I have something to share. It’s not revolutionary, shocking or even original. It’s another clothing company that found a genius idea that if they actually labeled, white tank tops as, “wifebeaters,’ they might really be onto something. Because frankly, it takes true artistry to slap a handprint, (no pun intended,) on the left chest of a woman’s top and call it, “original.” Sexism just isn’t sexy, don’t you agree? I can’t look my daughter in the eye, or hope for a brighter future if I don’t speak about the injustices TODAY.
In the 90′s, we had these guys: WifeBeaters
And now, by the utter originality and grace of someone who screenprinted the same idea on a tank top, they’ve included strippers. (I’m not sure if the disgusting term, “She was asking for it,” applies here or not.) http://www.thewifebeater.com
Their front page reads:
Wife Beater Clothing and Apparel offers inspired clothing and apparel for men and women. Whether you’re going out for a night on the town, or hitting the local skate park, Wife Beater’s unique looks and designs will keep everyone’s attention on you. Our goal is to provide the highest quality merchandise at affordable rates.
If you venture over to their about us? It reads exactly like this:
Wife Beater Clothing and Apparel does not support or promote spousal abuse or domestic violence in any way, shapes, or form. We are a Clothing company!
Wife Beater INC of Las Vegas, NV, the owner of the Wife Beater Clothing and Apparel, is dedicated to building a global distribution, without losing our head for the edgy and cool.
Our products are exactly as our name says; clothing and apparel. We make a variety of fashionable clothing items using only the highest quality garments. Our goal is to provide fashionable clothing at affordable rates.
The idea for Wife Beater Clothing and Apparel was conceived by four friends that were working various jobs in Las Vegas. All of them were interested in owning their own business, but had very little money to start one. They all pooled what money they had and began to design various clothing items. Our signature trade mark is a red handprint on all of our items. We make clothing and apparel for both men and women.
The owners of Wife Beater Clothing and Apparel believe in giving back to their community, and support a host of local charities. They give and raise money for charities that promote helping abused women and children, children and families with cancer, feeding the homeless, and supporting veterans and local law enforcement.
I am sure Law Enforcement would love the money from t-shirts hawking strippers, red or bloodied handprints that degrade women. They actually claim to give money back to ‘abused women and children‘ by selling tee-shirts that PROMOTE a brand and an identity associated with abuse. And that, handprint logo? I’m assuming the red is a symbol of peace and charity- not violence and blood.
Magical. Perhaps they can ship them to Mel Gibson for free.
It’s not edgy, nor should you be proud of a concept that degrades women’s safety and makes a joke out of spousal abuse. Maybe someone can help Lisa Perchesky understand. Lisa is the single mom of two daughters and an Avon lady, (which I’m sure Avon would have a field day with,) she should definetly know better.
I contacted Lisa:
@isthislisa Maybe no one else is saying it- but the clothing line supports violence against women. And that’s #NotCool.
This was her reply:
@girlmeetsgeek NO it does not. It’s just a name. Read the about us. Wife beaters is a style. The name derived from that I believe.
And then she threatened to sue me.
@girlmeetsgeek Slandering my name because I try to help very good friends get a company off the ground is#slimy. Know a good lawyer?
Feel free to contact the company, share your thoughts and let them know that it’s not worth $20 to support a ‘style,’ that is no longer trendy or relevant.
Their Phone is: 877-566-8715
#UntilTheViolenceStops
This person doesn’t know me and doesn’t know the people starting up this business. She ( I assume) doesn’t know what she’s talking about. The disclaimer says it. I do not support violence against ANYONB and neither do these wonderful people who are simply trying to get a business off the ground. Slandering my name and my hobby is not appropriate and completely out of line.
I ‘greenlighted’ your comment to show the world your voice and perspective. Maybe it’s time to let the company speak for itself. How many profits have been given to local charities? (Have the charities accepted the profits?) Just because it’s a business, doesn’t mean the business owners are not at fault for perpetuating a disturbing trend. I’d like to share a few statistics with you, Lisa.
“Around the world at least one woman in every three has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Most often the abuser is a member of her own family.”
“Physical violence is estimated to occur in 4 to 6 million intimate relationships each year in the United States.”
“Nearly one in every three adult women experiences at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood. Approximately four million American women experience a serious assault by an intimate partner during a 12-month period.”
“It is estimated that 2 million to 4 million US women are assaulted by a domestic partner every year.”
“Twelve million women (25% of the female population) will be abused in their lifetime.”
“Up to 35% of women and 22% of men presenting to the emergency department have experienced domestic violence.” (Source: http://bit.ly/aIi9h9)
The tees could be made of high quality materials. What affects the brand is the message: That it’s okay to make money off the objectification of women and red ‘handprints.’ I’d love the owner’s perspective. Maybe they have a compelling reason as to why they chose strippers, bloodied handprints and the very name that is associated with spousal violence.
