Talk:Wifebeater (shirt)

From article

 * A shirt of this type worn by women and often more fitted than the male version is sometimes referred to as a "boy beater".

General
Voicing my agreement that tank top shouldn't be on VfD; question though: I always heard of this in the context of a button-front shirt with the sleeves removed... - Hephæstos|&#167; 04:05, 16 Feb 2004 (UTC)

About a week ago I opened a livejournal poll, whose results strongly corroborate the term referring to a tank top, not a shirt with buttons. Matt gies 04:09, 16 Feb 2004 (UTC)


 * I still disagree, although perhaps the vernacular has changed since the '80s. I think the axe handle in the picture might have skewed the poll. - Hephæstos|&#167; 04:11, 16 Feb 2004 (UTC)


 * I have never heard of a wifebeater having buttons (I'm American). Do any tank tops have buttons?  I also think wifebeaters are n't only associated with whites or italians -- it is a big part of hip hop music also.--Esprit15d 02:22, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

I think you missed the point. Think of the cheap flannel shirts that some men wear with the sleeves either torn off or badly cut off with scissors. BrianGCrawfordMA 18:14, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

I don't know about elsewhere, but in Australia a wife beater refers only to a white singlet. Other colours are not referred to as a wife beater. They're usually referred to by colour instead (eg a blue singlet is usually referred to as a "bluey"). ShaneKing 04:50, 16 Feb 2004 (UTC)

In australia i have only ever heard the blue bonds chesty been refered to as a wife beater never the white ones. TJ

I believe the standard is the same in Canada - wifebeaters are usually white, although stains may alter that. WilyD 14:06, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

I've known a wifebeater only as a white sleeveless undershirt, basically just what DeNiro is wearing in the picture, not just any tank top. Also, I think the last pack of them I bought called them "A-shirts". Does that sound right to anyone? Obviously they aren't called wifebeaters on the package. Should A-shirt redirect here? -R. fiend 8 July 2005 18:33 (UTC)

I've never heard the term Wife-beater used in Australia. I actually thought a wife-beater was a jumper type garment until recently. I've always heard it called a singlet. 203.59.205.184 11:17, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

NO! Wifebeater is its own category. It is not a good idea to merge it. People will also have a much harder time locating it. It is inappropriate to move it!


 * "A-shirt" would seem to indicate "athletic shirt" or "athletic undershirt" as I've seen on other packaging. knoodelhed 21:07, 17 August 2005 (UTC)

"A-shirt" is apparently what they're called by most companies that make them, so I really think that term should be here. I was calling them "A-shirts" before I'd ever heard of "tank top" or "wife beater." I'm changing the article accordingly. BrianGCrawfordMA 18:16, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

They call them A-shirts to contrast them with T-shirts. T-shirts, with sleeves stretched out, form the letter T. Sleeveless shirts do not. I guess they sort of look like an A. Kinda similar to starwars planes, X-wing, Y-wing, and A-wing.

Extra agreement that "wifebeater" better applies to a flannel shirt with its sleeves ripped at the shoulders. It may have meant this sort of T-shirt in the past, but now applies exclusively to these shirts, particularly when worn by a white trash sort. The US comic "Larry the Cable Guy" is the perhaps the best example of this. There's a wiki on him; if still unconvinced, see this picture: http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0007QS4T6.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Actually I've never heard a white singlet referred to as a 'wifebeater' in Australia. What you call a 'wifebeater' has always been referred to as a "Jackie Howe", I believe, or a "Chesty Bonds"

Yes. The working class blue singlet is a "wifebeater" in Australia. — Preceding unsigned comment added by JimmyQT (talk • contribs) 02:05, 19 January 2019 (UTC)

A Streetcar Named Desire
ISTR in that "screaming in the rain" scene Stan was wearing an ordinary T-shirt. But I might need to watch the movie again to be sure. knoodelhed 21:07, 17 August 2005 (UTC)


 * The "Stella" link is nothing to do with shirts. PeteVerdon 17:50, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

