "Peckerwood") [Poor Whites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_White "Poor White") [Redlegs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redleg "Redleg") [Rednecks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redneck "Redneck") [Swamp Yankee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamp_Yankee "Swamp Yankee") [White trash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_trash "White trash") [Gammon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammon_\(insult\) "Gammon (insult)") [Karen]() [Angry white male](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_white_male "Angry white male") [Blonde stereotype](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blonde_stereotype "Blonde stereotype") [Trixie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trixie_\(slang\) "Trixie (slang)") [White monkey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_monkey "White monkey") [Whitey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitey_\(slang\) "Whitey (slang)") [Wigger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigger "Wigger") |
| White [identity politics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics "Identity politics") | [US definitions of whiteness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_whiteness_in_the_United_States "Definitions of whiteness in the United States") [One-drop rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-drop_rule "One-drop rule") [Alt-right](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-right "Alt-right") [Christian Identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Identity "Christian Identity") [European New Right](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_New_Right "European New Right") [Great Replacement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Replacement_conspiracy_theory "Great Replacement conspiracy theory") [Identitarian movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identitarian_movement "Identitarian movement") [Non-Hispanic whites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Hispanic_whites "Non-Hispanic whites") Old Stock [Americans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Stock_Americans "Old Stock Americans") [Canadians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Stock_Canadians "Old Stock Canadians") [Quebeckers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_laine "Pure laine") [White Anglo-Saxon Protestants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestants "White Anglo-Saxon Protestants") [White ethnic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_ethnic "White ethnic") [White genocide conspiracy theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_genocide_conspiracy_theory "White genocide conspiracy theory") [White Hispanic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans "White Hispanic and Latino Americans") [White identity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_identity "White identity") [White nationalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_nationalism "White nationalism") [White pride](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_pride "White pride") [White supremacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_supremacy "White supremacy") |
| [Race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_\(human_categorization\) "Race (human categorization)") [Ethnic groups in Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_Europe "Ethnic groups in Europe") [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg "Commons page") **[Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:People_of_European_descent "commons:Category:People of European descent")** | |
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Karen (slang)
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| Readable Markdown | Content creator doing a Karen impression
**Karen** is a pejorative [slang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slang "Slang") term typically used to refer to a [middle class](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_class "Middle class") woman who is perceived as [entitled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entitlement_\(psychology\) "Entitlement (psychology)") or excessively demanding.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) The term is often portrayed in [memes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_meme "Internet meme") depicting middle-class white women who use their [white](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege "White privilege") and [class privilege](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_privilege "Class privilege") to demand their own way.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ins-2) Depictions include demanding to "speak to the [manager](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_manager "Business manager")", being [racist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racist "Racist"), or wearing a particular [bob cut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_cut "Bob cut") hairstyle.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3) It was popularized in the aftermath of the [Central Park birdwatching incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_birdwatching_incident "Central Park birdwatching incident") in 2020, when a woman called the police during a disagreement over the requirement for her dog to be leashed in an area of the park.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ins-2)
The term has been criticized by some as racist, [sexist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexist "Sexist"), [ageist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageist "Ageist"), [classist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classist "Classist"), and controlling women's behavior.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3) The term has occasionally been applied to male behavior.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3)[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ATL-4)
During 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media, including during the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic") and [George Floyd protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd_protests "George Floyd protests").[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")* called 2020 "the year of Karen".[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
Origin
In [African-American culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_culture "African-American culture"), there is a history of calling difficult white women or those who "weaponize" their position by a generic pejorative name.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020a-6) In the [antebellum era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antebellum_era "Antebellum era") (1815–1861), "[Miss Ann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Ann "Miss Ann")" was used.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bates-2020-7) In the early 1990s, "[Becky](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_\(slang\) "Becky (slang)")" was used.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-9) Linguist Kendra Calhoun connects "Karen" stereotypes to the older "[soccer mom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_mom "Soccer mom")".[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-10)
