General Discussion

ismnotwasm

(42,674 posts)

88. White privilege

Fri Jun 26, 2020, 09:06 AM

Jun 2020

White fragility.

I’m a strong feminist and I just can’t get worked up over “Karen” I have a Latino friend who didn’t know about it, but she Immediately understood the concept perfectly. Thinks it’s funny.

A privileged white woman who gets away with behaviors that her counterparts never would.

There’s a lot, and I mean a LOT of racist, sexist memes out there when it comes to women of color.

White women, along with a certain type of white feminism have escaped some well deserved criticism until fairly recently. Is it hurtful? Only to women with toxic whiteness and entitled behavior. Is it sexist? Only if it’s applied universally. I’ve seen the meme applied to WOC, so I understand the angst and the objection to a point. But I’m not buying it.

ESPECIALLY not right now.

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I fail to find anything derogatory or sexist in labeling white priviledged women "Karen" [View all] CatWoman Jun 2020 OP

Well, Corgigal Jun 2020 #1

that would make you an "Elizabeth R" CatWoman Jun 2020 #3

Hell yeah, Corgigal Jun 2020 #6

That was m first ChazII Jun 2020 #66

You signature GiF is so distracting , lol. TristanIsolde Jun 2020 #93

It's not that it's sexist. I've not seen that complaint. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2020 #2

i honestly don't CatWoman Jun 2020 #5

True. But recently Karen has come to embody PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2020 #12

John--he's a toilet, uses prostitutes and a generic legal name Maeve Jun 2020 #131

Dick jerk, or asshole Drahthaardogs Jun 2020 #187

How about calling someone a big fat Dick! PTWB Jun 2020 #8

lol CatWoman Jun 2020 #15

Was that inappropriate? PTWB Jun 2020 #19

No...just a typical Thursday Lucinda Jun 2020 #23

oh hell no CatWoman Jun 2020 #24

In England they get a kick out of the name Randy! PTWB Jun 2020 #28

Jody is commonly used in the Army JonLP24 Jun 2020 #31

My favourite is "Ruperts" - meadowlander Jun 2020 #48

They have one safeinOhio Jun 2020 #10

John, Jock, Dick, Willy, lazy Susan -- simple, common names are often used in unflattering ways. pnwmom Jun 2020 #27

It is also sexist because it used exclusively as a weapon against women. Ms. Toad Jun 2020 #33

It's a woman's name used against white women who exhibit a specific kind of oppressive behavior. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2020 #117

Except that it's not. Ms. Toad Jun 2020 #152

Well, there is Dick. Also Willie. nt tblue37 Jun 2020 #42

Again, people have been using those names all along, alongside PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2020 #43

It's not different at all just because it's recent. All those other names pnwmom Jun 2020 #49

Those are also both nicknames for other given names. Crunchy Frog Jun 2020 #188

Current meme name for males is Chad Sympthsical Jun 2020 #46

Alas, I have somehow missed that. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2020 #52

I'm on twitter and I've never heard of it. Ilsa Jun 2020 #79

Can't speak to Twitter Sympthsical Jun 2020 #129

It's all very generalized, judgmental attacks. Ilsa Jun 2020 #134

That is giving them far too much credit and won't bother them in the least. Jamastiene Jun 2020 #106

That means men successful with women treestar Jun 2020 #192

It doesn't Sympthsical Jun 2020 #197

It not being the worst thing to ever happen doesn't mean it's not unpleasant treestar Jun 2020 #199

Exactly DeminPennswoods Jun 2020 #74

My brother's name is John mcar Jun 2020 #114

It is neither. SoonerPride Jun 2020 #4

What do you do... Newest Reality Jun 2020 #7

And how long have those been around? Ms. Toad Jun 2020 #35

Not true. John was a common name in England at the time the name pnwmom Jun 2020 #50

Doesn't bother me BannonsLiver Jun 2020 #9

1. The name was never the number one name in late 1950s Ilsa Jun 2020 #11

Thank you. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2020 #14

If "bitch" is sexist, why isn't "karen"? nt Ilsa Jun 2020 #16

I follow a Karen and she doesn't get upset over the term JonLP24 Jun 2020 #17

Good for her. Why not just use a more descriptive Ilsa Jun 2020 #20

I'm more upset at the racism JonLP24 Jun 2020 #22

I'm more upset by the racism, too. Ilsa Jun 2020 #70

I don't use it myself JonLP24 Jun 2020 #71

It's another form of sexism and discrimination Ilsa Jun 2020 #73

yeah CatWoman Jun 2020 #18

It's not even the most popular name of the sixties. nt Ilsa Jun 2020 #21

Men are out of control and controlling, too. kcr Jun 2020 #13

Women should call them "Ken" CountAllVotes Jun 2020 #32

Agreed. That is what makes this labeling (whatever label is used) sexist. n/t Ms. Toad Jun 2020 #37