Stella Artois
I heard Stella the beer was called wifebeater here in the UK because when police go to check on domestic violence calls, they usually see cans or bottles of Stella Artois lieing around. 80.229.234.135 04:57, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Yes, it is a very common nickname for Stella Artois, due to it's slightly higher than usual alcohol strength (5.2% ABV, compared to the usual 5% ABV). Strong Spanish lagers are often known similarly as "Senorita beater". These aren't related to the use for a vest/tank top/singlet/etc though :) DWaterson 21:16, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Article name
I think Wifebeater (shirt) would be a more appropriate title for the article. Does anyone agree? Coffee 18:26, 6 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Wifebeater (shirt) sounds good to me. Alexander 007 19:02, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Besides, one can imagine "Wifebeater" acquiring additional slang meanings, thus the disambiguation (shirt) would be the best. Alexander 007 19:13, 6 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Great. :) Coffee 19:15, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

Isn't their proper name "A-shirt"? Seems to be what I saw on the package (they're certainly never marketed or sold as wifebeaters). Maybe we should rename it that. Obviously mention their other name prominently prominently: "A-shirts, popularly referred to as wifebeaters..." It seems to me we should avoid parentheses in titles, when possible, and we should stick to the proper names of things, in general. -R. fiend 19:16, 6 February 2006 (UTC)


 * But having the article under the title Wifebeater is so much more interesting, and seems to set up the best tone for the article. Most of the material also revolves around the wifebeater meaning. A proposed move to "A-shirt" is controversial, and we should at the least vote on it before any move is made. Alexander 007 19:19, 6 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Well, I certainly think we should vote (or at least discuss) which is why I mentioned it here instead of going ahead and doing it myself. I think, as an encyclopedia, we should be more concerned with what is accurate rather than interesting. And I think it best that we stick with our naming conventions. Which phrase is more popualr is difficult to assess. I think the fact that most adults probably don't call them wifebeaters, and certainly the manufacturers and sellers do not, says something about what one should expect an encyclopedia to call them. I have no problem with the slang name being the primary topic of the article (though I don't think it should be the only one), but that does not mean the title has to match. -R. fiend 19:56, 6 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Agree. Wifebeater is not used in formal conversation. I think news organizations in the U.S. use "undershirt" or "white tank top", but the modesty includes them in a larger category of clothing. Rename to A-shirt or Merge information with tank top. As a side note, Chicago 'L' uses the name the city refers to it as, despite nearly all people knowing it as The Chicago El. --Grocer 02:02, 2 April 2006 (UTC)

Of course a singlet or A-shirt (being from New Zealand I've never heard of this term) isn't going to marketed as a wifebeater - it's inappropriate. To try and draw a (rough) comparison, there's a wikipedia topic for "Nigger" and a wikipedia topic for "African-American". The wifebeater topic isn't going to talk about brands or singlets or where they originated from or how they're manufactured, as the singlet/undershirt article might, but it (does) mention the origin of the term and it's relevence in society...etc..etc, Keep it as Wifebeater (shirt)

offensive?
I'm 67 years old, and I heard the expression today for the first time. A lot of people would take the term to be quite offensive, arguing that referring flippantly to wifebeating is disgusting. Here in the Midwest US, I've only ever heard them referred to as 'dago tees.' Probably also offensive, but perhaps less so... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 107.141.240.237 (talk) 19:24, 3 February 2016 (UTC)

I disagree that it is considered offensive in the US. It is the only name they go by. --65.25.219.139 02:30, 23 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Uh, A-shirt? Tank top? Haikupoet 04:20, 23 February 2006 (UTC)
 * What the hell is an A-shirt? I've only heard of wifebeater or beater.
 * At least in the northeast US the term wifebeater is almost totally pervasive. If you said A-Shirt they would have no idea what you were talking about. Tank top means something different, and can extend to any other sleeveless shirt regardless of color or fit.SteelyDave 05:25, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
 * I would also disagree that the term is offensive. In my part of the country(Maryland, Pennsylvania, DC, etc, I've never once heard the term "A-shirt".  While a few people may refer to them as sleeveless/muscle shirts, the most common term is certainly "wifebeater" or simply "beater" --Ravensfan5252 20:25, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

I fourth/fifth/ or whatever the notion. It is definitely, and exclusively, a "wifebeater" on the East and West Coasts of the US. Nothing offensive about it. --82.131.187.160 19:22, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