For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-11) Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [Amanda Seyfried](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Seyfried "Amanda Seyfried")) from the 2004 film *[Mean Girls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_Girls "Mean Girls")*, [Dane Cook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dane_Cook "Dane Cook")'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album *[Retaliation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retaliation_\(Dane_Cook_album\) "Retaliation (Dane Cook album)")*,[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12) and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [Nintendo Switch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch "Nintendo Switch") console who exhibits perceived antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-14) In December 2017, Karen memes regarding entitled women went viral on [Reddit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddit "Reddit"), the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen taking custody of their children. The posts led to the creation of the subreddit r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)
A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originating among black people to refer to unreasonable white women.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8)[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-15) The term was popularized on [Black Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Twitter "Black Twitter") as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' [lemonade stands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemonade_stand "Lemonade stand")"[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020a-6) *[Bitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitch_\(magazine\) "Bitch (magazine)")* magazine described *Karen* as a term that originated with black women but was co-opted by white men.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020a-16) In an article on high-profile incidents in the U.S. of white women calling the police on black people, *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")* called 2020 "the year of Karen".[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
Meaning and use
[Kansas State University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_State_University "Kansas State University") professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said that a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends".[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for *Bitch*, agrees, saying that a Karen does not view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves".[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020a-16)
The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-KYM-17) Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3)[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-The_Philadelphia_Inquirer-2020-18) racism,[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-19) excessive use of Facebook, and a particular [bob haircut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_haircut "Bob haircut") with blond [highlights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_highlighting "Hair highlighting"). Pictures of [Kate Gosselin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Gosselin "Kate Gosselin") and [Jenny McCarthy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_McCarthy "Jenny McCarthy")'s bob cut are often used to depict a Karen,[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-20) and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Romano-13)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-KYM-17)[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-21)
According to Apryl Williams of the [University of Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan "University of Michigan"), the memes "actively call out [white supremacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_supremacy "White supremacy") and call for restitution".[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020a-6)[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-22)
Racial context
*[Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_\(magazine\) "Time (magazine)")* called the Karen meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood".[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) The *Time* article states,
> The historical narrative of white women’s victimhood goes back to myths that were constructed during the era of [American slavery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_slavery "American slavery"). Black slaves were posited as sexual threats to the white women, the wives of slave owners; in reality, [slave masters were the ones raping their slaves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States#Sexual_abuse,_reproductive_exploitation,_and_breeding_farms "Slavery in the United States"). This ideology, however, perpetuated the idea that white women, who represented the good and the moral in American society, needed to be protected by white men at all costs, thus justifying racial violence towards Black men or anyone that posed a threat to their power. This narrative that was the overarching theme of *[Birth of a Nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_Nation "Birth of a Nation")*, the 1915 film that was the first movie to be shown at the White House, and is often cited as the inspiration for the rebirth of the KKK.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23)
[University of Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Virginia "University of Virginia") media researcher [Meredith Clark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Clark "Meredith Clark") has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom black people feel a need to be careful because she would not hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when *[Saturday Night Live](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live "Saturday Night Live")* played a *Jeopardy\!* sketch with [Chadwick Boseman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadwick_Boseman "Chadwick Boseman") as his *[Black Panther](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_\(film\) "Black Panther (film)")* character [T'Challa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%27Challa_\(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe\) "T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)").[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bates-2020-7)[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-24) *The Guardian* notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence". Contemporary Karens have been compared to [Carolyn Bryant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_Bryant "Carolyn Bryant") (a white woman whom [Emmett Till](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Till "Emmett Till") was accused of offending, resulting in his lynching), and in literature, [Mayella Ewell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayella_Ewell "Mayella Ewell") (a fictional character in the 1960 novel *[To Kill a Mockingbird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird "To Kill a Mockingbird")*).[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
> "It was through that performance that Amy Cooper took on the mantle of an American archetype: the white woman who weaponizes her vulnerability to exact violence upon a Black man. In history, she is Carolyn Bryant, the adult white woman whose complaint about a 14-year-old Emmett Till led to his torture and murder at the hands of racist white adults. In literature, she is Scarlett O’Hara sending her husband out to join a KKK lynching party or Mayella Ewell testifying under oath that a Black man who had helped her had raped her. In 2020, she is simply Karen."
