There are only a few words that one does not say in polite society. The two most prominent are the N-word and the C-word.
Voldemort—Harry Potter’s nemesis—exists, but one cannot say his name. That is a projection of power.
Of the two, N— or C—, the N-word is in wider public use. However, it is a word reserved only for use by particular people; only those who would be most offended by it get to use it. To use it outside the privileged group says a lot about the person using it. And nothing good. This is a projection of real power.
The C-word is more tightly policed. It’s closer to Voldemort, superficially. However, The C-word—and more importantly the reality behind the C-word—is losing ground fast. The narrative is shifting.
There is a bait-and-switch afoot with far-reaching consequences. When folks say “Karen” today, I think they are developing a profile of women that is very close to the C-word.
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