wifebeaters Re: Closets and Wardrobes

[mskeshaffer]

Here is a pictureof a "wifebeater"
http://www.hanes.com/Hanes/Products/Men-Hanes/Men_ShopByCategory-
Hanes/Men_Tshirts-Hanes/Men_Tshirts_Bestsellers-Hanes/H7996.aspx

I always thought the term was mildly derogatory.  Those that wear 
this as outerwear probably use  the term with pride, but most of us 
see the use of this shirt (alone, not as an undergarment) as a style 
common of lower class, perhaps "trailer trash", where education is 
minimal and domestic disputes prevalent.  I have only seen them in 
white.  For  what its worth, I am from California.

> > Potioncat:
> > > It's a specific type of undershirt. The A style, without 
sleeves. 
> > > It used to be a man's undershirt and 
> > > I think the term has a stereotypic ethnic connotation. 
> > > 
> > > Since you mention it's black, I assume a woman is wearing it. 
> > > ...
> 
> > Carol:
> > It's a man who's wearing it
> > ... And I think you're right about the
> > ethnic origin based on the bit of research I did when I first
> > encountered the term. It seems to suggest the same kind of 
> > misogynist attitude that's sometimes encountered in rap.)
> > 
> > And, for the sake of discussion, if this term isn't generally
> > considered offensive, why isn't it? It's almost as if using the 
term
> > condones wifebeating (manly men wear sexy shirts and beat their
> > wives). Does anyone see what I'm getting at? It doesn't seem like 
> > the kind of term that *ought* to be legitimized.  
> > 
> > I agree that "undershirt" isn't the right term ... undershirts are
> > often, if not usually, white, and can be either T-shirts or A-
shirts
> > (a term I also hadn't heard till I did this bit of research). 
Would
> > "tank top" do, or is that outdated and/or for women? (Maybe the 
guy
> > should just take off his shirt and be done with it!)
> 
> Kemper now:
> Chiming in even though I, too, am familiar with the term.
> 
> While the shirt may have suggested ethnic tendencies in the past, it
> now suggests class especially with the term 'wife-beater'.  Prolly
> cause of many episodes of Cops where they go to domestic disputes 
and
> the man (regardless of race/ethnicity) is frequently wearing a
> 'wife-beater' if he's wearing a shirt at all.
> 
> What I find odd is that the writer describes the shirt as black. You
> should query the color.  Wifebeaters are white.  I realize the style
> comes in other colors, but if it's a man that's wearing it, then it
> should be white.  Unless the man has some class or some wealth... if
> so, then maybe he should be wearing a black undershirt two sizes too
> small.  That, or he shouldn't be wearing a shirt at all.
>
>