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[Sitemap](https://gen.medium.com/sitemap/sitemap.xml) [Open in app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.medium.reader&referrer=utm_source%3DmobileNavBar&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------) Sign up [Sign in](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fgen.medium.com%2Fhow-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav------------------) [Medium Logo](https://medium.com/?source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------) Get app [Write](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnew-story&source=---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------new_post_topnav------------------) [Search](https://medium.com/search?source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------) Sign up [Sign in](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fgen.medium.com%2Fhow-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav------------------)  [GEN](https://gen.medium.com/?source=post_page---publication_nav-ae2a65f35510-4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) · Follow publication [](https://gen.medium.com/?source=post_page---post_publication_sidebar-ae2a65f35510-4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) A former publication from Medium about politics, power, and culture. Currently inactive and not taking submissions. Follow publication 1 Member-only story # How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right ## Uncool, middle-aged white women are Democrats’ best hope for unseating Trump. Why does the online left hate them so much? [](https://ninaburleigh.medium.com/?source=post_page---byline--4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) [Nina Burleigh](https://ninaburleigh.medium.com/?source=post_page---byline--4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) Follow 9 min read · May 28, 2020 2\.4K 42 [Listen](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fplans%3Fdimension%3Dpost_audio_button%26postId%3D4cff760d6e90&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fgen.medium.com%2Fhow-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90&source=---header_actions--4cff760d6e90---------------------post_audio_button------------------) Share Press enter or click to view image in full size  I am late to the Karens, which probably makes me Karen-ish — that is, white, middle class, middle-aged, female, college-educated, from Midwestern suburbia, and too distracted to track what’s trending on Twitter. So, when a video was retweeted into my feed last week calling an obnoxious, mask-defying white woman a “Karen,” I asked whether there might not be some actual Karens who did not act like that. I was stupefied at the hostile replies, including one that simply stated, “Because you’re fucking white.” I shouldn’t have been surprised. White middle-class women of a certain age are among the last groups one can hurl targeted abuse online without being canceled. All over Twitter and Facebook, one sees evidence neither male nor female progressives have a problem with a meme that stereotypes white middle-aged women as entitled, whiny, and stupid at best — and at worst, obscene wielders of racist privilege, like Amy Cooper in Central Park. Her 911 call against a black, male bird-watcher trying to get her to put her illegally off-leash dog back on its leash arguably rose to the level of attempted assault-by-proxy, given how police approach [black men deemed](https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-death-of-george-floyd-in-context)… ## Create an account to read the full story. The author made this story available to Medium members only. If you’re new to Medium, create a new account to read this story on us. 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Currently inactive and not taking submissions. Follow [](https://ninaburleigh.medium.com/?source=post_page---post_author_info--4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) [](https://ninaburleigh.medium.com/?source=post_page---post_author_info--4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) Follow [Written by Nina Burleigh](https://ninaburleigh.medium.com/?source=post_page---post_author_info--4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) [1\.3K followers](https://ninaburleigh.medium.com/followers?source=post_page---post_author_info--4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) ·[376 following](https://medium.com/@ninaburleigh/following?source=post_page---post_author_info--4cff760d6e90---------------------------------------) Writer, explorer, national politics, 6 books, NYC. Follow ## Responses (42)  Write a response [What are your thoughts?](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fgen.medium.com%2Fhow-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90&source=---post_responses--4cff760d6e90---------------------respond_sidebar------------------) Cancel Respond [](https://medium.com/@erockfor?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----0-----------------------------------) [Magda Erockfor Ayuk](https://medium.com/@erockfor?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----0-----------------------------------) [May 29, 2020](https://medium.com/@erockfor/black-people-use-the-term-karen-to-refer-to-white-women-who-use-their-privilege-to-bring-harm-to-33b57d084d0a?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----0-----------------------------------) ``` Black people use the term "Karen" to refer to white women who use their privilege to bring harm to people of color. You've included yourself in that bunch. Perhaps, you don't fully understand what it actually means. Talk to the people in your life… more ``` 473 3 replies Reply [](https://justinward.medium.com/?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----1-----------------------------------) [Justin Ward](https://justinward.medium.com/?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----1-----------------------------------) [May 28, 2020](https://justinward.medium.com/a-karen-isnt-just-like-an-uncool-middle-aged-suburban-white-lady-a32e38f0c2ee?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----1-----------------------------------) white, middle class, middle-aged, female, college-educated, from Midwestern suburbia, ``` A Karen isn’t just like an uncool middle-aged suburban white lady. The term is defined according to specific behaviors typical of or associated with suburban middle aged white ladies, particularly racism and entitlement. You can have those… more ``` 397 5 replies Reply [](https://medium.com/@Nonsomerah?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----2-----------------------------------) [Nonso Merah](https://medium.com/@Nonsomerah?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----2-----------------------------------) [May 30, 2020](https://medium.com/@Nonsomerah/alienating-allies-is-never-the-move-but-threatening-to-vote-trump-in-because-people-made-fun-of-you-7de089aaefd9?source=post_page---post_responses--4cff760d6e90----2-----------------------------------) ``` Alienating allies is never the move but threatening to vote Trump in because people made fun of you on the internet is vintage Karen. ``` 252 Reply See all responses ## More from Nina Burleigh and GEN  [](https://gen.medium.com/?source=post_page---author_recirc--4cff760d6e90----0---------------------a49b6a79_e8e7_456b_b24a_4076591ebbb5--------------) In [GEN](https://gen.medium.com/?source=post_page---author_recirc--4cff760d6e90----0---------------------a49b6a79_e8e7_456b_b24a_4076591ebbb5--------------) by [Nina Burleigh](https://ninaburleigh.medium.com/?source=post_page---author_recirc--4cff760d6e90----0---------------------a49b6a79_e8e7_456b_b24a_4076591ebbb5--------------) [The White House Blew Her Cover. 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I am late to the Karens, which probably makes me Karen-ish — that is, white, middle class, middle-aged, female, college-educated, from Midwestern suburbia, and too distracted to track what’s trending on Twitter. So, when a video was retweeted into my feed last week calling an obnoxious, mask-defying white woman a “Karen,” I asked whether there might not be some actual Karens who did not act like that. I was stupefied at the hostile replies, including one that simply stated, “Because you’re fucking white.” I shouldn’t have been surprised. White middle-class women of a certain age are among the last groups one can hurl targeted abuse online without being canceled. All over Twitter and Facebook, one sees evidence neither male nor female progressives have a problem with a meme that stereotypes white middle-aged women as entitled, whiny, and stupid at best — and at worst, obscene wielders of racist privilege, like Amy Cooper in Central Park. Her 911 call against a black, male bird-watcher trying to get her to put her illegally off-leash dog back on its leash arguably rose to the level of attempted assault-by-proxy, given how police approach [black men deemed](https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-death-of-george-floyd-in-context)…