The meme became most popular in 2020 when the [Black Lives Matter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter "Black Lives Matter") movement surged in response to multiple events.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-25) [André Brock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Brock "André Brock"), a [Georgia Tech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Tech "Georgia Tech") professor of black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [coronavirus pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_States "COVID-19 pandemic in the United States"), the [murder of George Floyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_George_Floyd "Murder of George Floyd"), and the [Central Park birdwatching incident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_birdwatching_incident "Central Park birdwatching incident"), noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) He said that the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[interest convergence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest_convergence "Interest convergence")" in which the pandemic "[intersected](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectionality "Intersectionality") with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear".[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) Apryl Williams of the [University of Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan "University of Michigan") called it a "Black activist meme", saying that it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to black people.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23) Williams, who has traced Karen's historical lineage, writes, "In the past, Black bodies were controlled in public spaces by threats of violence, lynching, and routine, targeted racialized terror that dictated who Black people could speak to, where they were allowed to live, and in which spaces they were able to exist. Presently, the routine act of calling the police on Black people in public spaces extends this historical practice of regulating Black bodies to maintain White supremacist order."[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Wong-2020-5)
Multiple writers have rejected accusations of the term being equivalent to "the [N-word](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-word "N-word") for white women", and when a Twitter user ran a poll asking if the word should be banned on that platform, over 96% voted "no".[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-The_Philadelphia_Inquirer-2020-18)[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-26)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-27) [Karen Attiah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Attiah "Karen Attiah"), Global Opinions editor for *[The Washington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post "The Washington Post")*, claims that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-28)
Male context
The term is generally used to refer to women, but *[The Atlantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic "The Atlantic")* noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") the "Karen in chief".[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-ATL-4)[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-29) It's considered negative because it reflects a disregard for others' perspectives, a tendency to escalate minor issues, and an entitlement to special treatment, all of which can lead to conflict and harm in social interactions.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [Elon Musk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk "Elon Musk") "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [COVID-19 testing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_testing "COVID-19 testing") became [viral](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_phenomenon "Viral phenomenon").[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-30)[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-31) Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-32)[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-fatherly-33) Ken[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-fatherly-33)[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-34)[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-forbescohen-35)[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-mashable-36) and Kevin[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-kqed-37)[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-insider-38) are commonly used names. The [Jim Crow-era](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws "Jim Crow laws") male equivalent to Miss Ann was [Mister Charlie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Charlie "Mister Charlie").[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-39)
Criticism
The term has been called [racist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racist "Racist"), [sexist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexist "Sexist"), [ageist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageist "Ageist"), [classist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classist "Classist"), and [misogynist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogynist "Misogynist") by some. [Hadley Freeman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_Freeman "Hadley Freeman"), columnist and features writer for *The Guardian*,[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-40) argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-41) [Jennifer Weiner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Weiner "Jennifer Weiner"), writing in *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")* during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-weiner-42)
In August 2020, [Helen Lewis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Lewis_\(journalist\) "Helen Lewis (journalist)") wrote in *The Atlantic*, "*Karen* has become synonymous with *woman* among those who consider *woman* an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3) Lewis also noted what she called the "[finger trap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_trap "Finger trap")" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lewis-2020b-3)
British journalist and feminist [Julie Bindel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Bindel "Julie Bindel") asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on class prejudice?"[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Parsons-43) Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in *The Atlantic*, asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) [Nina Burleigh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Burleigh "Nina Burleigh") wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Burleigh-2020-44) Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [Know Your Meme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Your_Meme "Know Your Meme"), stated to *[Business Insider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Insider "Business Insider")* in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online."[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BI-12)
The term is characterized as a pejorative or controlling term for women's behavior. The term has been criticized as preventing women from speaking up for themselves. Writer Ahmed Pierstorff says, "The Karen archetype is just the most recent, millennial-sanctioned attempt to keep women in their place."[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-45)
The term has been criticized as fueling [misogynistic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogynistic "Misogynistic") stereotypes, such as when it is paired with calling women "shrill" or "loud mouthed."[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Strickler-2020-46) Use of the term has been criticized as bias where women are judged more harshly than men for the same behaviors.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-47)
