# What good are "wife-beaters"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 19, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627 "2005-05-19T20:10:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627/41 "2005-05-20T13:27:46Z")
they were called mexican tuxedo’s where I grew up in norcal. In a humid climate, they kinda help your dress shirt from looking like you just stepped out of a shower whilst being less hot than a full on t shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627/42 "2005-05-20T13:48:41Z")
> [@sunfish](#): > > That sounds almost like a dickie. [example1](http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/jump.jsp?itemID=6973&itemType=PRODUCT&searchid=inceptor) [example2](http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/jump.jsp?itemID=7435&itemType=PRODUCT&searchid=inceptor) I suppose they are similar in form. The pictures you show seem to depict something that is supposed to simulate a formal collared shirt or turtleneck pullover underneath a jacket or sweater. A singlet is worn on the bare body or on top of an athletic jersey, like some of the orange reflective overgear worn by safety personnel. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627/43 "2005-05-20T13:54:44Z")
Another question about these - the fact that they’re ribbed, does that help at all? Does it make them stretchy so that they’re more form-fitting? Does it wick sweat better? Or did we just need some innovation over a tank top? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627/44 "2005-05-20T20:36:24Z")
Chest hair. I wear them under my thin light-colored or white dress shirts and it keeps my chest hair from being highly prominent. No one wants to know how hairy a co-worker’s chest is. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627/45 "2005-05-20T20:45:24Z")
> [@Jonathan Woodall](#): > > No one wants to know how hairy a co-worker’s chest is. This just struck me as one of the great truths of all time. Please excuse the interruption. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627/46 "2005-05-20T20:46:15Z")
Wife-beater Muscle shirt Dago tee Singlet Mexican tuxedo A-shirt Might I suggest as an alternative **men’s camisole** ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627/47 "2005-05-21T02:00:18Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > The shirt moves, the **undershit** doesn’t, the wearers nipples don’t get raw. Am I the only one that laughed myself silly at this typo? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-are-wife-beaters/304627.md?page=2)