No, I think it's mostly gone. I read a book called The Big House by George Howe Colt, written about 15 years ago, about a summer house his family owned on Cape Cod and it traced the rise and decline of WASP culture. For instance, there was one generation, I think his grandparents, who did not work at all, living entirely on the family's trust fund, depleting the trust for his father. His father was probably WWII generation.

The book's story was uncannily close to a friend of mine. No money or influence left in their Boston Brahmin family after 200 years, many similar details. But I suppose the manners, politics and style live on to a certain extent in their families.

Book is a good read about the culture, at least the MA version.

My grandparents were the last true WASPs in our family, and unlike many of their WASP friends from boarding schools and IVY league, my grandmother’s family still has the major generational wealth. However, they raised their kids outside the NYC/New England bubble so none of their kids and grandkids read WASPY, mostly just normal UMC suburban kids who did things like sailing and drinks at the yacht club when we visited our grandparents.

I don’t think rich Jews and WASPs are that similar. Though I suppose there are different groups of rich Jews. My Jewish family is rich but we’re all doctors and pretty nerdy, the men aren’t stylish, we don’t drink that much, and there’s plenty of eating. There are other types of rich Jews who are closer to what you’re describing, less intellectual, more into booze, less into food, also usually more to the right, politically.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a poor midwestern Irish Catholic I read this whole thread to understand what WASP is and I still don’t understand. There doesn’t seem to be any agreement (other than that I am not a WASP 😁).

The Anglo Saxon part is huge. The real WASPs I’ve met are Episcopalian or Presbyterian. They’re from the original 13 colonies with enclaves in California and to a smaller extent Florida, Aspen, etc. They are descended from the original English settlers, the signers of the Constitution, etc. (You know the rich people who started this county—who were often the younger sons of British nobility.) It’s rare to meet a real WASP in the Midwest because the White Protestant people there have too much German and Scandinavian ancestry.

WASPs are polite, cultured and a reserved. The men are usually terrible drunks who even like to break things, but are totally put together and polite if sober. Often, but not always, there’s a cold edge to them. They can be very funny. They love to dress well and are formal. They don’t like tattoos. They tend to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

There’s a Preppy Handbook if you’re really interested in learning more, lol. Or you can watch an old Hitchcock movie…

I'm a real WASP and this is mostly true. I do believe there are WASPs in every major city, even the Midwest. I moved to Houston from the NE and there is a huge enclave here too.

I have noticed a few things that others have pointed out. We are not too different than the rich Jews here and have many of the same values, obviously not the religious ones. We value private school and will sacrifice for our children to attend the best - the end goal is not necessarily college but a good rounded education. Rich Jews and WASPs are physically fit, well educated, well spoken, polite, and put together. We're both somewhat understated compared to the new monied south. Rich Jews tend to be a pinch more liberal while we pretend we are and have harnessed the polite smile, even when we don't agree. For many of us, rich Jews and WASPs, our religion is part of our ethnicity (culture and traditions), even more so than it is a belief. Therefore, I do expect successful blends and marriages, because we have similar values.

Yes, correct WASPs are Episcopalian or Presbyterian. Baptists, Methodists, etc are not WASPs. At least I don't know any. Catholics, at least in the south, are too showy in dress and style. (The Kennedys were different, so Catholics that harness their inner WASP probably exist, but I haven't met them).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grandparents drank a lot, ate very little and shopped only at Whole Foods and Neiman Marcus. They read lots of books, listened to NPR and donated enough money to educational charities to get their name on buildings. Now their kids still read a lot of books, listen to podcasts and donate enough money to green-energy charities to get their names on boards and still shop at Whole Foods.

But, NPR is an extremely leftist media outlet. What they push is not news; it is propaganda.

You are incorrect and clearly subject to some awful and actual propaganda

NPR is not credible.

Anonymous wrote:As a poor midwestern Irish Catholic I read this whole thread to understand what WASP is and I still don’t understand. There doesn’t seem to be any agreement (other than that I am not a WASP 😁).

The Anglo Saxon part is huge. The real WASPs I’ve met are Episcopalian or Presbyterian. They’re from the original 13 colonies with enclaves in California and to a smaller extent Florida, Aspen, etc. They are descended from the original English settlers, the signers of the Constitution, etc. (You know the rich people who started this county—who were often the younger sons of British nobility.) It’s rare to meet a real WASP in the Midwest because the White Protestant people there have too much German and Scandinavian ancestry.

WASPs are polite, cultured and a reserved. The men are usually terrible drunks who even like to break things, but are totally put together and polite if sober. Often, but not always, there’s a cold edge to them. They can be very funny. They love to dress well and are formal. They don’t like tattoos. They tend to be fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

There’s a Preppy Handbook if you’re really interested in learning more, lol. Or you can watch an old Hitchcock movie…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

WASPS vacation on the Jersey Shore? And here I thought I was starting to figure out what this WASP thing was.

