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'''WASP''' is a disparaging term for '''White Anglo-Saxon Protestants'''. The term is commonly used in the United States or Canada, usually in a reference to an apparent elite status. It is usually spelled in capital letters, suggesting the [[wasp|insect]]. The "Anglo-Saxon" part means of English descent, though in common usage people descended from elsewhere in western and northern [[Europe]] are included.
'''WASP''' is a disparaging term for '''White Anglo-Saxon Protestants'''. The term is commonly used in the United States or Canada, usually in a reference to an apparent elite status. It is usually spelled in capital letters, suggesting the [[wasp|insect]]. The "Anglo-Saxon" part means of English descent, though in common usage people descended from elsewhere in western and northern [[Europe]] are included.
By contrast, [[Yankee]] refers to New Englanders of English descent, regardless of social status, while WASP includes high status white Southerners.<ref> More generally, Southerners in the U.S. call all Northerners "Yankees", and people outside the U.S. call all Americans "Yankees" or "Yanks."</ref>
By contrast, [[Yankee]] refers to New Englanders of English descent, regardless of social status, while WASP includes high status white Southerners.<ref>More generally, Southerners in the U.S. call all Northerners "Yankees", and people outside the U.S. call all Americans "Yankees" or "Yanks."</ref>
The term WASP is usually used in a disparaging or humorous manner, and many dictionaries warn against casual usage.
The term WASP is usually used in a disparaging or humorous manner, and many dictionaries warn against casual usage.
===Irish usage===
===Irish usage===
"Anglo-Saxon" was a term favored by the French (to criticize close diplomatic relations between the US and Britain), and by the Irish Catholics, who considered themselves Celtic and resisted Anglo-Saxon (English) rule in Ireland. Irish American humorist [[Finley Peter Dunne]] popularized the ridicule of "Anglo Saxon" circa 1890-1910, even calling President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] one. Roosevelt insisted he was Dutch, and invited Dunne to the White House for conversation. "To be genuinely Irish is to challenge WASP dominance," argues Irish politician Tom Hayden.<ref> Tom Hayden, ''Irish on the Inside: In Search of the Soul of Irish America'' (2003) p. 6 </ref> The depiction of the Irish in the films of [[John Ford]] was a counterpoint to WASp standards of rectitude. "The procession of rambunctious and feckless Celts through Ford's films, Irish and otherwise, was meant to cock a snoot at WASP or 'lace-curtain Irish' ideas of respectability."<ref> Luke Gibbons, Keith Hopper, and Gráinne Humphreys, ''The Quiet Man'' (2002) p 13 </ref>
"Anglo-Saxon" was a term favored by the French (to criticize close diplomatic relations between the US and Britain), and by the Irish Catholics, who considered themselves Celtic and resisted Anglo-Saxon (English) rule in Ireland. Irish American humorist [[Finley Peter Dunne]] popularized the ridicule of "Anglo Saxon" circa 1890-1910, even calling President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] one. Roosevelt insisted he was Dutch, and invited Dunne to the White House for conversation. "To be genuinely Irish is to challenge WASP dominance," argues Irish politician Tom Hayden.<ref>Tom Hayden, ''Irish on the Inside: In Search of the Soul of Irish America'' (2003) p. 6</ref> The depiction of the Irish in the films of [[John Ford]] was a counterpoint to WASp standards of rectitude. "The procession of rambunctious and feckless Celts through Ford's films, Irish and otherwise, was meant to cock a snoot at WASP or 'lace-curtain Irish' ideas of respectability."<ref>Luke Gibbons, Keith Hopper, and Gráinne Humphreys, ''The Quiet Man'' (2002) p 13</ref>
===Sociology===
===Sociology===
==Culture attributed to WASPs==
==Culture attributed to WASPs==
The original ''WASP'' establishment created and dominated the social structure of the United States and its significant institutions when the country's social structure took shape in the 17th century until the 20th century. Many scholars, including researcher Anthony Smith, argue that nations tend to be formed on the basis of a pre-modern ethnic "core" that provides the myths symbols and memories for the modern nation and that WASPs were indeed that core.<ref> see [http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p40195_index.html]</ref> WASPs still dominate America's prep schools (expensive private high schools, primarily in the Northeast) and to Ivy League universities and prestigious liberal arts colleges, such as Amherst, Williams, Trinity, Middlebury, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby Colleges. Those colleges are overwhelmingly meritocratic, but still favor "legacy" alumni. Students learned skills, habits, and attitudes and formed connections which carried over to the influential spheres of finance, culture, and politics.