--I would like to back up this comment, as I have never in my life heard of an A-shirt. If I came across this name, I would have no idea what it is. The most common names/terms for this clothing item are *as I see it*: (in order from most common - less common) [ 1) Tank top ... 2) Wife-beater ... 3) Sleeveless (T-)shirt/Sleeveless T or simply Sleeveless... 4) Muscle-shirt ... 5) the generic/encompassing term of T-shirt or Tee ... 6) (White)Trash-top  ] And for Women: (in order from terms I hear more - hear less) 1) Women's tank top ... 2) Halter top ... 3) Boob tube ... 4) Boy beater ... 5) Camisole ... 6) the generic term of Blouse ...So those are the names I have heard of for the Tank top and women's Tank top, names which I had been aware of before this article. And again, never had I heard of A-shirt, which I had to google to come to understand it is short for Athletic shirt, which makes more sense to me than calling it an A-shirt. When I first read A-shirt, I tried thinking of a shirt shaped like an A, since the T-shirt is named because it is shaped like a T.... but alas, I could not. I even googled synonyms of Tank top, and the first page I got with a list did not even include A-shirt. So it is my opinion that renaming the page A-shirt does not make alot of sense. If you are committed on renaming the page, I think it would make much more sense to rename it with Tank top, as everyone knows what a Tank top is, and is not offensive.... which I have listed as the most common term for this type of shirt. 71.212.94.23 (talk) 04:08, 7 April 2014 (UTC)--Preturnatúl

-I want to add that I have heard "Wife beater" as a very normal and widely used term for tight fitting, white tank tops my entire life and do not find the name offensive in the least, nor have I ever heard of any objections to it's usage until now. When you are referring to the shirt, you aren't talking about domestic violence. It doesn't even cross your mind. You are talking about a shirt and that just happens to be Its name. I'm honestly baffled that people are so offended by it. I have also never in my life heard the term "A-shirt". And there are actually some companies that do refer to the garment as "wifebeater" on their websites. As many others have said, if I saw an article on "A-shirts", I would be thoroughly confused. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Curtainbach (talk • contribs) 02:27, 28 November 2017 (UTC)

A-shirt is the proper name
A-shirt is the proper name. When I worked at Montgomery Wards from 1984 to 1986 that was what was on the label. Some guys who bought them just called them T-shirts even thought they don't have sleeves.

I didn't hear them called wife beaters until COPS (TV series) which would often show wife beaters wearing wife beaters.

Note that I live in Kansas City, MO and before that I lived in Kansas. Other comments on here seem to suggest that wife beater was used more in other parts of the country. --Gbleem 15:13, 29 April 2006 (UTC)

I agree that "wifebeater" refers to a white colored sleevless shirt. Also, want to point out that I removed a photo of Hugh Jackman and replaced it with one of Marlon Brando (fair use). The photo of Mr. Jackman (from one of the X-Men movies) didn't show him wearing a wifebeater and instead actually accompanied a reference to the film. I know he's a good looking guy and that x-men are cool, but photos in articles need to be relevant to the subject.

Move to A-shirt
As many people have commented that having the article on the shirt style as "wifebeater" is inappropriate and offensive, I will move the shirt to "A-shirt" soon unless there is significant objection or if a better name is presented. (Certainly the slang nickname should be mentioned in the article, but the articles should not be structred to make the nickname the sole point of the article.) -- Infrogmation 17:20, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I would strongly object to moving and restructuring the article. "A-shirt" does deserve its own article, but "wifebeater" is a significant term, at least in American culture, and it deserves the thorough explanation given here. I agree with the observation, that, at least in the United States, it is the most commonly understood and used name for the item. Yes, manufacturers call them "A-shirts," but most people don't know what an A-shirt is.Acsenray 17:42, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Yes, the shirt themselves are often just known as "undershirts" and various regional terms (eg, "esplanades" around here). I note at present undershirt is simply a redirect, probably it should be turned into an article, I think. If you have a strong feeling we need a seperate article at "wifebeater (shirt)", that article should be specifically about the insulting slang term and its usage, certainly not about the shirt. -- Infrogmation 21:29, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I made a poor stubby start at the needed undershirt article. Improvements very welcome. -- Infrogmation 22:09, 25 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I went looking for this page under the name "wife beater" because I wanted to know what the term means. It's in use all over the place - I've seen it on two blogs in the last few days, at least one of which is written by a woman.  It may be offensive, but it's language.  If there's a Wikipedia article for fuck, there should be one for this too.  By all means move the bulk of the article to some less contentious title if you must, but keep short description here of the meaning of the term.--Eric TF Bat 06:32, 27 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I think that "wifebeater" ought to be merged into "a-shirt", as that is the technical term for the garment, "wifebeater" should be a redirect to "a-shirt". Yes, the term is offensive, which is noted in the article, but we're not in the business of Bowdlerization here. --K e rowyn Leave a note 00:19, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

