Our Favorite Stories About People Named ‘Karen.’ Yes, That Karen.

The Medium Universe would like to speak to the manager about this (in)famous meme

Each week on Medium Rare, I’ll be sharing stories you might have missed that are definitely worth a second look. Got a suggestion for a piece we should feature? Pop it in the responses below!

• Phoebe Maltz Bovy expertly details why everyone is suddenly talking about “Karen” — the viral meme meant to torch the archetype of an entitled middle-aged white woman — and how debates around the meme’s treatment toward issues of race, privilege, and gender often miss the mark. “The ‘Karen’ question is really the problem with ambivalent spots on the privilege hierarchy,” she writes. “A demographic that has more than some but less than others presents a dilemma in social justice understandings.”

We (Apparently) Need To Talk About “Karen”

• Leslie Mac, on the other hand, says the verdict on Karen is pretty cut-and- dried. (Much like her hair, amiright?)