# Is "JAP" (Jewish American Princess/Prince) an Offensive Term? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980 "2011-06-10T15:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/41 "2011-06-10T16:49:11Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I submit that this sort of book and its like (several others are linked) are inexplicable if the term is simply an anti-semitic slur. So, if there’s a line of books called “[anything] for Dummies”, then “Dummy” isn’t an insult? _see also_, “Complete Idiot.” ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/42 "2011-06-10T16:52:03Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > It depends on whether it is inexpicable and irrelevant. If I was Black myself and wanted to make clear to the hearer that the asshole I was talking about was also from within my own community, it may well be relevant. > > Obviously, if I was a White guy complaining about a Black man, it would be more dicey, because it would bring up the possibity I thought he was an asshole because I’m racist and hate Black guys for being Black. > > But that isn’t the case with the term JAP. It is almost invariably used by Jews, who presumably do not hate Jews for being Jews. > > Besides which, I think the perjoritave-ness of the term (if that is a word) is being exaggerated. I can’t imagine someone publishing a “Jewish Princess Cookbook” if it was so terribly perjorative. > [@cmkeller](#): > > It’s never meant as a compliment. I don’t consider it racist, simply offensive on an individual level. > > IvoryTowerDenizen: > > Jewish adds that she’s sheltered from the “hard knocks” of the world. Jewish parents have a stereotype of being over-protective. She’s spoiled not merely in that she expects all material good to come her way, but because she can’t imagine that there’s any other way to live. Does this mean I can say ‘nigger’ now? Because that’s bullshit. btw, the “Jewish Princess Cookbook” defines a “Jewish Princess” as: _Ideal for women who enjoys life but not cooking but still want to nurture their families._ That is NOT the definition of a “JAP”. By that definition, I’m a Jewish Princess…except I kind of reject that idea that _any_ woman who can’t cook is a ‘princess’ or ‘has a sense of entitlement’, because apparently all hardworking women, well, cook. Whatever. If you took a poll of Jewish women and let’s say 83 per cent said the term was offensive, would you still think it wasn’t a slur? Curious. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/43 "2011-06-10T16:54:37Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Jewish adds that she’s sheltered from the “hard knocks” of the world. Jewish parents have a stereotype of being over-protective. She’s spoiled not merely in that she expects all material good to come her way, but because she can’t imagine that there’s any other way to live. That would be overprotective **mothers** , or moms who have a ‘mama’s boy’ relationship with their sons. If you’re not Jewish, you’re just a ‘helicopter parent’ or a hippie or something that’s not authoritarian. In Israel and elsewhere, that stereotype is one of the Eastern European mother. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/44 "2011-06-10T16:56:09Z")
This must be some sort of Americanism offenderati thing, because in the UK the term Jap does not have those offensive overtones, just means someone from Japan and nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/45 "2011-06-10T16:58:25Z")
JAP is just an acronym. But I just saw that the authors of the cookbook are BRITISH. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/46 "2011-06-10T17:01:24Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > It’s never meant as a compliment. I don’t consider it racist, simply offensive on an individual level. > > IvoryTowerDenizen: > > Jewish adds that she’s sheltered from the “hard knocks” of the world. Jewish parents have a stereotype of being over-protective. She’s spoiled not merely in that she expects all material good to come her way, but because she can’t imagine that there’s any other way to live. And linking that to being Jewish is the slur. It’s offensive to paint that as a Jewish attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/47 "2011-06-10T17:03:42Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > And linking that to being Jewish is the slur. It’s offensive to paint that as a Jewish attitude. I never understood how a Jewish man could be OK with that stereotype while complaining that everyone thinks his dick is small. _What happens when a Jewish man with an erection walks into a brick wall? He breaks his nose._ ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/48 "2011-06-10T17:12:16Z")
Citizen Pained: > [@](#): > > That would be overprotective mothers, or moms who have a ‘mama’s boy’ relationship with their sons. I think the stereotype applies to both parents, when the child is a girl. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/49 "2011-06-10T17:24:52Z")
