Stereotyping has plagued society since the dawn of civilization, and we are all aware that Jews are one of the most heavily stereotyped groups in America. The 'Jewfro,' the big noses, careers as lawyers and doctors, the wealth, Nice Jewish Boys, JAPs, all stereotypes that have persevered throughout decades of progress and forward movement.
According to Wikipedia, a JAP is a " Jewish American Princess," or "a pejorative stereotype that portrays some Jewish women as spoiled brats, implying materialism and selfishness, attributed to a pampered to a pampered or wealthy background." This term was coined in the mid-20th century and we are seemingly unable to shake it. The term "JAP" was introduced after World War II, has been perpetuated in movies, sitcoms, and even in our day to day lives ever since then. Some wonder how this stereotype was adapted to Jewish women in America because most women who made it to the US from Europe after the Holocaust were poor, but it stuck.
Growing up in the Midwest, I was unaware that the stereotype of being a JAP existed. I was unaware of this stereotype because it is not something I would use to describe any of my Jewish girlfriends growing up, nor did I hear any of my peers use it. Personally, I was raised to be a go-getter and virtually self-sustainable. I was never showered with gifts or money, but my mom did what she could with what she had financially. I was never robbed of any experiences growing up, but I was most certainly not spoiled. Therefore, me being called a "JAP" would have been pretty wild to me.
I know there are certainly plenty of young American Jewish women who have had similar experiences to my own and do not resonate or associate with the term JAP, and maybe even find it offensive.
It was not until I went off to college that I became fully aware that this stereotype was not only real, but a very commonly used to describe Jewish girls my age. Not only was being called a JAP an insult, but it seemed to have transformed into a mold people within our generation believed fit nearly every young Jewish woman. When people would ask "Oh, you're Jewish? You don't seem Jewish?" I always wondered what they meant by that. I then realized that I did not seem "Jewish" based on the fact that I did not fit the stereotype of being a "JAP," or of what they believed a young Jewish woman would be like.
Not only did I experience myself subjected to this stereotype, but I found myself feeding into it as well, which is something I am not proud of. As I went through sorority recruitment during my freshman year, there were chapters that were "filled with JAPs" and because I did not want to associate myself with the negative connotation of that term, I steered clear of those houses. I did not realize until I matured and became an upperclassman how wrong I had been.
Not only was I being judgmental of my people, but I was generalizing a group of women for no fault of their own and I failed to even give them a chance based on a stereotype perpetuated by members of society that know nothing of the Jewish experience in America.
What people don't realize is that it is relatively hard to be an American Jew. Less than 5% of the United States call themselves members of the Jewish faith, AND the United States makes up nearly 40% of the world's Jewish population.
Being a Jew in America is extreme antisemitism by any means, but more due to the divide between the religious and non-religious sects. The ultra-orthodox tend to believe that there is no truth to the reform movement, while members of the reform movement tend to the view the ultra-orthodox as pompous and self-righteous, and there is very little room for people that fall in the middle, like me. And then when you have members outside of our community making assumptions about our lifestyles and anti-Semitic remarks, it gets even harder to want to associate with being Jewish.
Unfortunately, as a young Jewish woman, I understand where the "JAP" stereotype stems from, and I know that there are Jewish girls that have lived very privileged lives. However, these women should not be punished for living this way, and it doesn't make them any less human. On the other hand, to assume that every young Jewish American woman you meet is a JAP is a huge generalization. In general, we as people should aim to end stereotyping, but we are worlds away from that stride. Thankfully, we have women like Sarah Silverman and Lena Dunham who attempt to eradicate the stereotype using their comedic abilities.
All in all, stereotyping a population of any sort is not beneficial to anyone. We are all individuals with individual experiences and should be treated as such. So what if you have money and like to spend it? So what if you were spoiled? If these experiences do not influence one's ability to be a humble and good person, then their background should not matter. And if you feel the need to call someone a "JAP" or any other racial slur, maybe you should reevaluate why you are doing so. We are all humans, and living in the world we live in today, we should aim to spread love and not judge someone based on their culture, race, or religious beliefs.
