A male white ribbed tank top which has been around since the early 1900's and was very popular as an undergarment before the t-shirt came into common usage.
The shirt acquired the nickname "Wife Beater" in the late 1980's due to the popularity of police
reality shows like "Cops" where it seemed like a disproportionately high number of men who were arrested for episodes of
domestic violence, as well as other crimes, were wearing a shirt like this.
The main reasons why this garment seem to be favored by men like this are:
1. It's cheap. Many men in this demographic tend to not have a lot of
disposable income and, because of the low amount of material that is used to create the shirt, they can be bought in large quantity for very little money.
2. It's good to wear on hot days. Again, because of lack of income, many of the men seen in shows like "Cops" live in unairconditioned homes or trailers which can become extremely hot in warm weather. The design and thinness of the material in the shirt makes it a good option to try and get some relief from the oppressive heat.