Conference taveng::bagels

33.0. "Jewish American Prince/ss?" by NIMBUS::FOX () Tue Oct 29 1985 08:13

Dear People:

In the SEXETERA.NOT file, note #29, are "sex jokes", including 
several on Jewish American Princesses (a.k.a. JAPs).  I'd like to 
share with you (or inflict upon you) a commentary I delivered a 
few years ago on a Milwaukee radio station in response to an 
interview with the two young Jewish women who "authored" the "Jewish 
American Princess Handbook". The woman conducting the interview (who I 
later found out is Black) tried really hard to get these women to 
admit that maybe they were being just the least bit racist and 
sexist, but they just giggled.  Incensed, I called up and 
demanded equal time, but settled for the two minute commentary 
broadcast during the local feed to "Morning Edition".

Let me know what you think.  Anti-women flames can be sent to
DEVICE::NULL (:-)).

Bobbi



	She's well fed, well dressed and self-absorbed.  Given 
that description, you'd call her a spoiled young woman.  But add 
the adjective "Jewish", and suddenly she's transformed into a 
"J.A.P." -- a "Jewish American Princess".

	Two young women have recently been touring the country, 
promoting their book, the "Jewish American Princess Handbook".  
Recently, they and their book have been getting attention in the 
Milwaukee media, including an interview on FM-90 [WUWM, 
Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's NPR affiliate 
station].

	The authors have apparently taken every negative trait 
they can thing of to create their model of a "Jewish American 
Princess".  Despite the authors' giggling disclaimers that 
"there's a little Jewish American Princess in all of us", the 
book focuses on _one_ gender, _one_ ethnic group.

	The so-called "Handbook" is insulting to Jewish women.  
Since the stereotype of the "Jewish Mother" has been effectively 
rebutted, it was inevitable that someone would come up with 
another way of putting down Jewish women in the name of social 
commentary.  Only, _this_ stereotype has even less basis in 
reality.

	The term "Jewish American Princess" originated in the 
Jewish community to affectionately describe middle-class Jewish 
American women.  The parents of such a woman typically came from 
families that were poor or working class, and had suffered 
privation, discrimination, and, frequently, persecution.

	Now, having "made it" into the middle class, the parents 
were determined that _their_ children should have it easier.  So 
the children, including the daughters, had all their material 
needs met.  Each daughter was also encouraged to think that _she_ 
was a person in her own right, rather than simply someone who 
always had to subordinate _her_ needs to those of her father, 
brothers, husband and sons.

	It was this independence of spirit which led to 
resentment among some Jewish men.  Women-hating authors, such as 
Phillip Roth, brought the term "Jewish American Princess" to the 
larger, non-Jewish society, adding their own distortions along 
the way.  That the term has been so readily accepted says 
something unfortunate about that society.

	Finally, the book is insulting to Jews as a group.  It 
implies that hedonistic, selfish behavior is rampant and 
tolerated, or even encouraged, by the Jewish community, which is 
far from the truth.  It helps perpetuate the stereotype that all 
Jews are wealthy -- after all, don't all princesses have money?  
It also ignores the historical and current concern of Jewish 
culture with justice and community welfare.

	It sad to see two young women so alienated from, or 
ignorant of, the Jews in America and their history.  It's 
alarming to find the mass media participating in the promotion of 
this book.

	The "Jewish American Princess Handbook":

	It could have been satire, but it had no moral

	It could have been social commentary, but it had no basis 
in reality.

	It should been ignored by the media, but it wasn't

	This is Bobbi Fox.   I'm not a Jewish American 
Princess.  But I am proud to be a Jewish American Woman.

Bobbi,
	First let me say that I found your commentary informative
	and educational to say the least.  

	However, I must say that I find there are varying degrees
	of J.A.P. references in the language.  I am from Long
	Island, which by all standards, has a reputation of having
	the most JAP's per suare mile than any place on earth. 
	I had always thought that the term JAP was conjured by
	other Jews, alas, I am wrong.  Occasionally I have used the
	term JAP to refer to certain women in my neighborhood,
	basically, because the did seem to consider themselves
	'princesses'.  You would probably have had me use the term
	spoiled, so be it; but JAP has become a very common term
	on Long Island and in New York as a whole.  I used to find
	nothing derogatory about the term until I heard some people
	(goyim) use it in a very sarcastic, might I say jealous,
	manner.  This angered myself, and I began to curtail my
	use of the word.  

	I guess what I am saying is that I agree with you and 
	find that the term JAP has been misused tremendously
	and I find it a little aggrevating recently.

	Also, SEXETERA.NOT is on our system and if you find these
	jokes or any other comments as slanderous or degrading
	by all MEANS,  let me or NONAME::CERNESE (Dan) know about
	it.  We do not always have the time to monitor our files
	as things are getting busy and SEXETERA is a very active file.
	
	Mazel Tov on speaking out for what you believe in.

	Michael



	

     You didn't need to look elsewhere for JAPjokes; they were in this
     notesfile (e.g., 10.2, 10.10, 10.11) before reaching SEXETERA.NOT.
     
     There's a line--sometimes easily perceived, sometimes not so easily
     perceived--between laughing at yourself good-naturedly and mocking
     yourself self-ashamedly.  Within a group of Jews, it seems perfectly
     reasonable to joke about non-destructive stereotypes: ('when six
     Jewish families move into a neighborhood, can a Chinese restaurant be
     far behind?')  But, in this forum, both the contributing and reading
     audiences are not limited to Jews, and stereotypes, even non-destructive 
     ones, can foster misunderstanding, resentment, and prejudice.  In
     this notesfile, I am not sure that we are served well by jokes that 
     perpetuate Jewish stereotypes.  (On the other hand, it is surely
     a fundamental element of Jewish tradition to laugh, especially
     at oneself.)
     
     JAPjokes entwine sexist stereotypes with Jewish stereotypes.  Gender-
     related stereotypes can be equally harmful as race-related ones. They
     don't belong in a forum where the attempt at humor can create or
     exacerbate the same types of problems as racist stereotypes. 
     
     --Don

       re .4 (re .2):
       
       I used the term JAPjokes (as distinct from the term that you use,
       'Jap-joke') in the context of a note about Jewish-American
       Princesses, which referred to another note that often used the
       acronym JAP. 
       
       Sorry if you took offense.
       
       --Don

RE: Jewish WOmen.

Am I the only one who finds note 69.92 in SEXETERA offensive ?

Michael

re .6

I would like to find out what the guy was trying to say.  He could have
been a LOT more clear in all his statements/questions.  I am not really sure
if I find it offensive or not because I'm not sure what he meant, but he sure
could have found a better way to say it!  I'm also curious to see if anyone
will answer his question.  I for one don't have the necessary experience.

Jill

Jill, I was asking because I had sent Mr. Lloyd a MAIL
message regarding that notes entry, and his reply was...

"Why take offense, It's TRUE !".  I took this as more of
an offense and and replied negatively.

That was all as of yesterday.  I think I will respond
to the entry publicly.


Michael

Michael,

Yes, I can see how the response that you were sent would tend to cause
offense rather than ease the tension.  I am still waiting for him to justify
his comments publicly.

Jill