You Too Can Be a Karen for Justice
A Guide to More Effective Boycotting
Welcome to Potlucks for Change, where we build community one dinner at a time.
Listen up, friends. There comes a time in every person's life when they must decide: will I continue to silently stew while scrolling through my news feed, or will I channel my righteous indignation into something marginally more useful? If you've chosen the latter, congratulations! You're ready to become a Karen for Justice.
That's right. We're reclaiming "Karen" for the forces of good. Forget calling the cops because that black guy just jogged past your house—we're speaking to power about reproductive freedom.
The Art of the Effective Boycott
Let's be honest. Most boycotts have the lifespan of a fruit fly and the impact of a feather landing on a pillow. You announce on Facebook that you're "NEVER SHOPPING AT AMAZON AGAIN!" and three weeks later, you're hitting that prime delivery because you just HAVE to have that new microplaner by tomorrow.
But not anymore! Here's how to boycott like you mean it:
1. Know Your Enemy (And Their Corporate Family Tree)
So you've decided to boycott Amazon, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Exxon, Johnson & Johnson, and Lyft for paying dark money to politicians who are blocking our reproductive freedom. Excellent! But did you know that just J&J alone owns 43 leading brands including Tylenol, Aveeno, Bandaid, and Visine?
Homework assignment: Spend an evening with some friends, a glass (or bottle) of wine, and your laptops, making a corporate family tree that will shock and horrify you. Nothing says "fun Friday night" like discovering your ethical shampoo is actually funding forced birth legislation!
2. The Potluck Intelligence Network
Never underestimate the power of a well-informed community. At your next gathering, assign each friend a corporation to investigate. Janet brings her famous seven-layer dip AND intel on pharmaceutical companies funding anti-choice candidates. David brings sourdough bread AND a list of companies that are supporting Shield laws, pro-reproductive freedom candidates, or just generally not
3. The Selective Strike
Let's face it—if you tried to boycott every problematic company, you'd be living in a cave, weaving your own clothes from foraged grass. Instead, choose strategic targets where your boycott can actually make a dent.
Example: The local business whose owner is running for state legislature on a "traditional values" platform but whose business relies heavily on progressive suburban moms? PRIME TARGET.
Pressure on a company can result in real change! REI on April 11th formally apologized for supporting the Trump Administrations pick for Secretary of the Interior.
4. The Replacement Therapy
The most successful boycotts don't just take your dollars away from the Bad Guys™—they redirect them to the Good Guys™. For every company you boycott, find an alternative that actively supports reproductive freedom.
Fun weekend activity: Create a reproductive freedom shopping guide for your community. Bonus points if you make little stickers to put on products that support forced birth.
And for each of your brands you find on the shit list - see if you can pick one alternative that you will buy instead.
Examples:
Amazon → Buy directly from the maker, or even better, shop at a local store
Coca-Cola & Pepsi → Local boutique sodas
Tylenol → Buy generic Acetaminophen
Lyft & Uber → Order a good old-fashioned taxi
The one that has made a huge splash you can get behind is the ”Target Fast” movement with a shift to Costco who has continued to reaffirm their DEI commitments.
If you are looking for a good time - check out the Target official TikTok or other social media pages and revel in the humor on their comments sections as people loudly proclaim their love of Costco.
5. The Public Shaming... With Receipts
Nothing makes a corporation more nervous than a well-researched, factual public callout. We're not talking about ALL CAPS tweet rants. We're talking about calmly laying out the hypocrisy with undeniable evidence.
"Oh, interesting that MegaMart claims to 'support women's empowerment' while donating $2.3 million to politicians who vote against reproductive healthcare access. Here's their last five years of political donations, color-coded by anti-choice voting records."
Advanced Tactics: Beyond the Boycott
Ready to level up your Karen for Justice game? Try these power moves:
The Shareholder Showdown
Got a 401k? You might actually own shares in companies you despise! Attend shareholder meetings and ask uncomfortable questions about reproductive freedom policies. Nothing says "party time" like making a CEO sweat while reading from your carefully prepared statement.
The Corporate Karma Chart
Create and widely distribute a ranking system for businesses in your area based on their reproductive freedom stance. Update quarterly. Watch how quickly local businesses suddenly discover their feminist principles when they drop to the bottom of the list.
The Fundraising Flip
For every dollar you don't spend at boycotted companies, donate a percentage to reproductive freedom organizations. Then send the receipts to the boycotted company with a sweet note: "Thanks for inspiring me to donate $50 to Access Reproductive Justice instead of shopping at your store!"
The Rep Resistance
Create a signal chat to be able to quickly share to a larger group of friends (remember only allow folks to join through a referral) every time that a Rep votes against our self interests. You can use these to help mobilize people to join Town Halls. Check out your Rep’s current voting score here from Planned Parenthood
Remember: Consistency is Key
The most powerful weapon in a Karen for Justice's arsenal isn't the volume of her voice or the pointiness of her highlighted "concerns"—it's her relentless consistency.
The anti-choice movement has been playing the long game for decades. They didn't give up when they lost battles. They regrouped, strategized, and kept going with the determination of someone who's been waiting an hour for their correct coffee order.
So channel your inner Karen. Speak to ALL the managers. Demand to see ALL the corporate policies. Make your voice heard not just today, but tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.
Because reproductive freedom isn't just a slogan on a protest sign—it's a daily practice of putting your money and your mouth in the same righteous place.
Next week: "Bringing Casseroles to Clinic Escort Volunteers: How to Fight the Patriarchy with Comfort Food"
Potlucks for Change is a grassroots organization dedicated to combining the power of community gathering with strategic activism for reproductive freedom. Join us for food, friendship, and fighting the good fight.