The Authentic Eclectic

Karen Isn’t the Only Woman’s Name That Describes Problematic Behaviour

Karens, Beckys, Sharons, Tracys — a history of women’s names being used pejoratively

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels. Licence.

In recent years you may have noticed women’s names such as Karen being attributed to persons exhibiting entitled and problematic behaviour.

The sort of behaviour these people display is unacceptable and needs to stop. But blaming women, and only women, for this sort of behaviour also needs to stop. Why are there no male equivalents?

“Women’s names can be used in jest to call out real, problematic, and often racist behaviour. However, the fact that there aren’t equivalent male terms for calling out the same behaviour gives these terms a sexist dimension that must be acknowledged.” Dictionary.com

And it’s not just Karen. Throughout history, women’s names have been used to describe problematic behaviour. Throughout history, there have rarely been male equivalents.

Also, what is meant by “problematic behaviour”? Racism certainly, but other times it simply refers to a woman’s sexuality or her social class.

This article explores the use of women’s names to describe problematic and “problematic” behaviour…