Is “WASP” culture still a thing?

[Anonymous]

You are deflecting. Do you make your own clothes? Why is it acceptable to glorify and aspire to this culture? At no point have I said Irish Americans are better. I’m saying that they - and every other non-wasp group that willingly emigrated - should not have to listen to how the great wasp culture built America. Then there are all the people who came here against their will - who has given them credit for what they did to build the country?

Wasp glorification is useless myth making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are talking about rich WASPs. But there are people who have WASP culture who are not rich. My family is as WASP as they come and what we share is a...not a reserve so much as not being emotional and expressive. I'm not being very articulate here but it's a culture that goes beyond being wealthy.

100%, I get what you mean and it is the same in my WASP family. Not particularly expressive or prone to emotional outbursts (particularly in public) and real stiff upper lips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are talking about rich WASPs. But there are people who have WASP culture who are not rich. My family is as WASP as they come and what we share is a...not a reserve so much as not being emotional and expressive. I'm not being very articulate here but it's a culture that goes beyond being wealthy.

100%, I get what you mean and it is the same in my WASP family. Not particularly expressive or prone to emotional outbursts (particularly in public) and real stiff upper lips.

This.
They are super emotionally controlled. I'm a veterinarian and I have been with several WASP families at their pet's euthanasia. I can tell they are upset but they hold it together like no other. One lady actually said "I'm sorry you have to see me like this" when she was completely calm except for a single tear in the corner of her eye.

[Anonymous]

Lots of New England WASPs today are liberal progressive and vote for Dems. Of the presidents, GHW Bush is classic WASP. His son, not so much.

[Anonymous]

It exists but is obviously in danger.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but it is not something we talk about ... like our feelings or money.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Especially in the south.

[Anonymous]

When I think of WASP culture I think of Protestant work ethic.
In many respects the WASP culture built this country.
You still see remnants of WASP culture in our fast
work pace as compared to the European leisurely work pace.

I think part of the WASP culture is the belief that with
hard work you, too, can get ahead which would never
have been possible in the old country.

No doubt the US settlers in the 1650s, 1660s, 1670's
and 1680s would have been tough as nails people.
Much of life would have been hard, hard work coupled
with hunger during famines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Richmond has a huge contingent. They belong to the Country Club of Virginia (CCV) and send their children k-12 to St. Catherine’s/St. Christopher’s.

Also, Myers Park area of Charlotte.

And these are just the towns I know personally.

Yep, from Myers park and can confirm.

[Anonymous]

WASP culture is less of a money thing and more of a mindset.

The clothing marketed to WASPs is more of a marketing thing.
Real WASP's will wear the same blazer and shoes for 20 years.

Many WASP kids go to public schools. If they are good public schools then they offer value to the family. WASP families have
discreet old money because they never buy anything new.

A WASP woman would never be caught wearing a Kardashian
style purse.

WASPs typically don't travel on European vacations.
They will vacation at Grandma's summer house in
Rehoboth or at the Jersey shore that has been in the family for generations. Or....like the Bushes....vacation in the
northeast.

[Anonymous]

WASP families support the military and have family
members serve, generally as officers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here - Absolutely, the Boston Irish have problems with racism. Witness busing in the 70s and many problems since. Many of my cousins support Trump and his anti-Hispanic policies and statements, forgetting that we faced similar discrimination 2-3 generations back before sending our kids to elite schools and joining various golf clubs, moving into WASP neighborhoods, etc. Trump's policies are anti just about everyone - I single out the comments he has made about Hispanics as one example.

My point is that if you grew up in the old New England culture, WASPs ran that day. And they did that off the backs of a lot of different people - and a lot of the money they made came from slavery. This - among many other reasons - is why glorifying them is gross to me. I've seen people embrace the clubs and habits as if they have arrived - so my question is what legacy are you claiming? what are you arriving to?

Many of these (mostly white) people from non-WASP backgrounds joining the clubs just perpetuate the same BS. Go up to Gibson Island and see.

Why did you have to turn this thread political? Stop obsessing over Trump please!

[Anonymous]

WASP culture is not wealth. I think some posters are very
confused about this. WASP parents typically drive
10 year old cars.

Critically tied to WASP culture is the concept of value.
Value circles back to the Protestant Work Ethic.

I personally know families that would be classified as WASP.
They are caucasian, protestant, and have a huge work
ethic. All have net worth of over 30 million dollars.
If you met these people casually you would never
guess the high net worth. They live comfortably but
not ostentatious.

WASP culture is about buying value clothes, value
cars, value real estate. WASP culture is not about
buying trends. In fact, WASP women wear the
same clothing for years.

WASP culture is about being understated, not flashy
and not showy.

[Anonymous]

WASP families in the southeast have much less monies
than WASP families in the mid Atlantic and northeast.
WASP families in the south never recovered financially from
The War of Northern Aggression.

WASP families in the south suffered from genteel poverty
until World War II boosted the economy in the south.

Since WASP families and the south have less monies
than those in the northeast southerners are big on
what your family name is and who your people are.
Family land for hunting is big in southern WASP
culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in New England and this was a really big thing for my grandparents (and presumably their parents). They were not wasps. And boy did they feel it. One of the reasons I wanted to leave New England was to get away from this narrowness. Wasp culture is one variation of white privilege. Among many of us who arrived after the mayflower, other forms of this privilege exist. For example, while my grandfather felt discriminated against and remembered the "Irish need not apply" signs in Boston, it is crazy for me to feel any kind of ethnic discrimination at this point. I went to their schools and I work in a field they dominated for decades, if not centuries.

I'm glad this has changed. There are some things about "wasp culture" that are useful - like being frugal, not talking about money. Good manners. (But, remember -- They used a yardstick of who your family was and when they got here instead. So still pressure to measure up, show status.) Preppy style is cute and fun and adopted around the world from Japan to Italy. I have yet, though, to really see the utility of the mindset overall - it is fundamentally exclusive and limiting.

I do have one question - do they all still vote republican? Two summers ago, we were on nantucket and four young men wearing navy trump t-shirts paraded around. It was distressing to see how many old boys on the street (and in the restaurant where they ate) chatted them up and welcomed them with open arms.

All to say, I don't feel that my ancestors, who cleaned houses, cared for grounds, sorted the mail, and worked in mills had any less to do with building this country (and are any less distinguished) than the mythical WASP forebearers and "founding fathers" (another crazy term). There is great dignity in doing one's work, caring for one's family and making opportunity for others. And furthermore, the cotton that powered the mills in New England that the WASPs owned was picked by slaves in the South.

It is total insanity to glorify this culture.

Easy there killer. The chip on your shoulder is a mighty stone. Go read angela’s Ashes or something.

LOLLLLLL

I am here for comments like this. Please keep them coming.