Women named Karen have been bullied and felt they could not share opinions without being labelled and silenced.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Strickler-2020-46) One recent study found that the perceived disrespect and abuse they experience because of their name has had a negative impact on the mental health of women who are named Karen. Some 23 percent of the study participants reported that they had been verbally threatened and seven percent reported that they had been physically assaulted after others heard their name. Such discriminatory treatment is similar to the "namism" experienced by others who bear given names that have been used as slurs for racial or cultural groups. Participants in the study came from a variety of religious, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, reflecting the widespread popularity of the name Karen for women in the [Anglosphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglosphere "Anglosphere") during the mid-20th century.[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-48)
Writer, speaker, and activist [Sarah Haider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Haider "Sarah Haider") calls it a "term of abuse" and explains it is used in place of calling women slurs and to get away with socially acceptable misogyny.[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-49)
In a UK employment case in June 2025, the employment judge said that the term "Karen" was pejorative and borderline racist, sexist, and ageist.[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-50)
Notable examples
In 2018, a former New York and New Jersey Port Authority police commissioner, [Caren Turner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caren_Turner "Caren Turner"), was filmed berating two [Tenafly, New Jersey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey "Tenafly, New Jersey"), police officers for pulling over a car in which her daughter was riding.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bonfiglio-2021-51) The video emerged in 2021.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Bonfiglio-2021-51)
During the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic"), the term was used to describe women abusing [Asian-American](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian-American "Asian-American") health workers due to the virus's origins in [Mainland China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainland_China "Mainland China"),[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-52) those [hoarding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarding "Hoarding") essential supplies such as toilet paper, and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [quarantine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantine "Quarantine")[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-weiner-42) and those who [protested the continuance of the restrictions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_over_responses_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic") because they prevented them visiting [hair salons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_salon "Hair salon") and other businesses,[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) as well as over being forced to wear [face masks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_masks_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic") inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Tiffany-2020-8) Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Burleigh-2020-44)
In May 2020, [Christian Cooper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Cooper "Christian Cooper") wrote about encountering a woman in Central Park whose "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" in response to him recording their disagreement over the requirement for her dog to be leashed in the area.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Nir-2020-53) He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Nir-2020-53)[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-54)
In December 2020, [Miya Ponsetto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miya_Ponsetto "Miya Ponsetto") was dubbed "SoHo Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [Keyon Harrold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyon_Harrold "Keyon Harrold"), in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [Uber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber "Uber") driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [Ventura County, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventura_County,_California "Ventura County, California"), and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-55)[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-56)[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-57)[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-58) During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-59)
In September 2025, while attending a baseball game between the [Miami Marlins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Miami_Marlins_season "2025 Miami Marlins season") and [Philadelphia Phillies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Philadelphia_Phillies_season "2025 Philadelphia Phillies season"), a fan retrieved a home run ball to give to his son. The fan was confronted by a woman, and he gave her the ball to avoid confrontation.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-60) Having been televised, several women were incorrectly identified as the "Phillies Karen" by the Internet and subjected to harassment.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-61)
Legislation
In July 2020, [San Francisco Board of Supervisors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Board_of_Supervisors "San Francisco Board of Supervisors") member [Shamann Walton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamann_Walton "Shamann Walton") introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act, which proposed changing the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-62) The Act was passed unanimously in October of that year,[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-63) after which Williams noted "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Lang-2020-23)
Other uses
The mid-2019 formation of [Tropical Storm Karen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Karen_\(2019\) "Tropical Storm Karen (2019)") in the [Atlantic hurricane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_hurricane "Atlantic hurricane") basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-64)
In July 2020, [Domino's Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino%27s_Pizza_Enterprises "Domino's Pizza Enterprises") ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1) the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-65)
In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a [parody advertisement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parody_advertisement "Parody advertisement") for a fictional [American Girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Girl "American Girl") "Girl of the Year" character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [track suit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_suit "Track suit"), bob haircut and [openly carrying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openly_carrying "Openly carrying") a [semi-automatic pistol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_pistol "Semi-automatic pistol") while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from the doll line, who took umbrage to the use of their name and [trade dress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_dress "Trade dress"), stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-mccarter-66) [Boing Boing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boing_Boing "Boing Boing"), however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [Streisand effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect "Streisand effect"), though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-Beschizza-67)
In July 2020, the [BBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC "BBC") called the [Wall of Moms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_of_Moms "Wall of Moms") "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly *not* being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-BBC_Nagesh-1)
Karens for Hire began in early 2022, charging a fee to help people with complaints against companies.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-68)
