White Anglo-Saxon Protestant

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White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (acronym: WASP) is a term describing White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. They are a social group of white protestants in the United States. They are often of British descent, and typically wealthy and well-connected.

They are not so influential as they were.[1] However, WASPs are still well placed in major financial, business and legal firms, and in universities. Most U.S. presidents belong to this group. Exceptions include John F. Kennedy (who was a Catholic), Barack Obama (African American), and Joe Biden (also a Catholic).

References[change | change source]

  1. Kaufmann, Eric P. 2004. The decline of the WASP in the United States and Canada. In Kaufmann E.P. (ed) Rethinking ethnicity: majority groups and dominant minorities. London, New York: Routledge. pp. 61–83. ISBN 0-41-531542-5