What does Karen mean?
An entitled, demanding, often middle-aged white woman
Detailed Explanation
'Karen' is a pejorative slang term for a person, typically a middle-aged white woman, who is perceived as entitled, obnoxious, and demanding beyond the scope of what is considered appropriate or necessary. The archetype often involves demanding to 'speak to the manager,' asserting her privilege, and sometimes exhibiting racist behavior. The term is a stereotype and used to criticize a specific type of public behavior.
Usage Examples
“She started yelling at the teenage barista over a minor mistake, acting like a total Karen.”
“The 'Karen' haircut is often stereotyped as a short, angled bob.”
“He called the police on his neighbors for having a barbecue, which was a real Karen move.”
Origin & History
The origin is debated, with theories pointing to a Dane Cook comedy special or the character Karen from the movie 'Goodfellas.' The term as we know it today solidified on Black Twitter in the mid-2010s and became a widespread global meme around 2018-2020, used to describe numerous viral videos of women exhibiting this behavior in public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can men be Karens?
While the archetype is female, the term is sometimes applied to men who exhibit the same entitled behavior. Male equivalents that have been proposed include 'Ken' or 'Kevin,' but 'Karen' is sometimes used for men as well.