The original ''WASP'' establishment created and dominated the social structure of the United States and its significant institutions when the country's social structure took shape in the 17th century until the 20th century. Many scholars, including researcher Anthony Smith, argue that nations tend to be formed on the basis of a pre-modern ethnic "core" that provides the myths symbols and memories for the modern nation and that WASPs were indeed that core.<ref>[http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p40195_index.html see]</ref> WASPs still dominate America's prep schools (expensive private high schools, primarily in the Northeast) and to Ivy League universities and prestigious liberal arts colleges, such as Amherst, Williams, Trinity, Middlebury, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby Colleges. Those colleges are overwhelmingly meritocratic, but still favor "legacy" alumni. Students learned skills, habits, and attitudes and formed connections which carried over to the influential spheres of finance, culture, and politics.
Social registers and society pages listed the privileged, who mingled in the same private clubs, attended the same churches, and lived in neighborhoods — Philadelphia's "Main Line", New York City's Upper East Side, and Boston's "Beacon Hill" neighborhoods.
Social registers and society pages listed the privileged, who mingled in the same private clubs, attended the same churches, and lived in neighborhoods — Philadelphia's "Main Line", New York City's Upper East Side, and Boston's "Beacon Hill" neighborhoods.
It was not until after World War II that the networks of privilege and power in the old Protestant establishment began to lose significance. Many reasons have been attributed to the WASP decline and books have been written detailing it. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DB153EF934A25752C0A967958260] Among the reasons often cited is increased competitive pressure as the WASPs themselves opened the doors to competition. The GI Bill brought higher education to the children of other groups , and the postwar era created ample economic opportunity for a growing new middle class. Nevertheless, white Protestants remain represented in the country's cultural, political, and economic élite.<ref>Davidson, James D.; Pyle, Ralph E.; Reyes, David V.: "Persistence and Change in the Protestant Establishment, 1930-1992," ''Social Forces'', Vol. 74, No. 1. (September., 1995), p. 164</ref>
It was not until after World War II that the networks of privilege and power in the old Protestant establishment began to lose significance. Many reasons have been attributed to the WASP decline and books have been written detailing it. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DB153EF934A25752C0A967958260] Among the reasons often cited is increased competitive pressure as the WASPs themselves opened the doors to competition. The GI Bill brought higher education to the children of other groups , and the postwar era created ample economic opportunity for a growing new middle class. Nevertheless, white Protestants remain represented in the country's cultural, political, and economic élite.<ref>Davidson, James D.; Pyle, Ralph E.; Reyes, David V.: "Persistence and Change in the Protestant Establishment, 1930-1992," ''Social Forces'', Vol. 74, No. 1. (September., 1995), p. 164</ref>
In the federal service, once dominated by WASPs--especially the State Department--Catholics and Jews made strong inroads after 1945. Georgetown University, a Catholic school, made a systematic effort to place graduates in diplomatic career tracks, while Princeton University (a WASP bastion), got into trouble with donors because too few of its graduates were entering careers in the federal government.<ref> The princeton debate was not about ethnicity per se. see the attack at [http://www.robertsonvprinceton.org/factsheet/background.php] and Princeton's defense at [http://www.princeton.edu/robertson/about/mission/]</ref> By 2000 there were roughly equal proportions of WASPs and Jews at the elite levels of the federal civil service.<ref> Kaufman (2004) p 220</ref>
In the federal service, once dominated by WASPs—especially the State Department—Catholics and Jews made strong inroads after 1945. Georgetown University, a Catholic school, made a systematic effort to place graduates in diplomatic career tracks, while Princeton University (a WASP bastion), got into trouble with donors because too few of its graduates were entering careers in the federal government.<ref>The princeton debate was not about ethnicity per se. see the attack at [http://www.robertsonvprinceton.org/factsheet/background.php] and Princeton's defense at [http://www.princeton.edu/robertson/about/mission/]</ref> By 2000 there were roughly equal proportions of WASPs and Jews at the elite levels of the federal civil service.<ref>Kaufman (2004) p 220</ref>
