Final answer:
Smith's remark about the shirt making people look sexier does not ruin her credibility. It shows a nuanced approach to the subject, recognizing that clothing can have varied connotations. The remark doesn't necessarily contradict her main arguments about the negative associations of such shirts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The remark by Smith in “The Wife-Beater” essay that the shirt “can make both men and women look sexier” does not necessarily ruin her credibility or contradict her main point. It may simply acknowledge that clothing can have different connotations and effects, apart from their potentially negative or violent associations.
Smith's admission might be seen as a nuanced understanding of the subject, where she recognizes the complexities of how attire can be perceived in various contexts and by different people. Whether this aspect of attire should overshadow its negative connotations is a matter of debate for the reader to consider, but it does not inherently discredit the author's main arguments.