Argument by Definition

   Identifying the Elements of an Argument by Definition

Q1. In your own words, summarize this essay’s thesis.

This essay’s thesis, written by Gayle Rosenwald Smith, is aimed mainly at the name of a well- known and sought after item of undergarment. The popularly worn T-shirt selectively called, “wife-beater.” in which Smith finds the name highly distasteful and inappropriate used.

Smith’s issues with the name of the T-shirt, is based on the T-shirt’s close relationship to the actual act of husbands beating their wives while wearing the T-shirt. In Smith’s argument, she feels that the term wife-beater supports spousal abuse.

Q2. According to Smith, what three problems are associated with defining the term wife-beater?    

The three problems in which Smith find are associated with the defining of the term wife-beater are 1. 1970s stereotype of the Midwestern male wearing an undershirt while beating his wife. 2. 1980s popularity of the shirt at all types of sporting events. 3. The shirt’s gain of popularity at wet T-shirt contests.

Q3. Why does Smith include dictionary definitions of wife-beater? How is her definition different from these dictionary definitions?

Smith’s inclusion of the dictionary definition of wife-beater was to show how the term is an established academic fact, and that her definition and the definition found in these sources are the same in association of the term wife-beater being deemed the name of the popular T-shirt to the abuse of men against their spouses.

Q4. Where does Smith introduce possible objections to her definition of wife-beater? Does she refute them convincingly?

Smith introduces possible objections to her definition of wife-beater when she made reference from Web searches, boutiques shows, and an article found in the style section of the “New York Times”, were some sources felt the wife-beater T-shirts were attributes to popular-culture figures and also just a fashion statement. Smith convincingly refuted these objections of the wife-beater T-shirts by including a statistical look into the term wife-beater and its effect on children, women, and families, along with restating that her bias was not about the T-shirt but with its name and what it represented. Smith feels that the name giving to the T-shirt can teach the wrong thing about men in general.

“The wife beater” by Gayle Roseenwald Smith  Page322-324 PA

Philadelphia Inquirer  July 2, 2001