Hello, My Name Is...

On the first day of my college semester in England, I noticed an open door in the dormitory hallway and peered inside. A mix of British accents welcomed me in and I quickly introduced myself: “Hi, I’m Tracy.” Everyone in the room burst out in laughter. Someone explained, “We were just talking about Sharons and Tracys!” I had no idea what this meant, so someone else further explained that in the U.K., “Sharons” and “Tracys” were working class, trashy women of limited intelligence. “Great,” I thought, “this is going to be a long semester.” Fortunately, I made friends with my hallmates and wasn’t derided for my unfortunate name again. I've found that if you repeat your name enough either aloud or in your head, you’ll find that it just sounds ridiculous. But no matter how silly it sounds, your name is an intrinsic part of your identity. So, what if your name is co-opted by mainstream culture and becomes a derogatory slur? The “Brads” (insufferable college bad boy), “Chads” (insufferable preppier version of Brad), “Susans” (the nosy and judgmental co-worker), and “Beckys” (privileged skinny white woman with shiny straight hair sipping a pumpkin spice latte) have nothing on the “Karens” of this world, though. A “Karen” is a brash, entitled, racist middle-aged woman who is quick to call the manager if she perceives anything to be even slightly out of line. You don't want to be called “a Karen”. For nearly a decade, the “Karen” has had a lot of sticking power in pop culture, but what if your name actually is Karen and you are a perfectly nice, down-to-earth person? Then what? Well, like the Tracys, Sharons, and others who came before you have done, you wait it out, rely on your sense of humor, and think long and hard before complaining to the manager.

Stay safe and healthy,

Tracy Jacobs

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