Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Etymology
  5. / American Slang

by AnswerAsh on July 27th, 2005

AnswerAsh

Question

Help answer this question below.

Why are rib tanks often called 'wife-beaters'?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by theredbaron on May 4th, 2007

    theredbaron

    I believe the term really came into popluar use after the advent of reality police shows, starting with "Cops". It seemed that, more often than not, when the police were called to respond to a domestic disturbance call they would encounter a drunk, dirty guy in his tank undershirt. It seemed to be a uniform of sorts for "wife beaters". And it was often the most noticable thing about the guy back when most of the accused had their faces blurred out on the screen.

    Comments

    • That's what I was going to put. I remember that phrase becoming popular with the show COPS.

      Kuuipo125

      by Kuuipo125 on May 4th, 2007

    • We called them wife-beaters all the way back in 1980... and most likely prior to that... They came into vogue as acceptable shirts when Miami Vice hit the TV - we wore them in many colors with our unconstructed jackets.

      AND Karmakitty is correct. They are stereotypically the shirt of choice for "redneck men" with a proclivity of spousal abuse...

      Jeffers

      by Jeffers on May 4th, 2007

    • I am a redneck as you say. I am proud to be a redneck, but I've never put hands on a female. So maybe your choice words aren't so great bro. but they are pretty close. Although blacks wear wifebeaters more often then many of the people classified as "Redneck" but still, give us credit for things if you'd like. The reason many of the "Rednecks" I know wear them is because they are always working on cars in shops, and its alot easier to just take off your top shirt, and have that on, so after you get it all oily and stuff if you need to go somewhere you can just take it off, and put your top shirt back on.

      Th3 Last Sin

      by Th3 Last Sin on August 7th, 2007

    • Dude - I'm not particularly proud or embarrassed to say I'm of redneck stock myself... southern and central IL.

      I didn't name them "wife beaters" but I can tell you how they were viewed when I was a kid growing up in the 70's and thereafter...

      I certainly don't mean to imply if you wear one, you must be a wifebeater... I've never hit a woman either - and I wore them in every shade of the rainbow. My little sister also wore/wears them on occasion and SHE refers to them as "wifebeaters" too...

      note I said they are "STEREOTYPICALLY" -

      Jeffers

      by Jeffers on August 7th, 2007

    • "Steroetypically"

      True that, true that.

      Th3 Last Sin

      by Th3 Last Sin on August 8th, 2007

    • how do you know that more blacks wear them? It's funny that you get offended when someone makes an assumption about you, then you turn around and do the exact same thing.

      Ree26

      by Ree26 on September 18th, 2008

    • Like
    • Report

    6 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Why are rib tanks often called 'wife-beaters'?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company