From 2000-2003 I spoke about violence against women in Minnesota and neighboring states. After being raped and seeing violence firsthand, I have never stopped speaking out when I saw complete carelessness in companies and individuals.
Thanks for your input!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kate-Madonna Hindes. Kate-Madonna Hindes said: The new brand of violence against woman. http://www.girlmeetsgeek.com/2010/07/13/sexism-isnt-sexy/ #UntilTheViolenceStops cc: @isthislisa [...]
Yuck. That a company would find this name “cool” and “trendy” is disgusting. Exactly who do they think is going to buy this stuff? My guess? Mostly teenage boys who find abusive comments and “bitch-slapping” funny.
Way to be cool… not.
I can’t fathom how anyone can have such a giant disconnect in the mind between “wife beater” and “we don’t support spousal abuse.” The mind boggles.
I have volunteered in the area of domestic violence and the idea of having a brand like this makes me sick. “Domestic Violence is the Leading Cause of Injury to Women Between the Ages of 15 and 44 in the United States – More Than Car Accidents, Muggings, and Rapes Combined.” Read more at the link below
http://bit.ly/2vHNKq
Thank you everyone for acknowledging this. I think one quote applies:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke – requoted by Winston Churchill)
I don’t need to know the brand or the business or the product. Why not ChildRapist? BabyBeater? ToddlerSmacker? InfantShaker? Or just plain — WomanHater.
Of course not. Those words conjure up horrible, awful images.
But WifeBeater – that’s something we can all laugh at, right?
Think again.
True, there are some words that we try to diffuse by using them more often. But in this case, that does not apply. Ever.
I put the question to Avon on Twitter – I encourage the rest of you to do the same:
@AvonPRNewsflash are your avon reps cool with violence against women? I’m NOT! http://tinyurl.com/2d9oczk cc: @girlmeetsgeek
So Hitler gets to the Pearly Gates and is stopped by St. Peter who says: “Hitler!?!?! Where do you think you’re going?” Hitler replies: “I thought I’d get into Heaven.” To which St. Peter responds: “But you’re responsible for the deaths of million of innocent Jews!”. Hitler, thinks this over for a bit and calmly declares: “No, no, no. You’ve got it all wrong.” He hands St. Peter a slip of paper that reads: “Hitler doesn’t support violence against Jews.” “Ohhhh.” St. Peter replies, “I didn’t read that disclaimer before. You’re all set then, go right on in.”
I love that quote, thank you Albert. We must never stop speaking up. Ever.
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Hi there.
Found you via Brazen Careerist and decided to check out your blog.
I just wanted to weigh in on this issue.
My understanding of the concept of the “wife beater” is that the term started as parody on a simple concept.
Back in the 90s, Lifetime and other “women’s” television stations would constantly air movies that seemed contradictory to their purpose of empowering women. So many of them would be about women being abused by their husbands or boyfriends in one way or another. Eventually the women would turn the tables on the men, be that by law suit or self-defense but it became a joke that all women ever had to face in life according to these shows was the reality of being beaten. While it absolutely IS an issue that women face, it’s nowhere near the realm that lifetime painted it to be. The station’s original movies became a joke.
It also became an in-joke that every time a man would be shown in a physically abusive situation with his woman on these shows, he would be wearing one of these tight white athletic shirts.
The shirts themselves were comfortable for men to wear, but because of their tightness, the point was to show how physically dominant the man was over the woman. It was to make him look intimidating.
So thus, the shirts became known as “wife beaters” in male social circles. It’s not PC by any means, but frankly I think the intention behind it is far less sinister than you’ve labeled them.
They’re capitalizing on an in-joke from a decade ago, not advocating violence against women.
But, on the grounds that someone (such as yourself) or anyone else wouldn’t KNOW the joke behind it, I would never wear a shirt with such a distasteful concept.
Still, I think you should cut these people some slack and not take it as them personally advocating violence against anyone.
It’s no worse than this image being emblazoned on girl’s shirts a few years ago:
http://purpleeagle.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/lgst3241boys-are-stupid-throw-rocks-at-them-boys-are-stupid-poster.jpg
Kyle- thanks so much for your reply. I’m not as worried about the name of the shirts as I am with the bloody handprint and the women on the stripper pole. I think it’s beyond a ‘joke,’ and actually conjures images of violence.
I want to, ‘cut them slack,’ as I try not to take anything very seriously. However, the images they chose for this shirt- speak louder than anything else.
Thank you SO much for your opinion. And… I agree with you on those, “boys are stupid,” shirts. Sexism surely goes both ways. Excellent point!!
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