Scandinavians in Chicago : The Origins of White Privilege in Modern America

Scandinavian immigrants encountered a strange paradox in 1890s Chicago. Though undoubtedly foreign, these newcomers were seen as Nordics—the "race" proclaimed by the scientific racism of the era as the very embodiment of white superiority. As such, Scandinavians from the beginning enjoyed racial privilege and the success it brought without the prejudice, nativism, and stereotyping endured by other immigrant groups. Erika K. Jackson examines how native-born Chicagoans used ideological and gendered concepts of Nordic whiteness and Scandinavian ethnicity to construct social hegemony. Placing the Scandinavian-American experience within the context of historical whiteness, Jackson delves into the processes that created the Nordic ideal. She also details how the city's Scandinavian immigrants repeated and mirrored the racial and ethnic perceptions disseminated by American media. An insightful look at the immigrant experience in reverse, Scandinavians in Chicago bridges a gap in our understanding of how whites constructed racial identity in America.| Cover Title Copyright Contents List of Tables Acknowledgments Introduction 1. When Scandinavians Were Swarthy: Migration and the Origins of "Scandinavian Stock" in Chicago 2. Vikings and Dumb Blondes: The Construction of American Discourse on Nordic and Scandinavian White 3. The "Swedish Maid": "Strong" Nordic Workers in an Elite American World 4. Scandinavians Behaving Badly: Vice, Representation, and Reform in Early-Twentieth-Century Chicago 5. World War I, Nativist Rhetoric, and the "White Man Par Excellence" 6. The New Nordic Man of the 1920s Conclusion: The Contemporary Importance of Nordic Whiteness Notes Index |" Scandinavians in Chicago is clearly a major scholarly work within whiteness studies and the topic of white privilege." — Norwegian-American Studies "It is an understatement to say that Erika Jackson's book fills an urgent void." — Scandinavian Studies "Recommended." — Choice | Erika K. Jackson is a professor of history at Colorado Mesa University. Until Recently, The Study Of American Ethnic History Focused Almost Entirely On Groups Who Fought For Legitimacy, Operating Under The Premise That Those With Uncontested Whiteness Required No Further Study. Yet, Just As It Is Vital To Study The History Of Groups Who Fought To Identify As White, So Too Is It Essential To Investigate The Process By Which Those Who Achieved Racial Hegemony Were Able To Do So. Scandinavians In Chicago Explores Ideological, Gendered Concepts Of Nordic Whiteness And Scandinavian Ethnicity Employed By Native-born Americans In Chicago During The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries To Construct Societal Hegemony. The Focus Of This Book Advances A More Comprehensive Understanding Of The Scandinavian-american Experience By Examining The Process By Which Nordics Became The Embodiment Of Whiteness And Thus Were Granted Racial Privilege. This Study's Intention Is To Help Bridge The Gap In Our Understandings Of White Racial Identity By Analyzing The History Of Those Who Benefitted Most For A Social Constructed Hierarchy Of Race In America. As Evidenced In The Election Cycle Of 2016, America Is A Country Staunchly Divided By Economic Background, Ideological Positioning, Political Beliefs, And Racial Difference, As Well As In Our Understandings Of Those Differences And How We Got To Where We Are Today-- When Scandinavians Were Swarthy: Migration And The Origins Of Scandinavian Stock In Chicago -- Vikings And Dumb Blondes: The Construction Of American Discourse On Nordic And Scandinavian Whiteness -- The Swedish Maid: Strong Nordic Workers In An Elite American World -- Scandinavians Behaving Badly: Vice, Representation, And Reform In Early-twentieth-century Chicago -- World War I, Nativist Rhetoric, And The White Man Par Excellence -- The New Nordic Man Of The 1920s -- Conclusion: The Contemporary Importance Of Nordic Whiteness Erika K. Jackson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Until recently, the study of American ethnic history focused almost entirely on groups who fought for legitimacy, operating under the premise that those with uncontested whiteness required no further study. Yet, just as it is vital to study the history of groups who fought to identify as white, so too is it essential to investigate the process by which those who achieved racial hegemony were able to do so. Scandinavians in Chicago explores ideological, gendered concepts of Nordic whiteness and Scandinavian ethnicity employed by native-born Americans in Chicago during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to construct societal hegemony. The focus of this book advances a more comprehensive understanding of the Scandinavian-American experience by examining the process by which Nordics became the embodiment of whiteness and thus were granted racial privilege. This study's intention is to help bridge the gap in our understandings of white racial identity by analyzing the history of those who benefitted most for a social constructed hierarchy of race in America. As evidenced in the election cycle of 2016, America is a country staunchly divided by economic background, ideological positioning, political beliefs, and racial difference, as well as in our understandings of those differences and how we got to where we are today"-- Provided by publisher