The Wife Beater Gayle Rosenwald Smith

 

The Wife Beater

                                                        Gayle Rosenwald Smith

Summary

 The Wife Beater is a definition essay. Smith defines the term wife beater and stands against the term for it underestimates women and promotes domestic violence. She refers to the Oxford Dictionary and the World Book Dictionary while defining the phrase wife beater. According to the oxford dictionary, wife beater is

1.     A man who physically abuses his wife

2.    A tank-style underwear shirt

For the World Book Dictionary, the term wife-beater originated in the 1970s, from the stereotype of the Midwestern male wearing an undershirt while beating his wife. These shirts became quite popular in the 1980s. They were popular among men, women and even kids. All the sportspersons and professionals wore them. Fashion designers have popularized the shirt making it available in different colors, sizes, and price ranges. Smith presents the statistics of the violent act of wife beating. More than 4 Million women are victims of domestic abuse each year. They are being severely beaten by their boyfriends and husbands each year. In the Unites states, domestic violence occurs in over 2 million households every year. The average age of the domestic abuser is thirty one. Finally, she ended the essay stating that manliness is not equal to violence.

Questions

1.    Why is Smith “disturbed” by the name “wife-beater”? Do you think her concern is justified?

Smith is disturbed by the name ‘wife-beater’ because this name is harmful. It encourages domestic violence. For some people there is nothing wrong in the name, and name has nothing to do with the violence. But for her the name is the issue since it is against the honor and self-respect of women. The women who wear these shirts do not see the link between this name and domestic abuse. The businesspersons do not see any harm in it since they make money selling the name. But it has a long-term impact especially on the youngsters.

 Her concern is justified. She has put the evidences and statistics to support her cause. This name is likely to add fuel to the existing violence against women in America. And Moreover, what will the children learn from this? Thus, the name of the shirt is unacceptable since it seems to promote domestic violence.

2.    In paragraph 3, Smith says, “The name is the issue”; in paragraph 11, she says, “It’s not just the name that worries me.” What does she mean by each statement? Do these two statements contradict each other?

These two statements seem to contradict with each other, but they make sense. When she says ‘It’s not just the name that worries me’, she does not dismiss the overtones of the term wife-beater. Here, she means to say that she would not have opposed the name if it had not had its implied meaning. The name represents male dominance, and recognizes physical abuse as an acceptable means of control.

3.    What relationship does Smith see between the name of a sleeveless undershirt and the prevalence of family violence? Does she believe a causal connection does — or could — exist? If so, which is the cause, and which is the effect?

There is cause and effect relationship between the name of a sleeveless undershirt and the prevalence of family violence. We have seen violence against women from the very beginning of human civilization. Men have showed abusive nature toward women. Thus the popularity of the shirt named wife-beater reflects that patriarchal attitude towards females. Thus, the prevalence of domestic violence is the cause and the name of the shirt is the effect. The name is the product of existing violence in the society. However, in the long run, the T-shirt can be cause of domestic violence. The children being influenced by this name may become the domestic abusers in their adulthood. This worries Smith the most. So she opposes the name.

4.    In paragraph 12, Smith acknowledges that the shirt “can make both men and women look sexier.” Does this remark in any way undercut her credibility? Explain.

Smith remarks the shirt can make both men and women look sexier. This statement does not make her argument weak. This remark doesn’t undercut her credibility. She uses this pleasant statement only to shift from the serious tone. Furthermore, her remark seems to be a warning to the users. She wants them not get attracted towards its beautiful outlook but see the discriminatory attitude it carries. Thus, this remark does not weaken but strengthen her argument.

5.    How, according to Smith, does calling a shirt a wife-beater teach women “the wrong thing about men” (15)?

According to Smith, a shirt named wife-beater teaches women the wrong thing about men. For her, some articles quote women remarking the shirts look great on men with great bodies, and they make men look “manly”. This association of the name wife-beater with manliness supports the idea of male dominance. And what’s more, it establishes the fact that manliness and violence are synonymous.

