by Anon on July 30th, 2005
Wifebeaters are often worn by men known derogatively as "white trash", e.g. poor white people living in run down mobile homes. It is a common belief that such men are more likely to beat their wives, hence the name of the shirts which are named after them.
For more info, check out the wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wifebeater_%28slang%29
by theredbaron on May 4th, 2007
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.
by Cowboy-Matter of Fact on May 4th, 2007
Draw your own conclusions.
by monkey do on May 4th, 2007
yayaya was right. After the play/movie Street Car Named Desire came out is when people coined the term "wifebeater". In the Marlin Brando wore that type of shirt and he was all sweaty, drunk, trashy and beat his wife. It's a classic. I remember studying that in a class in college.
by victoria123 on May 4th, 2007
Nobody in Oregon wears this stuff. It is too called, but we have plenty of trashy folks, one of them is an ice-skater.
-Vicki Pilcher from Oregon
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Comments
the question is not about 'white trash' its about a shirt and you answer has yet to answer it!
by Saddened on August 20th, 2005
Your link establishes the veracity of your answer. I never knew any of this!! I guess I lead a sheltered life.
by Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog on December 5th, 2005
Wifebeater came from the 1951 movie A Streetcar Named Desire/Marlon Brando who plays aguy who hits his wife and he wears it
by yayaya on March 13th, 2006
Oddly enough wife beaters are common among the black community.
by Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today on May 4th, 2007