Understanding the nature and extent of violence against women requires considering the male culture of domination and patriarchy. Further, the pervasiveness of violence against women documents the extent to which the risk factor is being female. U.S. Department of Justice figures show that reported crimes against women are increasing, while crimes against men are decreasing. National studies indicate indicate that as many as 4 million women are battered each year, but only about 48 percent of these cases are reported to the police. There are deficiencies in Federal and State data collection efforts, and some steps are being taken to rectify the problems. For example, the Uniform Crime Crime Reporting Program is revising several definitions listed in the Crime Index for rape and rape offenses. Violence against women meets the requirements of widely accepted definitions of hate crimes, but crimes motivated by gender hatred are not included in most antibias crime legislation. The Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990 requires the U.S. Department of Justice to collect statistics on hate crimes. The Violence Against Women Act, introduced in Congress in 1991, labels crimes of violence based on gender as bias or hate crimes that deprive women of their civil rights. Nearly all States have enacted some form of hate crime legislation, and eight States have laws covering gender bias crimes. Private organizations play a crucial role in monitoring the enforcement of hate crime statutes. Such organizations include the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith and the National Institute Against Prejudice and Violence. 80 references and 12 endnotes