Karen is a name that has become synonymous with entitled behavior. The term “Karen” is often used to describe someone who is excessively rude or demanding, especially to people who are perceived to be in a lower social position. In recent years, the term has been used to describe a specific type of entitled white woman. But where did the term “Karen” come from, and how did it become associated with entitlement? The term “Karen” actually has its origins in a meme that started on 4chan in the early 2010s.
The meme featured a picture of a woman named Karen who was described as being excessively rude and demanding. The meme caught on, and the term “Karen” soon became associated with entitlement and privilege. In 2020, the term “Karen” went viral again after a video of a white woman named Amy Cooper calling the police on a black man went viral. The incident sparked a national conversation about racism and
Origin of the “Karen” Meme
The term “Karen” came into popular usage on 4chan, an imageboard website where users post and discuss images and short videos. The term was likely inspired by the “Bitchiest Whorehouse in Nevada” scene in the movie Swingers, in which a woman named Karen calls a hotel manager and acts rudely towards him. In the /b/ section of the website, where users are known for posting racist, misogynistic, and other offensive content, users started to refer to entitled white women as “Karen.” The term was also popular on /pol/, the /b/ section’s political discussion board.
How the Term “Karen” Became Associated with Entitlement
Once the term “Karen” became associated with entitled white women, it quickly caught on in the mainstream culture. In October 2018, a video of a white woman named Karen Hester who called the police on a black man for barbecuing in a park was uploaded to YouTube. The incident sparked a national conversation about racism and entitlement, and many people started to refer to entitled white women as “Karens.” The term “Karen’s” gained even more traction when a white woman named Karen Epperly tried to kick black students out of a house they were renting from her, claiming that she had been racially discriminated against.
The Viral Video of Amy Cooper
Amy Cooper was a white woman who called the police on a black man for using a barbecue grill in a park in Oakland, California. The incident sparked a national conversation about racism and entitlement, and many people started to refer to entitled white women as “Karens.”
The National Conversation About Racism and Entitlement
The term “Karen” became a trending topic online after the incident, with several people tweeting that “Karen” was the new “Becky.” The term “Becky” had previously been used to describe entitled white women, but the term “Karen” soon overtook it. Unlike the term “Becky,” which was used to describe a specific type of white woman, the term “Karen” was much broader and could be applied to any entitled white woman. The incident also sparked a national dialogue about racism and entitlement, as many people used the term “Karen” to describe why the incident had happened.
Conclusion
The term “Karen” originated from a 4chan meme, and in recent years the term has been used to describe a specific type of entitled white woman. The term gained traction when a video of a white woman named Karen Hester who called the police on a black man for using a barbecue grill in a park went viral. The incident sparked a national conversation about racism and entitlement, and the term “Karen” soon overtook the term “Becky,” which had previously been used to describe entitled white women.