I support the move (with a redirect or disambig at wifebeater) not because it's offensive, but because A-shirt is its proper name. Sure, they're called wifebeaters informally, but they are not sold or marketed as such. No companies call them that. It's a pretty clear-cut case to me. As for Acsenary's objections, I think A-shirt certainly passes the Pokemon test. When we have separate articles for every single model of cell phone ever made (as we nearly do now) a piece of clothing that a huge proportion of the population wears daily is certainly warrants an article. "Wifebeater" as a term should still be discussed in the article, as it is now, but under it's true name. -R. fiend 16:27, 20 December 2006 (UTC)
 * WP:NAME specifically gives that things are placed at articles that go by their most common name in English, not by any official name. Hence Republic of Korea is a redirect to South Korea and so on.  I would also strongly object to moving an article from a well known name to an unknown one, that may even be a hoax name. WilyD 20:44, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 * The problem of course is deciding what is the most common name in English, and whose English that might be! Wifebeater to my knowledge has never been used in Australia to describe clothing.  A-shirt would be equally meaningless to most people.  Singlet would be the usual term for the item that was originally an undergarment with narrow straps across the shoulders and a low neck.  Sleeveless t-shirt is the term for just that - a t-shirt without sleeves.  Tank top is an equivalent term for singlet, but sounds a little outdated and 70s-ish.  ☸ Moilleadóir 06:01, 24 March 2007 (UTC) ☏

Boy Beater
Boy beater redirects here, but the article gives no definition of it (a female version of a wife beater). Someone should put a sentance or two in the article about it. --CannedLizard 19:44, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

Pop culture/media references
Wherever the article ends up... There should be a mention in the pop culture section of the term's use on either the show "Wife Swap" or "Trading Spouses" (I'm not sure which), a clip of which was prominently featured on the show "The Soup" within the past year, probably on the "Reality Show Clip Time" segment. It was from one of those shows where wives from two very different families trade places for a short period and change things around to suit them. The wife was shown continually telling one of the boys to "put on your wifebeater," which had an especially outlandish effect in that context. (Obviously the person who makes the addition will have to be more familiar than I!) Lawikitejana 02:53, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Multiple slang terms
Most of the names mentioned are all colloquial and slang, in proper and academic english term would be undergarment or the like. *Daijinryuu*

Photo
that is the worst possible photo for this article - a scrawny guy in a top that is too big for him... your typical wifebeater would be bulky and broad, and think of himself as macho... bad photo Saccerzd 16:09, 1 November 2006 (UTC)


 * I agree about the picture... it is horrible. DLX 19:06, 1 November 2006 (UTC)


 * I agree the picture isn't great, but as for a wifebeater being bulky and broad, and thinking of himself as macho, that may be true if the article were directly about men that beat their wives. But in this case the article is about the article of clothing, which can be worn by anyone Pnkrockr 15:33, 7 November 2006 (UTC)


 * I disagree. My brother weighs about 150lbs, and he wears nothing but wifebeaters, and so do a lot of other skinny people.  Saying that only muscle bound men wear wifebeaters is stupid.  -the Reverend AG

that picture is of a user called scepia--72.184.201.3 04:27, 29 November 2006 (UTC)
 * Can anyone confirm that the picture is actually of a "male" as the caption says? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 142.167.88.21 (talk) 08:08, 8 December 2006 (UTC).

Unsourced Origin of Phrase "Wifebeater"
I personally coined this term in 1983 or 1984 in reference to a friend's date who was wearing said shirt. I said "be careful, he's wearing a wife beater shirt." I also used the term Kowalski for the shirt but wife beater seemed to be more understandable to the less literate crowd. It caught on throughout high school and I continued to introduce it in college. Years later, I would be surprised by its use by people I didn't know and in the media. Whether I was the first, I don't know but it was original to me when I first said it. I often wonder if it just spread from that. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2605:E000:3C91:300:C9CB:9271:CEAD:2FC2 (talk) 19:42, 6 March 2016 (UTC)

Tom Meehan? 1998? Clearly false. Kelly Hardin, Random House The Mavens' Word of the Day. They date the word to 1996. Android8 01:40, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

exist
Should this page even exist? 144.132.216.253 04:21, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Yes, it should. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 175.33.17.241 (talk) 05:26, 11 July 2018 (UTC)