It's A Singlet

[jhameia]

Okay. So tonight we were in the midst of rehearsal and discussing what our Bottom should wear for his final scene. My director said, "well, I'm hoping he'll be wearing a singlet."

Everyone else, mostly girls, went all, "it's called a wife-beater!"

And my director said, "well, I don't like that name." At this point, he had to talk over the entire crowd. "Anyway, when you pick it up at the store! It is not called a wifebeater! The label says SINGLET!"

I don't understand why it's called a wife-beater in the first place. Is it because the men who wear it all beat their wives?

That sort of makes no sense. Growing up, singlets were a part of life; my dad wore them under his dress shirts, and my brother and I wore them around the house because they were sleeveless and, well, cheap to buy. We certainly didn't beat any wives.

I understand that they're associated with the image of "trailer trash" men who wore them and boxer shorts, sit around all day and smack people around whom they don't like, particularly drunk. But I don't think it's fair to label it "wife beater" when perfectly good men, who have never lifted a finger in violence in their lives, also wear the same thing.

Comments

[tenchan.livejournal.com]

Maybe look up the name origin? Sometimes stuff like that isn't what you think. Like a faggot is really a bundle of sticks...

[fantasyecho.livejournal.com]

That's actually a good idea.

It's really calling it a "wifebeater" that I object to. I can't imagine the word "singlet" would be worse than "wifebeater" but I certainly do like etymology.

[tenchan.livejournal.com]

Well, just remember, words like nigger, faggot, etc weren't offensive until AFTER they were misrepresented and used in a derrogatory manner. Wifebeater might be another word entirely bastardized (like something German...who knows?)

Then you can take it in and use the 'original' term and make your friends blink.

[fantasyecho.livejournal.com]

I looked up the etymology of "wifebeater" and "singlet" at the Online Etymology Dictionary (I didn't know there was one. It's neat).

No entries for "wifebeater" and "singlet" is a "short, woolen garment" dating from the 1700's.