No. Maine or Europe. Maybe Nantucket or the Hamptons. Cape Cod didn’t seem like a thing at all.

There are Wasp summer enclaves all over the Northeast, even the Jersey Shore and the Cape. But they are small and private and you only know about them if you know.

No. No. No. You are not a WASP if you go to the Jersey Shore or Rehoboth. And of course, the Cape is for WASPs. Where do you think the Kennedy compound is? (Yes, I know they were Catholic) Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island is where WASPS summered. signed, Grew up in New England, spend summers in the Vineyard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grandparents drank a lot, ate very little and shopped only at Whole Foods and Neiman Marcus. They read lots of books, listened to NPR and donated enough money to educational charities to get their name on buildings. Now their kids still read a lot of books, listen to podcasts and donate enough money to green-energy charities to get their names on boards and still shop at Whole Foods.

But, NPR is an extremely leftist media outlet. What they push is not news; it is propaganda.

You are incorrect and clearly subject to some awful and actual propaganda

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure if I qualify as a WASP and I don't really care whether I do or not.

I'm white, some of my heritage is Anglo-Saxon but not the majority of it, and I went to a Protestant church when I was a kid but haven't been in over 20 years. I never belonged to a Country Club and I'm not rich. My family is from Ohio, not New England. Are Midwestern, Scandinavian-desent, agnostics "WASP"s?

nope- you are not a wasp, Scandinavian heritage is still "ethnic white" especially in the midwest where the cultural roots are strong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grandparents drank a lot, ate very little and shopped only at Whole Foods and Neiman Marcus. They read lots of books, listened to NPR and donated enough money to educational charities to get their name on buildings. Now their kids still read a lot of books, listen to podcasts and donate enough money to green-energy charities to get their names on boards and still shop at Whole Foods.

But, NPR is an extremely leftist media outlet. What they push is not news; it is propaganda.

Can you give some examples of this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely. Especially in the south.

.
???


WASP culture isn't a thing at all in the south. Yes there are wealthy southerners, but it's not his same WASP culture that people here are describing.

It absolutely is a thing in the south. Hardcore. They are also southern, obviously, but their traditions and culture is heavily British heritage. They used to be in the Episcopal churches but since politics entered the church, most have left for more conservative baptist or Methodist churches. From the way they name their children, to the clothes they wear, to the way they socialize. Very WASPy.

The south is cosplay WASP -- kind of sweet in its aspirational quality, but nothing like true WASP. I know from true WASP. DH's family goes back to the Mayflower on both sides. Today, the most noteworthy characteristic uniting family members is drinking copious quantities of alcohol and playing tennis. Sometimes simultaneously. Also, nobody has money anymore; just East Coast beach real estate.

This is sort of true. All you need to be WASPy in the south are a pair of red pants and a set of golf clubs. In the north all you need is a membership to Prouts Neck, parents who’s marriage was arranged over drinks at the R&T, a lineage going back to the mayflower including gilded age wealthy families, 2 grandfathers in banking, and a collection of houses that haven’t been kept up with for 2 generations.

Roughly equivalent entry requirements.

No way, try faking your way into the southern Cotillion and country club crowd with just a pair of red pants and a set of golf clubs and see how far it gets you.

Uh, Cotillion invites literally get sent out to everyone in the grade at some schools....

Anonymous wrote:My grandparents drank a lot, ate very little and shopped only at Whole Foods and Neiman Marcus. They read lots of books, listened to NPR and donated enough money to educational charities to get their name on buildings. Now their kids still read a lot of books, listen to podcasts and donate enough money to green-energy charities to get their names on boards and still shop at Whole Foods.

But, NPR is an extremely leftist media outlet. What they push is not news; it is propaganda.

Read Pineapple Street! (Which I shamelessly loved by the way)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

WASPS vacation on the Jersey Shore? And here I thought I was starting to figure out what this WASP thing was.

No. Maine or Europe. Maybe Nantucket or the Hamptons. Cape Cod didn’t seem like a thing at all.

There are Wasp summer enclaves all over the Northeast, even the Jersey Shore and the Cape. But they are small and private and you only know about them if you know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grandparents drank a lot, ate very little and shopped only at Whole Foods and Neiman Marcus. They read lots of books, listened to NPR and donated enough money to educational charities to get their name on buildings. Now their kids still read a lot of books, listen to podcasts and donate enough money to green-energy charities to get their names on boards and still shop at Whole Foods.

How young are your grandparents to only shop at Whole Foods? And what does any of this have to do with the thread?

This. Whole Foods was only founded in 1980! One store in Austin, TX.