6.    How do you think Smith expects her audience to react to her opening statement (“Everybody wears them”)?

It shows the growing popularity of the undershirt. People of all ages, sex, and profession wear them. They like it and believe that the shirt makes them look nice. But for the writer people do not think of its impact on the society. Since it recognizes the domestic abuse, it might have a negative influence on the children.

7.    Why do you think Smith wrote this essay? Does she hope to change the name of the T-shirt, or does she seem to have a more ambitious purpose? Explain.

Smith stands against the name, and wants people to avoid this name. She writes this essay in order to inform readers about its origin and implied meaning. She also tries to persuade advertisers to refrain from using the name. The intended audience of this essay are the people who wear the shirt and the stores who sell the shirt under the name “wife beater.” Her only objective is to change the name ‘wife beater’ because it justifies domestic violence and promotes discrimination against women.

8.    Twice in her essay, Smith mentions a group she calls “wearers under 25” (5, 13). Does she seem to direct her remarks at these young adults or at older readers? At wearers of the shirts or at a more general audience?

Smith states that wearers under 25 do not get disturbed by the name wife-beater but she is surely very much disturbed when she sees people wearing this undershirt that promotes domestic violence. For her people under 25 may not see anything wrong in it since they fail to see the ugly story behind it, and the frightening consequences it brings. Smith claims that the average age of the domestic abuser is thirty one. Thus, she seems to direct her remarks at the older audiences since they can understand what she means to convey. The older people have seen much of the world, and they have experienced it themselves.

9.     Restate Smith’s thesis in your own words.

Wife-beater undershirt is misnamed since it celebrates men beating their wives, and thereby encouraging the violence against women.

10.                       Why do you think Smith begins her essay by explaining the popularity of sleeveless undershirts? Is this an effective opening strategy?

Smith begins the essay by explaining the popularity of the undershirt.  People of all ages, genders, and professions wear them. They like it and believe that the shirt makes them look nice. This is an effective opening strategy because she can present her stand against the name by showing its bad impact on the society. People are wearing it without keeping in mind its implied meaning, and the consequences it can bring. Since it recognizes the domestic abuse, it might have a negative influence on the children. Thus, the detailed description of its popularity helps her to strongly put her statement against the name wife beater.

11.                       In paragraph 7, Smith reproduces a formal definition from the Oxford Dictionary. Why does she include this definition when she has already defined her term? What, if anything, does the formal definition add?

She refers to the formal definition of Oxford Dictionary in order to clarify its meaning. And this reference helps her convince the readers about her statement. Thus, to strengthen her idea she uses the dictionary meaning of the term. Moreover, it introduces the origin of the term in the essay.

12.                       Where does Smith present information on the history of the wife-beater? Why does she include this kind of information?

After defining the term wife beater, Smith presents information about its history. She refers to the World Book Dictionary to talk about its origin. According to the World Book Dictionary, the term wife-beater originated in the 1970s, from the stereotype of the Midwestern male wearing an undershirt while beating his wife. These shirts became quite popular in the 1980s. They were popular among men, women and even kids. All the sportspersons and professionals wore them. She includes this kind of information to portray the true sense of the term. The information about its origin makes it clear that it has patriarchal roots that recognizes violence. So the information about the history of the wife-beater helps her raise her voice against the name.

                       

13.                       Where does Smith quote statistics? Do you see this information as relevant or incidental to her argument?

Smith says that more than 4 Million women are victims of domestic abuse each year. They are being severely beaten by their boyfriends and husbands each year. In the United States, domestic violence occurs in over 2 million households every year. The average age of the domestic abuser is thirty one.

Smith presents this statistics just after she states that the undershirt makes both men and women look sexier. This information is relevant to her argument. She quotes this statistics to make people think about the violence against women before they decide to wear the undershirt that encourages domestic violence. Of course, it makes them look attractive but they must know that by wearing it, they are indirectly promoting violence. So by quoting the statistics, she shows the horrible picture of the violence. And she wants people not to wear the undershirt that recognizes gender discrimination.