While the white Protestant establishment is no longer the sole elite group in American society, it remains a significant presence throughout the nation. The University of California, Berkeley, once a WASP stronghold, has changed radically. Only 30% of its undergraduates in 2007 were of European origin (including WASPs and all other Europeans), with 63% of undergraduates from immigrant families, especially from Asia.<ref> John Aubrey Douglass, Heinke Roebken, and Gregg Thomson. "The Immigrant University: Assessing the Dynamics of Race, Major and Socioeconomic Characteristics at the University of California." (November 2007) [http://cshe.berkeley.edu/publications/publications.php?id=291 online edition]</ref>
While the white Protestant establishment is no longer the sole elite group in American society, it remains a significant presence throughout the nation. The University of California, Berkeley, once a WASP stronghold, has changed radically. Only 30% of its undergraduates in 2007 were of European origin (including WASPs and all other Europeans), with 63% of undergraduates from immigrant families, especially from Asia.<ref>John Aubrey Douglass, Heinke Roebken, and Gregg Thomson. "The Immigrant University: Assessing the Dynamics of Race, Major and Socioeconomic Characteristics at the University of California." (November 2007) [http://cshe.berkeley.edu/publications/publications.php?id=291 online edition]</ref>
WASPs in the Northeast, Midwest, and West were once dominant in the [[U.S. Republican Party, history)|Republican Party]]. they are still present but ethnics, especially Italians are more prevalent. The Democratic party in the cities of the Northeast and Midwest came under Irish Catholic control in the late 19th century. The process was speeded in 1896 when many Democratic WASPs left the Democratic party in protest against the economic radicalism of [[William Jennings Bryan]]. This left a vacuum the Irish immediately filled.
WASPs in the Northeast, Midwest, and West were once dominant in the [[U.S. Republican Party, history)|Republican Party]]. they are still present but ethnics, especially Italians are more prevalent. The Democratic party in the cities of the Northeast and Midwest came under Irish Catholic control in the late 19th century. The process was speeded in 1896 when many Democratic WASPs left the Democratic party in protest against the economic radicalism of [[William Jennings Bryan]]. This left a vacuum the Irish immediately filled.
*Allen, Irving Lewis. ''Unkind Words: Ethnic Labeling from Redskin to Wasp'' (1990) [http://www.questia.com/read/26244244 online edition]
*Allen, Irving Lewis. ''Unkind Words: Ethnic Labeling from Redskin to Wasp'' (1990) [http://www.questia.com/read/26244244 online edition]
*Cookson, Peter W.; Persell, Caroline Hodges. ''Preparing for Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools'' (1985) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/preparing-for-power-americas-elite-boarding-schools-by-peter-w-cookson-caroline-hodges-persell.jsp online edition]
*Cookson, Peter W.; Persell, Caroline Hodges. ''Preparing for Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools'' (1985) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/preparing-for-power-americas-elite-boarding-schools-by-peter-w-cookson-caroline-hodges-persell.jsp online edition]
*Davidson, James D.; Pyle, Ralph E.; Reyes, David V.: "Persistence and Change in the Protestant Establishment, 1930-1992"; ''Social Forces'', Vol. 74, No. 1. (September., 1995), pp. 157-175.
*Davidson, James D.; Pyle, Ralph E.; Reyes, David V.: "Persistence and Change in the Protestant Establishment, 1930-1992"; ''Social Forces'', Vol. 74, No. 1. (September., 1995), pp. 157–175.
* Kaufmann, Eric P. ''The Rise and Fall of Anglo-America'' (2004), scholarly study by sociologist [http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Anglo-America-Eric-Kaufmann/dp/0674013034/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196247634&sr=1-17 excerpt and text search]
* Kaufmann, Eric P. ''The Rise and Fall of Anglo-America'' (2004), scholarly study by sociologist [http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Anglo-America-Eric-Kaufmann/dp/0674013034/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196247634&sr=1-17 excerpt and text search]
* Kilmer, Joyce. "Our Humor Is Not Anglo-Saxon; T. A. Daly Says it Is 60 per Cent. Celtic; Says Poe Copied Mangan;- Praises "Mr. Dooley" ''New York Times'' August 15, 1915, Sunday Magazine Page SM7,
* Kilmer, Joyce. "Our Humor Is Not Anglo-Saxon; T. A. Daly Says it Is 60 per Cent. Celtic; Says Poe Copied Mangan;- Praises "Mr. Dooley" ''New York Times'' August 15, 1915, Sunday Magazine Page SM7,
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See also [[Yankee]]
See also [[Yankee]]
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