MANY COUNTRIES ARE STILL DISCRIMINATING AGAINST WOMEN. THE PROBLEM OF MARITAL VIOLENCE IS BELOW THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WHICH OCCURS IN THE HOME AND IS NOT MADE PUBLIC EXCEPT IN VIOLENT CASES OF MURDER. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE ONLY AUTHORITY WHICH DEALS WITH THESE CASES. SPOUSE ABUSE APPEARS EVERYWHERE, BUT IS ONLY REPORTED IN INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETIES; THIS FACT MAKES STATISTICAL EVIDENCE HARD TO GATHER. THE APPROACHES IN THIS WORK INCLUDE ABUSE IN BOTH MARRIED AND UNMARRIED COUPLES, AND AMONG DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES AND CULTURES. THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE COVERED: (1) VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND SHOULD NO LONGER BE TOLERATED; (2) WOMEN SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR THE INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIETY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM -- THEY SHOULD PUT PRESSURE ON THE MALE ESTABLISHMENT TO BREAK THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE; AND (3) WOMEN HAVE GAINED STRENGTH, SOLIDARITY, AND POWER BY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF WIFE BATTERING. INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES INCLUDE WIFE ABUSE AND BEATING; WIFE ABUSE IN WEST GERMANY, EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA, AND BRITAIN; LEGAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN; BATTERED HUSBANDS; THE POWERLESSNESS OF WOMEN; AND VICTIM SERVICES. A REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND INTERVIEWS WITH BATTERED WOMEN ARE PRESENTED. THE COLLECTION ALSO INCLUDES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ON THE TOPIC OF SPOUSE ABUSE, RESEARCH NOTES (INCLUDING STATISTICAL SUMMARIES), BOOK REVIEWS, AND GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE SUBJECT. FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, SEE NCJ-46173. (BAC)