Jewish-American princess

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Jewish-American Princess or JAP is a pejorative characterization of Jewish-American women. The term implies materialistic and selfish tendencies, attributed to a pampered background.

Antisemitism

The stereotype is often the basis for anti-Semitic jokes both inside and outside the Jewish community. In recent years the term has been re-appropriated by some Jewish women as a term of cultural identity, especially in areas with high density Jewish populations. The term "JAP" has been used by some women in order to be identified as privileged, but this manner can be offensive as it attempts to reinforce the stereotype.

Sexism and violence

The term "Jewish-American Princess" 'centers on deprecating sexism,' and pejoratively brands Jewish-American women as spoiled, whining, manipulative, narcissistic, materialistic, overbearing, and disinterested in sex. While the full phrase and acronym is occasionally used wryly by Jews of both sexes as a term of Jewish-hood, the acronym itself is considered at best fashionably vulgar if not degrading. "JAP" is characterized by male and female academics as a "violent" term towards women and Jews. T-shirts with the message "SLAP-A-JAP" and the stereotypical image of ethnically Jewish-American women were at one time considered fashionable. A Syracuse professor of sociology, Dr. Gary Spencer, noted areas on his campus that students declared "JAP-free zones." He also noted a sporting incident on campus where fans heckled women by yelling "JAP! JAP! JAP! Spencer also mentions the "verbal violence" against Jewish women during a college fair at Cornell University where signs read, "Make her prove she's not a JAP, make her swallow." In the Cornell University student newspaper, a cartoon went on to offer advice on how to "exterminate" JAPS.

Discrimination

When researching the stereotype Jill Gregorie noted significant prejudicial and discriminatory actions toward Jewish women who fit the "JAP" stereotype noting one woman on a college campus who went so far as to avoid contact with 'perceived JAPs at all.' “If I see them in an elevator, I always wait for the next one.” Alana Newhouse of the Boston Globe also noted housing ads on college campuses that warned No JAPs

Prevalence

Research has found significant levels of JAP baiting in educational settings throughout the US. Still almost all identified incidents’ have fallen short of the legal definition of a hate crime. There also seems to be a lesser degree of data and research driven knowledge concerning the extent of its usage within the broader public sphere.

Examples in the media

In the book "Death Of A Jewish American Princess: The True Story of a Victim on Trial" the author, Shirley Frandorf, tells the true story of a man, Restaurateur Steven Steinberg, who claimed he stabbed his wife to death while sleepwalking. According to the defense it was his wife's excesses that contributed to Steinberg's actions of which he was acquitted for. The author Frandorf, a psychiatric social worker, argues how the defenses stereotypical characterization of Elana Steinberg turned the victim into the villain. She further goes on to explain how the outcome brought fear to the women in the tight knit Jewish Community of Phoenix.

WHTZ, of New York, recently played a song called "Jap Rap". They also ran a promotion called "Jap For A Day." The Anti-Defamation League complained about the song and its contest. Afterwards, the program director, Mr. Kingston, said, "if it offended anybody, we apologize.

In 2004, the Style network sent out a casting memo for a show initially called "JAP Squad." The E! executive who sent the memo acknowledged its anti-Semitic overtones, reportedly writing, "I know, it’s an awful name. [But] I need girls who know where to go in NYC for the best deals.

Frank Zappa used "Jewish Princess" as the title and subject of a song on his first independent album Sheik Yerbouti. When the Anti-Defamation League brought an objection to his attention, Zappa refused to apologize saying “They exist, so I wrote a song about them."

In the Mel Brooks movie Spaceballs, Princess Vespa tells Lone Starr she is "daughter of King Rowland, king of the Druids!" Lone Starr responds, "Oh great, a Druish princess." Barf chimes in, "Funny, she doesn't look Druish." The play on words is the similarity between "Jewish" and "Druish" and is a reference to Vespa's spoiled attitude.

Footnotes

External links

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Last updated on Thursday March 06, 2008 at 17:51:48 PST (GMT -0800)
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