The [Filipino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_language "Filipino language") slang term *[Marites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marites_\(slang\) "Marites (slang)")* bears a similar meaning and connotation to Karen,[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-marites-69) although the term is more often used in a humorous or light-hearted way, especially in reference to the stereotypical gossip-monger in Filipino neighborhoods.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-70)
In Poland, the slang term *madka* (distorted spelling of the word "matka" – mother) has a similar meaning. *Madka* is a young, burdensome woman raising children, having a demanding attitude towards others, considering herself better because she gave birth to a child. She believes that for this reason alone she deserves special consideration, she should receive everything for free and her children can do whatever they want because "they are just kids".[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-71)[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-72)
In Serbia, the given name *Slavica* ([Serbian Cyrillic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Cyrillic_alphabet "Serbian Cyrillic alphabet"): Славица) has the similar meaning.[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-73) As Ivana Stojanov of [Nova.rs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_\(Serbia\) "Nova (Serbia)") wrote: "Slavica is our copy of Karen, mostly a middle-aged woman who dramatizes, likes to attack people in her free time, mostly cashiers. She is frustrated, dissatisfied, anti-vaxxer, she does not [believe in wearing masks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-mask "Anti-mask") and [corona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_denialism "COVID-19 denialism") in the age of a pandemic, she believes that [Bill Gates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates "Bill Gates") and [\[George\] Soros](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros "George Soros") are [controlling us all from the shadows](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros_conspiracy_theories "George Soros conspiracy theories"), and that they will surely microchip us. She probably knows when you left the apartment and came home, she'll stop you on the stairs to ask why you didn't have a baby when it was due, but she'll also give you a lesson about how you'd be better off walking a child instead of a puppy."[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_note-74)
See also
- [Angry white male](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angry_white_male "Angry white male")
- [*Karen* (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(film\) "Karen (film)")
- [Becky (slang)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_\(slang\) "Becky (slang)")
- [Bye, Felicia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye,_Felicia "Bye, Felicia")
- [Bye Felipe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye_Felipe "Bye Felipe")
- [Chad (slang)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_\(slang\) "Chad (slang)")
- [Cracker (term)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_\(term\) "Cracker (term)")
- [Gammon (insult)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammon_\(insult\) "Gammon (insult)")
- [OK boomer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK_boomer "OK boomer")
- [Trixie (slang)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trixie_\(slang\) "Trixie (slang)")
- [Prima donna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prima_donna "Prima donna")
- [Miss Ann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Ann "Miss Ann")
- [Stereotypes of white Americans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_white_Americans "Stereotypes of white Americans")
References
1. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-BBC_Nagesh_1-9)
Nagesh, Ashitha (July 30, 2020). ["What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from?"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201). *BBC News*. [BBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC "BBC"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201014172912/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201) from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020. "'Karen' is associated with the kind of person who demands to 'speak to the manager' in order to belittle service industry workers, is anti-vaccination, and carries out racist micro-aggressions, such as asking to touch black people's hair. But a predominant feature of the 'Karen' stereotype is that they weaponise their relative privilege against people of colour - for example, when making police complaints against black people for minor or even - in numerous cases - fictitious infringements."
2. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ins_2-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ins_2-1)
Greenspan, Rachel (October 26, 2020). ["How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme"](https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5). *Insider*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144408/https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5) from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lewis-2020b_3-5)
Lewis, Helen (August 19, 2020). ["The Mythology of Karen"](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/). *[The Atlantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic "The Atlantic")*. [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [1072-7825](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1072-7825). Retrieved August 22, 2020.
4. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ATL_4-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-ATL_4-1)
Graham, David A. (May 28, 2020). ["The Karen in Chief"](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/). *[The Atlantic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic "The Atlantic")*. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
5. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Wong-2020_5-5)
[Wong, Julia Carrie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Carrie_Wong "Julia Carrie Wong") (December 27, 2020). ["The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism). *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221003051502/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism) from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2020. "The image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence"
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lang-2020a_6-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lang-2020a_6-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Lang-2020a_6-2)
Lang, Cady (June 25, 2020). ["How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood"](https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/). *[Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_\(magazine\) "Time (magazine)")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/) from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bates-2020_7-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bates-2020_7-1)
Bates, Karen Grigsby (July 14, 2020). ["What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch"](https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen). *[NPR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPR "NPR")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200718204237/https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen) from the original on July 18, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
8. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Tiffany-2020_8-9)
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Romano, Aja (July 21, 2020). ["How "Karen" evolved from entitled mom to mask-off racist"](https://www.vox.com/21317728/karen-meaning-meme-racist-coronavirus). *Vox*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220211023545/https://www.vox.com/21317728/karen-meaning-meme-racist-coronavirus) from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
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Greenspan, Rachel (May 27, 2020). ["How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme"](https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5). *[Business Insider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Insider "Business Insider")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144408/https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5) from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2020. "While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said."
