Jewish-American princess stereotype

Jewish-American Princess or JAP is a pejorative stereotype of a subtype of Jewish-American female. The term implies materialistic and selfish tendencies, attributed to a pampered or wealthy background.

Contents

Predominant stereotype

Origins

The Jewish princess (JAP) stereotype was a construct of, and popularized by, post-war Jewish male writers,[1] notably in Herman Wouk's 1955 novel, Marjorie Morningstar[2] and Phillip Roth's 1959 novel Goodbye, Columbus featuring princess protagonists.[3]

The term "JAP" and the associated stereotype gained attention beginning in the 1970s with the publication of several non-fiction articles such as Barbara Meyer's Cosmopolitan article "Sex and the Jewish Girl" and the 1971 cover article in New York Magazine by Julie Baumgold, "The Persistence of the Jewish Princess".[4] "JAP" jokes became prevalent in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[5][6] The JAP stereotype's rise to prominence in the 1970s resulted from pressures on the Jewish middle class to maintain a visibly affluent lifestyle as post-war affluence declined.[1][7]

Attributes

The stereotype, as described in these sources, is over-indulged by her parents with attention and money, resulting in the princess having both unrealistic expectations and guilt, and skill in the manipulation of guilt in others, resulting in a deficient love life.[4] The stereotype has been described as "a sexually repressive, self-centered, materialistic and lazy female,"[8] who is "spoiled, overly-concerned with appearance, and indifferent to sex", with the latter her most notable trait.[5][6]

Portrayals

The stereotype is often portrayed on film and in popular entertainment.

Criticism

Antisemitism

The stereotype is often, though not always, the basis for antisemitic jokes both inside and outside the Jewish community.[18] Frank Zappa was accused of antisemitism for his song "Jewish Princess", a charge which he repeatedly denied on the basis that he did not invent the concept and that women who fit the stereotype existed.[9] In recent years, attempts have been made by some Jewish women to re-appropriate the term "JAP" and incorporate it as part of a cultural identity.[7][19]

Sexism and discrimination

The term Jewish-American Princess has been criticized for its sexist basis, and for pejoratively branding young adult Jewish-American women as spoiled and materialistic.[20] Concerns about incidents of the JAP stereotype being used pejoratively at colleges and universities have been noted in newspapers, magazines and academic journals.[21][22][23][24][25][26]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Brook, Vincent, Somthing Ain't Kosher Here: The Rise of the "Jewish" Sitcom Rutgers University Press, 2003 ISBN 0813532116, 9780813532110 p. 140
  2. ^ Wouk states that he never used the term "JAP" in his works, and disclaims being the originator of the term. See Klein, infra.
  3. ^ Cohen, Derek and Heller, Deborah, Jewish Presences in English Literature McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 1990 ISBN 0773507817, 9780773507814 p. 89
  4. ^ a b Berkley, George E., Jews Branden Books, 1997 ISBN 0828320276, 9780828320276 pp51–52
  5. ^ a b Sherman, Josepha, A Sampler of Jewish-American Folklore, august house, 1992 ISBN 0874831946, 9780874831948 p5
  6. ^ a b Dundes, Alan, "The J.A.P. and the J.A.M. in American Jokelore", Journal of American Folklore Vol 98, No 390 (Oct-Dec, 1985)
  7. ^ a b c Prell, Riv-Ellen, Fighting to Become Americans: Assimilation and the Trouble Between Jewish Men and Jewish Women, Beacon Press, 2000 ISBN 0807036331, 9780807036334 p177ff
  8. ^ Booker, Janice L., The Jewish American Princess and Other Myths: The Many Faces of Self-Hatred Shapolsky Publishers, 1991 ISBN-13: 9781561710829, ISBN 1561710822, p 34
  9. ^ a b Lowe, Kelly Fisher, The Words and Music of Frank Zappa U of Nebraska Press, 2007 ISBN 0803260059, 9780803260054 p.144
  10. ^ Antler, Joyce Talking back: Images of Jewish Women in American Popular Culture UPNE, 1998 ISBN 0874518423, 9780874518429 p.76
  11. ^ Peerce, Larry, "Goodbye Columbus (1969)", New York Times
  12. ^ Henry, Gerrit, "Saturday Night's Gilda Radner is ready for prime time", Times Daily (December 10, 1977)
  13. ^ Prell, pp 228ff
  14. ^ Desser, David and Freidman, Lester, American Jewish Filmmakers University of Illinois Press, 2004 ISBN 0252071530, 9780252071539 pp152-153
  15. ^ Brook, pp123ff
  16. ^ Mottram, James, "Interview: Minnie Driver, actress", The Scotsman (January 25, 2011)
  17. ^ Denby, David, "Princess Charming; Princess Put-Upon", New York Magazine (November 10, 1980) p 70
  18. ^ Alperin, Mimi. "JAP Jokes: Hateful Humor." Humor: International Journal of Humor Research 2 (1989) 412-416.
  19. ^ Klein, Amy, "Authors aim to defang JAP, shiksa labels", Baltimore Jewish Times (January 5, 2009)
  20. ^ "Jewish Women Campaign Against 'Princess'", The New York Times, September 7,1987
  21. ^ Schwalb, Susan J.; Sedlacek, William E. Student Attitudes toward "JAPs": The New Anti-Semitism. University of Maryland Counseling Center Research Report #9-89.
  22. ^ Spencer, Gary. “An Analysis of JAP-Baiting Humor on the College Campus." International Journal of Humor Research 2 (1989) 329–348
  23. ^ Beck, Evelyn Torton. (1992) "From 'Kike to Jap': How misogyny, anti-semitism, and racism construct the Jewish American Princess". In Margaret Andersen & Patricia Hill Collins (Eds.) Race, Class, and Gender. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 87–95.
  24. ^ Jill Gregorie. "Princess Bitch: The public perception of the maligned", Generation (undated, 2005)
  25. ^ Newhouse, Alana. "The return of the JAP", Boston Globe, 13 March 2005.
  26. ^ Gibbs, Nancy. "Bigots in the Ivory Tower", Time, 7 May 1990.

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