White women have a particular status in our racist culture gollygee Jun 2020 #65

This. Tipperary Jun 2020 #82

That's because they are called police officers. Blasphemer Jun 2020 #177

What i LIKE about the choice of the name Karen Lucinda Jun 2020 #25

It's not funny when Ilsa Jun 2020 #72

Wtf? PTWB Jun 2020 #77

Then why do people go with popular names and avoid Ilsa Jun 2020 #81

If someone is going to judge you based upon your name... PTWB Jun 2020 #86

We don't always have a choice. We have jobs to apply for, Ilsa Jun 2020 #89

Karen Bass is one of my favorite politicians. PTWB Jun 2020 #90

Mine, too. Yet her name has become a SLUR. I doubt she likes it. Ilsa Jun 2020 #94

It makes sense to me. PTWB Jun 2020 #97

Its juvenile and misogynistic: Ilsa Jun 2020 #100

There are many women here telling you it is not misogynistic. PTWB Jun 2020 #102

I always wonder who "we" is gollygee Jun 2020 #107

We get to decide if it is appropriate here on DU PTWB Jun 2020 #108

Discomfort about white privilege is healthy gollygee Jun 2020 #109

The example of the vet in this thread shows that it has gone beyond Ilsa Jun 2020 #133

I missed the example, what post #? PTWB Jun 2020 #142

Here: racism had nothing to do with it. Ilsa Jun 2020 #145

I agree that Karen wasn't used appropriately there. PTWB Jun 2020 #149

Go ahead, just toss anecdotals that don't suit you. Ilsa Jun 2020 #159

What? PTWB Jun 2020 #160

You said the vet story was an exercise in creative writing. Ilsa Jun 2020 #185

That isn't what I meant. PTWB Jun 2020 #189

Really? You didn't even notice the sexism on the Aunt Karen label. MrsCoffee Jun 2020 #146

I recognize the value in being able to "out" persons exploiting white privilege PTWB Jun 2020 #147

You've already witnessed it turn misogynistic. MrsCoffee Jun 2020 #148

It definitely has the potential to be misused. PTWB Jun 2020 #150

I don't make assumptions about people based upon anything but their actions, and I don't Lucinda Jun 2020 #112

Lol, ok! Nt USALiberal Jun 2020 #105

LOL, ok! nt USALiberal Jun 2020 #194

So true! CountAllVotes Jun 2020 #26

The vet was a total Karen? PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2020 #44

Other people do Sewa Jun 2020 #29

It's a deflection StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #30

This, exactly mcar Jun 2020 #120

Circling the wagons is the default StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #124

Using it offends some people. egduj Jun 2020 #34

That is the way I feel about the Washington Redskins JonLP24 Jun 2020 #36

Agreed. It would hurt no one of substance to change it. egduj Jun 2020 #40

EXACTLY! Ilsa Jun 2020 #84

You're comparing white women being called Karen to the Tomahawk chop of the Atlanta Braves? nt gollygee Jun 2020 #99

It's racist behavior. nt Ilsa Jun 2020 #143

If Dems lose the vote of even one person because of it, it's one too many. gulliver Jun 2020 #38

Hmmm..This did occur to me CatLady78 Jun 2020 #61

What if we lose the vote of .. PTWB Jun 2020 #80

It's not an either/or proposition. Ilsa Jun 2020 #95

The poster up thread said losing one persons vote was too many. PTWB Jun 2020 #101

Notice that we are supposed to make sure not a single white potential voter should ever StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #174

Yes gollygee Jun 2020 #176

I've noticed that over and over. PTWB Jun 2020 #178

Seriously? StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #110

You seriously think someone will vote R instead of D mcar Jun 2020 #121

White fragility and avoiding discomfort gollygee Jun 2020 #130

But that's what the whole discussion is mcar Jun 2020 #153

I think I replied to the wrong post gollygee Jun 2020 #154

Gotcha mcar Jun 2020 #156

There are some very nice women named Karen. tinrobot Jun 2020 #39

How do you feel about the good Johns? PTWB Jun 2020 #83

Wow you're REALLY invested in this BannonsLiver Jun 2020 #161

Invested in what? PTWB Jun 2020 #162

There there BannonsLiver Jun 2020 #164

Hugs to you too! PTWB Jun 2020 #165

It is my name and i think it is stupud bedazzled Jun 2020 #104

I thought it was funny until babylonsister Jun 2020 #41

This offends me.... Xolodno Jun 2020 #45

"Bye, Felicia" and "Sure, Jan" instantly come to mind. betsuni Jun 2020 #51

Lighten up, Francis. nt. Mariana Jun 2020 #91

If Karen's shoes fit, they should wear 'em. n/t CousinIT Jun 2020 #47

+100000 Celerity Jun 2020 #55

It's just another tool people can use to make someone look "less than". KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2020 #53

Some people, because of their behavior, deserve to be mocked and treated with contempt. Kaleva Jun 2020 #58

