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The Conversation
The Conversation
Teresa Anne Fowler, Assistant Professor, Education, Concordia University of Edmonton

What a viral meme about Evander Kane can tell us about white supremacy in hockey

Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane is congratulated after scoring his third goal against the Seattle Kraken during the third period of an NHL hockey game on March 18, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

An image of a white woman flipping Edmonton Oilers player Evander Kane the bird from behind the protective glass of a hockey rink went viral on May 7. It sparked the creation of a meme dubbed “Kane vs. Karen” by a social media user on Reddit.

“Karen” has become a popular term used to identify white women who weaponize their whiteness to either shift attention away from their racist behaviour or insight racial violence.

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