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["Hadley Freeman"](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman). *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220811171855/https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman) from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
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Parsons, Vic (April 6, 2020). ["In these trying times, lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel is debating whether 'Karen' is a slur. Yes, really"](https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/). *[PinkNews](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PinkNews "PinkNews")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200417035524/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/) from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
44. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Burleigh-2020_44-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Burleigh-2020_44-1)
Burleigh, Nina (May 28, 2020). ["How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right"](https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90). *[Medium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_\(website\) "Medium (website)")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211208005931/https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90) from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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46. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Strickler-2020_46-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Strickler-2020_46-1)
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["What is the Karen meme and is it a misogynistic slur? \| indy100 \| indy100"](https://www.indy100.com/news/karen-meme-misogynistic-slur-offensive-internet-social-media-9454001). *www.indy100.com*. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
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Nick, I.M. (March 2025) \[3-14\], ["For the Love of Karen: A Socio-onomastic Investigation into Prejudice and Discrimination Targeting Karen and its Name-Bearers"](https://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/2750/2479), *Names: A Journal of Onomastics*, **73** (1): 42–60
49. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-49)**
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51. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bonfiglio-2021_51-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_\(slang\)#cite_ref-Bonfiglio-2021_51-1)
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Duster, Chandelis. ["Young Phillies fan is gifted swag after adult fan takes his home run ball"](https://www.npr.org/2025/09/06/nx-s1-5532632/phillies-marlins-young-fan-home-run-ball-woman). *NPR*.
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Gaydos, Ryan (September 8, 2025). ["Woman quells internet hate after being misidentified as 'Phillies Karen': 'I'm a Red Sox fan'"](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/woman-quells-internet-hate-after-being-misidentified-phillies-karen-im-red-sox-fan). *[Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News "Fox News")*. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
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Bauman, Anna (July 7, 2020). ["SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal"](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php). *[San Francisco Chronicle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Chronicle "San Francisco Chronicle")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210905032754/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php) from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
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Beschizza, Rob (July 6, 2020). ["I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down"](https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/). *Boing Boing*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220808064153/https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html) from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
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Hendrix, Steve (December 26, 2022). ["Cutting through customer service doom-loops by calling in a 'Karen'"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/12/26/karens-for-hire-customer-service-complaints/). *[The Washington Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post "The Washington Post")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221226195913/https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/12/26/karens-for-hire-customer-service-complaints/) from the original on December 26, 2022.
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Bańczyk, Emilia (2021). Żmigrodzki, Piotr (ed.). ["Internetowa madka jako wariant stereotypu współczesnej matki"](https://jezyk-polski.pl/index.php/jp/article/view/73/56). *Język Polski*. **101** (2). Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego: 71–86\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.31286/JP.101.2.6](https://doi.org/10.31286%2FJP.101.2.6). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0021-6941](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-6941).
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Nageš, Ašita (August 21, 2020). ["Slikoviti rečnik društvenih mreža: Ko je i šta je tačno "Karen" ili "Slavica" u internet svetu i odakle taj mim"](https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/svet-53650597). *[BBC News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News "BBC News")* (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved July 14, 2025.
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Stojanov, Ivana (December 29, 2020). ["Znate li ko je Slavica, najomraženija žena na internetu"](https://nova.rs/magazin/lifestyle/znate-li-ko-je-slavica-najomrazenija-zena-na-internetu/). *[Nova.rs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_\(Serbia\) "Nova (Serbia)")* (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved July 14, 2025.
External links
- [Karen](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/karen) entry at [Know Your Meme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Your_Meme "Know Your Meme") |
| Shard | 152 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 17790707453426894952 |
| Unparsed URL | org,wikipedia!en,/wiki/Karen_(slang) s443 |