+1 n/t ChazII Jun 2020 #67

I agree. phylny Jun 2020 #85

Exactly. It's a mindless put-down. tinrobot Jun 2020 #136

It was started on Reddit by a guy who was divorcing his wife named Karen LeftInTX Jun 2020 #54

Yeah. Used to describe the horrible racist/privileged behavior of some is one thing, but hlthe2b Jun 2020 #56

Based on how dug in some posters are Ilsa Jun 2020 #92

Yup, and has now morphed into a stealth way to call a woman a bitch obamanut2012 Jun 2020 #57

Generalizing about a group of people treestar Jun 2020 #59

It's generalizing about behavior gollygee Jun 2020 #64

I thought it was wrong to say "only some" of any group deemed privileged treestar Jun 2020 #68

We are all privileged gollygee Jun 2020 #69

Aren't white women an oppressed group too, or at least all women? treestar Jun 2020 #191

White women are oppressed but are also oppressors gollygee Jun 2020 #195

No one is trying to control anything treestar Jun 2020 #200

Great reply. nt Celerity Jun 2020 #128

The term is specifically used for white women who weaponize their whiteness gollygee Jun 2020 #60

I think it interesting that there are no effective derogatory names for white males Kaleva Jun 2020 #62

There was one, but obviously callous hostility is far more satisfyingly Hortensis Jun 2020 #75

Well stated. Thank you. nt Ilsa Jun 2020 #98

I haven't noticed a connection. Kaleva Jun 2020 #180

Me neither. I'd skip the poll. :) This is DU, after all. Hortensis Jun 2020 #181

You are on the wrong side of this! nt USALiberal Jun 2020 #63

Who names their son Adolf any more? Ilsa Jun 2020 #76

How about we not sink to the level of DeminPennswoods Jun 2020 #78

Thank you. nt Ilsa Jun 2020 #96

Lance and Biff were always used in a derogatory KatyMan Jun 2020 #87

White privilege ismnotwasm Jun 2020 #88

Thank you StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #111

Exactly ismnotwasm Jun 2020 #141

I just wish there was a word for the males too. Jamastiene Jun 2020 #103

I don't agree that "Bigots are proud of themselves for being bigots" StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #116

When they get called on it, a lot of the times they dig in their heels and act proud of it. Jamastiene Jun 2020 #140

Kevin is actually used to describe similar type men RhodeIslandOne Jun 2020 #157

It's either Kevin or Chad... MontanaMama Jun 2020 #190

Kick mcar Jun 2020 #113

STG watching white women fall to pieces over the term "Karen" pretty much establishes why such a WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2020 #115

+1 betsuni Jun 2020 #118

No doubt gollygee Jun 2020 #122

+100000 Celerity Jun 2020 #126

IKR? StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #127

Pretty hilarious. betsuni Jun 2020 #132

Fall to pieces? phylny Jun 2020 #167

If you've got a different way to call out and identify white women acting in racist ways toward WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2020 #168

Thanks for giving me permission. phylny Jun 2020 #184

exactly, a Karen embodies white privilege, entitlement, racism, and white fragility Celerity Jun 2020 #119

Some of us are named Karen spinbaby Jun 2020 #123

My mom was named Karen. roamer65 Jun 2020 #125

Many folks named John don't patronize hookers PTWB Jun 2020 #138

+100000 Celerity Jun 2020 #144

I just feel the joke has run its course. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2020 #135

The meme will go away if it's run its course gollygee Jun 2020 #137

Memes "going away" and still remaining funny are two very different concepts. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2020 #139

The problem with "Karen" MrsCheaplaugh Jun 2020 #151

Explain, please mcar Jun 2020 #155

Karen was created in the service industry, mostly young people, dealing with "demanding" middle age LizBeth Jun 2020 #163

"Using it now for bigoted women is a totally different usage." mcar Jun 2020 #166

It was created by a guy on Reddit who was divorcing a woman named Karen LeftInTX Jun 2020 #172

Yes. I didn't know where it came from but didn't like it after the first chuckle. Yes, it is all LizBeth Jun 2020 #183

It isn't exclusive in that if nothing, they now have all white privileged woman falling in the Karen LizBeth Jun 2020 #182

Using a label customerserviceguy Jun 2020 #158

"The particular group" is white women displaying entitled and racist behavior. "Karen" describes a WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2020 #171

But if we can't redirect every discussion about racism into a conversation about the victimization StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #173

They will tell of the days when we marched because someone got called a Karen on NextDoor for WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2020 #175

It is what humans do. Caliman73 Jun 2020 #179

you Midoris are all alike. KG Jun 2020 #169

Any sense of understanding for or interest inwhat others might be feeling? BannonsLiver Jun 2020 #170

Here is what I see the issue with the Karen thing is, and living it in personal experience, as I LizBeth Jun 2020 #186

Good post. Tipperary Jun 2020 #196

Its just simply shitty Cosmocat Jun 2020 #193

some are well meaning SiliconValley_Dem Jun 2020 #198

I never realized that Karen was limited to just white people till now fescuerescue Jun 2020 #201