What about “white trash?” I guess it could be considered offensive because there is the implication that white people should know/do better. But I don’t think the white part is actually intended to insult white people as a whole. I think jewish people threw the jewish and american part in front of the princess (which every culture has) mostly because it just sounded better and catchier with some extra words thrown in and it also allowed the catch word JAP to be created. Not all slang is created after years of in depth sociological research and devious planning intending to carry deep, dark, and hidden meanings. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/50 "2011-06-10T17:39:32Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > This must be some sort of Americanism offenderati thing, because in the UK the term Jap does not have those offensive overtones, just means someone from Japan and nothing more. I don’t see how that’s an especially American thing. “Paki” is non-offensive in the US to about the same extent that “Jap” for someone from Japan is non-offensive in Britain. In a Jewish context, it seems like it could be mildly self-deprecating, but more offensive if used of someone else. Calling someone a stereotype is worse than claiming it for yourself. Although I never hear it except in reference to the Japanese (and it’s highly offensive in that context). I found it darkly amusing that another term mentioned in that thread was JIP, which can also be heard as an offensive term (‘gyp’). Perhaps there should be some more work done along those lines. (Jewish Israeli Girl After Buying Old Onions?). ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/51 "2011-06-10T17:53:39Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > Does this mean I can say ‘nigger’ now? > > Because that’s bullshit. > > btw, the “Jewish Princess Cookbook” defines a “Jewish Princess” as: _Ideal for women who enjoys life but not cooking but still want to nurture their families._ That is NOT the definition of a “JAP”. > > By that definition, I’m a Jewish Princess…except I kind of reject that idea that _any_ woman who can’t cook is a ‘princess’ or ‘has a sense of entitlement’, because apparently all hardworking women, well, cook. Whatever. > > If you took a poll of Jewish women and let’s say 83 per cent said the term was offensive, would you still think it wasn’t a slur? > > Curious. I think it generally _is_ a slur, but that some are adopting it and making of it their own. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/52 "2011-06-10T17:58:44Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > JAP is just an acronym. But I just saw that the authors of the cookbook are BRITISH. Well yeah, but it is referenced in this (very American) article as part of a larger trend. [http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/national\_news/authors\_aim\_to\_defang\_jap\_shiksa\_labels/9748](http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/national_news/authors_aim_to_defang_jap_shiksa_labels/9748) > [@](#): > > “I am not sure you really want to be using that word,” I say, explaining that Jewish American Princess is a rather pejorative stereotype of Jewish women. > > Turns out, maybe I was wrong. Maybe offense at the implications of JAP (spoiled, materialistic, carping, demanding and frigid) and the requisite JAP jokes (“What’s a JAP’s favorite wine? I want to go to Florida!”) is a thing of the past. > > Two new and very different books bring the subject of Jewish women stereotypes back into modern conversation. > > “The Jewish Princess Cookbook: having your cake & eating it” (McBooks Press, 2008) by Georgie Tarn and Tracey Fine is a best-selling cheeky British cookbook hoping to reclaim the Jewish princess stereotype. > > … > > “So what is a Jewish Princess, I hear you ask?” Tarn writes in the introduction to the cookbook. “Well, the usual stereotype seems to be ‘spoiled little rich girl who spends all her days shopping and beautifying herself’—let me tell you that is simply untrue and quite unfair. After all, I never spend all day shopping and beautifying myself! I just like to enjoy life, and part of the enjoyment of life is food and feeding your family.” > > The 200-plus-page cookbook is colored in pastels and illustrated with a green-eyed, black-haired woman and pictures of lipstick, sunglasses, purses and champagne (“Pink Princess Champagne, naturally”), peppered with JAP jokes (“What does a Jewish Princess make for dinner? Reservations.”) and Princess Pledges (“I pledge to have a clean and tidy home [but I never said I would do the cleaning and tidying]). Amid the kitsch is also a genuine cookbook, with traditional explanations of Jewish dietary rules, traditional (British) soups, salads, appetizers, entrees and desserts—not too shabby for women who say they don’t “particularly” love cooking. (“I mean, we all have to eat, and even Jewish Princesses can’t go out to eat every night,” they write.) > > “Positive, Productive … Princess!” the duo shouts in unison from a stage to an audience of some 50 women during a recent appearance at the JCC in Irvine, Calif. Wearing fuchsia aprons that say “Designer Dirt” and scary-high stiletto heels, Tarn and Fine are close to what you might expect of self-described princesses. Their British accents are crisp, their hair blown out and nails unchipped by dishwashing liquid. > > “Why is it only Jewish women who have the hair done? It’s derogatory. Everybody does it,” says Fine, 44, as the two women eat post-lecture lunch using their cookbook’s recipes—prepared by a caterer, of course. “It’s not just Jews in the nails salon—it’s everyone.” > > “Anyone can be a princess, you don’t have to be Jewish,” says Tarn, 43, referring to the princess movement where girls and teenagers revel in princess dolls, games and fashions. “As a little girl you’re told, ‘you look like such a princess,’ and as you get older who’s going to say to you ‘Princess?’ “ > > Not surprisingly, others see no reason to warm up to the stereotype. > > … > > But the British princesses say they haven’t come across criticism of this sort—not even after they hit No. 1 at the British department store Selfridges, or from their weekly column in The Jewish Chronicle of London, or on an eight-city tour in the United States. > > If there is negativity around the term, “we want it turn it around,” Tarn says. She says people come up to them and say, “We’re Jewish princesses and we’re proud of it.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/53 "2011-06-10T18:28:26Z")
I have never used the term JAP used except as an insult or criticism. Using it seems to imply, to me, that a majority of Jewish women have the unpleasant characteristics associated with it. So, yes, it’s offensive unless a Jewish woman is using it to mock herself. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/54 "2011-06-10T18:33:33Z")
Yes, Malthus, I read the article in its entirety. It was saying what you just said. But it also stated that not all women find it funny- and for good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/55 "2011-06-10T18:41:56Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/56 "2011-06-10T18:46:01Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > Yes, Malthus, I read the article in its entirety. It was saying what you just said. But it also stated that not all women find it funny- and for good reason. I can understand that, sure. The point here is that the authors aren’t totally joking about it either - they seem to really be saying ‘yup, we are real-life Jewish princesses. And we like it’. That’s what I mean when I say that yes, it is generally a slur, but that some embrace it as a lifestyle choice-thing. This would be difficult if the term was really harshly perjorative or anti-semitic. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/57 "2011-06-10T19:02:34Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > That’s what I mean when I say that yes, it is generally a slur, but that some embrace it as a lifestyle choice-thing. > > This would be difficult if the term was really harshly perjorative or anti-semitic. I don’t know why you keep saying this. Some women and men embrace “slut” – it is still pejorative and an insult most of the time. Some black people embrace “nigger” – it’s still pejorative and an extremely offensive insult. “Complete Idiot” is the title of an entire line of books – it’s still pejorative and an insult. The fact that a couple of annoying british women want to claim Jewish-Princessism for their own, does not make JAP not pejorative or not an ethnically-based insult. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/58 "2011-06-10T19:42:55Z")
Fine with me. I would like to have the terms white trash, hillbilly and redneck declared offensive and off limits, as well. Fair’s fair. ETA: Oh, yeah, and cracker. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/59 "2011-06-10T19:51:42Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I don’t know why you keep saying this. Some women and men embrace “slut” – it is still pejorative and an insult most of the time. Some black people embrace “nigger” – it’s still pejorative and an extremely offensive insult. “Complete Idiot” is the title of an entire line of books – it’s still pejorative and an insult. > > The fact that a couple of annoying british women want to claim Jewish-Princessism for their own, does not make JAP not pejorative or not an ethnically-based insult. As I said - to quote myself, if fact in the bit you have quoted - “yes, it is generally a slur”. Where did I say the opposite? I do not agree, for the reasons stated, that it is an “ethnically-based insult”. I was challenged to provide an example of someone who found something positive in it - as a matter of fact, by you: > [@](#): > > As for it not being pejoritive… please share with me the positive connotations it has. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980/60 "2011-06-10T19:54:45Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > As I said - to quote myself, if fact in the bit you have quoted - “yes, it is generally a slur”. Where did I say the opposite? > > I do not agree, for the reasons stated, that it is an “ethnically-based insult”. > > I was challenged to provide an example of someone who found something positive in it - as a matter of fact, by you: Except you didn’t. You found someone who is trying to claim it for a new meaning. Who acknowledged that everything implied by the term “JAP” is negative. And in any event, I was not challenging you to " to provide an example of someone who found something positive in it. " I was asking was part of the “JAP” steortype was positive. As clearly demonstrated by your example, there is no positive aspect to the term “JAP.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-jap-jewish-american-princess-prince-an-offensive-term/584980.md?page=4)