Who are WASPS (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) in the US (officially and unofficially)? (schools, colleges)

[vivo]

officially it seems to be English Americans, Germans and Dutch Amer too?

scots-irish southerners would perhaps by most be considered WASPS however I think they'd be generally considered Celts though it's debatable what %age of White Englishman are Anglo-Saxon
also WASP to me signifies being well-off etc
Boston Brahmins are the quintessential WASPS


the loosest definition may be NW Euro American Protestants
or even Non-Hispanic Euro Americans (incl Catholics)
I believe this is what Anglo in Socal refers to

[Smtchll]

Basically wealthy, non-ethnic white people who come from old-money. As for the religion part, it's less important these days, but they tend to be Mainline Protestants: (Episcopalian & Presbyterian) I think the W is really the only letter that applies these days. Most people will label any wealthy white person as a WASP regardless if they have the ASP characteristics.

Here in Memphis WASPs are still very visible. They basically run the whole East side of Memphis, along with Catholics & Jews (both have very WASPy characteristics as well). They send their kids to private, single-sex schools that cost $15,000+ in tuition. The more conservative families are very active in the Presbyterian church, while the more liberal families attend the Episcopal church. Overall, they're socially moderate. They're not very Southern to me, despite having deep Southern roots.

[iPwn]

My family is Irish Catholic but half English blood. They are pretty rich. I wouldn't call them WASPS exactly, being they're fairly liberal and not too religious.

[Chicago60614]

[Smtchll]

Originally Posted by MimzyMusic

My family is Irish Catholic but half English blood. They are pretty rich. I wouldn't call them WASPS exactly, being they're fairly liberal and not too religious.

WASPs don't have to be religious or conservative. Many are Unitarian, which is a very liberal, almost agnostic religion. Episcopalians & Presbyterians are also pretty liberal. And i'm not sure if being Catholic would make someone not a WASP. The Catholic church I go to is very WASPy. I dont think there is a term that is the Catholic equivalent to WASP, so a lot of times they get called WASPs despite being Catholic.

[Haver]

I think a lot of it is constrained to English-ancestry regions. In Minneapolis there's never been any discussion about it (on a personal/local talk radio/blogs) basis. It just seems to be something that belongs to another part of the country. There is also an element of elitism to that which is violently at odds with our native populism and Scandinavian leveling instinct.

[vivo]

Originally Posted by Smtchll

Basically wealthy, non-ethnic white people who come from old-money. As for the religion part, it's less important these days, but they tend to be Mainline Protestants: (Episcopalian & Presbyterian) I think the W is really the only letter that applies these days. Most people will label any wealthy white person as a WASP regardless if they have the ASP characteristics.

Here in Memphis WASPs are still very visible. They basically run the whole East side of Memphis, along with Catholics & Jews (both have very WASPy characteristics as well). They send their kids to private, single-sex schools that cost $15,000+ in tuition. The more conservative families are very active in the Presbyterian church, while the more liberal families attend the Episcopal church. Overall, they're socially moderate. They're not very Southern to me, despite having deep Southern roots.

why do they not seem very southern?
being socially moderate I guess would be one.

[Smtchll]

Originally Posted by vivo

why do they not seem very southern?
being socially moderate I guess would be one.

They lack a Southern accent. They're not Southern Baptist. They don't do stereotypical Southern things like wave Confederate flags or watch Nascar

[michigan83]

That term is extremely rare where I live. Haven't heard it used a whole lot.

I suppose the version of WASP where I live would be the Dutch descendants in the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland triangle of western Michigan. Most of them attend some version of the Christian Reformed Church. Most of their kids go to Christian schools, and a lot of those kids, in turn, attend one of the private Reformed colleges in the area. Calvin College, Hope College, Kuyper College, Cornerstone College, etc.

If your last name isn't Vander-something, or doesn't rhyme with Hoekstra, you're not a part of the "in" crowd!

[vivo]

lol that was a great movie.