Is “WASP” culture still a thing?
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Anonymous
Agree. It wasn't bad 20 years ago but these days it really is a narrow minded very left wing woke media to the point it's idiotic more than accurate or intelligent. Seeing someone toting a NPR bag or boasting about listing to NPR makes me think of cultists. And has nothing to do with Wasps. |
Anonymous
There are "waspy" families of Scandinavian and German heritages. WASPs were always more than just Boston or Philadelphia Anglo Saxon Protestant. Old money Midwestern cities are as traditional as they come and have strong doses of German and Scandinavian heritages. |
Anonymous
No one is saying that Old money families of Scandinavian or German heritage don’t exist, especially in the Midwest, we’re just saying they are very distinct in their culture and are really, really not WASPy in their views, outlooks, etc. even if they do go to country clubs and send their kids to private school, etc. —signed a a Jew who sees a huge difference between the two groups and who has always felt significantly more comfortable around WASPs than with rich Midwestern German/Scandinavian “waspy” types. |
Anonymous
Of course. Old money vs noveau riche. Old money always wins because they still have manners. |
Anonymous
Showing off your wealth and being wasteful is the antithesis of Wasp culture. |
Anonymous
I think the polite response is "whatever." I'm not quite sure what this idealized WASP is. For some people it's listening to NPR! Can someone point out a real example of a WASP? |
Anonymous
Whatever, feel better? This whole thread and the very term itself is full of proper descriptions of who a WASP person is. For whatever reason, you don’t like that definition, so you’re choosing to ignore it. Let’s start with the basics: 1)White 2) Anglo Saxon 3)Protestant. If a person does not satisfy those three categories he or she is not a WASP. A prime example of a WASP is the very person who coined the term: E. Digby Baltzell. Here is a link to his wiki page: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Digby_Baltzell I’m not sure why this definition is so confusing (hint it has nothing to do with NPR) or as you say, “idealized.” It just is what it is. If you’ve seen them roaming about in their native habitats, WASPs are quite easy to recognize. And yes, they do still exist. |
Anonymous
What do you mean by WASP culture OP? |
Anonymous
I’m an immigrant. To me, WASP culture is embodied in a country club where men wear vineyard vines shorts / Ralph Lauren polo shirts and the women wear colorful Lilly Pulitzer dresses and they all play golf and tennis. Am I too far off ? 
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Anonymous
I'm puzzled because I'm a) white, b) Anglo-Saxon, c) Protestant, and grew up in a world most people would vaguely recognize as waspy, including the boarding schools, summering in New England, 19th-century family portraits and old inherited silver and a few ancestors who were prominent figures. And I find all these descriptions somewhat peculiar and amazingly rigid and narrow. |
Anonymous
This sounds so boring. Which is why I myself enjoys living among them because my own culture is noisy and dramatic. |
Anonymous
A good investigative journalist is hard to come by these days. |
Anonymous
| It’s still around but it’s been considerably weakened. As diversity and candor become a foundational piece for ivies and top firms, so the wasp’s culture becomes not just obsolete but a liability. |
Anonymous
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I totally disagree that *the stereotypes* of wealthy wealthy Jews and WASPS are similar. Note: I am not talking individuals, just the types.
Yes education is important to both but the personality types couldn't be more diametrically opposed: frank, candid, direct, loud vs reserved, inhibited, discreet, quiet. Warm with family and throw big parties vs cold and don't serve enough food. Again, stereotypes... but they are pretty much diametrically opposed. I grew up in New England among both communities and the WASP culture was a strong presence in my high school and even college, but much more so among friends' parents and grandparents. I don't see it as much anymore. For one thing prep schools and Ivies are no longer WASP bastions so pretty much everything is different. Are there still pockets of exclusivity and is there still a certain style? Yes, but it is disappearing. In my opinion this is mostly a good thing, but also too bad in certain ways. |
Anonymous
This is the kind of comment that shows how far the Overton Window has shifted in the DC area. Any reasonable listener to NPR has to acknowledge that it is far left. And I say that as someone who listened to WAMU for years, but can no longer take it. |