Topics: Life, Gen Z, Social Media, Explained, Reddit
It's clear the viral 'Karen' meme isn't going away anytime soon, despite first popping onto the scene in the late 2010s.
The viral internet phenomenon is arguably one of the longest-running memes out there, with remnants of it still being seen every now and then across various social media platforms.
And, whether you like it or hate it, it's most likely here to stay - 'Karen' is in the dictionary after all, with Meriam-Webster defining the word as an insulting term for a privileged, indignant, or discriminatory woman'.
"Karen is a slang term used to disparage a stereotypically middle-class, middle-aged white woman who rebukes or reports others in angry, sometimes racist public displays. More generally, it is an insult for anyone, though still typically a woman, who shows entitled behaviour, especially in the form of outspoken complaints or intrusive criticism. Depending on context, it may be considered sexist," the dictionary added.
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More recently, people have been keen on figuring out what the 'Gen Z' name for a 'Karen' is, along with the 'male version' name.
And people on the internet have now taken it one step further, speculating on the specifics of which middle names make you a 'Karen'.
Taking to the 'Life' thread on Reddit, one person asked: "What name would you give to Gen Z and Millennials with the same meaning of being a 'Karen'?"
They continued: "I feel like the modern 'Karen' is anyone with Maria or Marie as a middle name. I know a lot of girls with that middle name, and they all share that mean girl, nagging, complaining personality of a Karen."
They rounded off with the disclaimer: "No offence to anyone with that middle name. But that’s just my experience."
Don't feel too disheartened if you fall into that category, however, as being 'Karen' is now less about gender, a blonde bob haircut, and oversized sunglasses.
It's more about your general vibe and how you treat those around you - especially retail staff or those in the hospitality industry.
Heather Suzanne Woods, a meme researcher from Kansas State University, told The Atlantic that a 'Karen' is someone who can be described as having an 'entitlement, selfishness, a desire to complain'.
She says that 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'.
