White Koan

In the United States, White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) is a sociological term used to describe white, upper class, Protestant Americans, usually of British descent, who are generally part of the white dominant culture. Some sociologists and commentators use WASP more broadly to include all White Protestant Americans of Northwestern European and Northern European ancestry. It was seen to be in exclusionary contrast to Catholics, Jews, Irish, immigrants, southern or eastern Europeans, and the non-White. WASPs have dominated American society, culture, and politics for most of the history of the United States. Critics have disparaged them as "The Establishment". The term often correlates to Old Stock Americans of British ancestry or more specifically the original ones who are descended from the principal 17th century English settlers who formed the bedrock and demographic core of the nation. Although the social influence of wealthy WASPs has declined since the 1960s, the group continues to play a central role in American finance, politics, and philanthropy. WASP is also used for similar elites in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The 1998 Random House Unabridged Dictionary says the term is "sometimes disparaging and offensive".