Power-control theory may explain why the battered woman is often blamed for the abuse she receives and frequently blames herself. This inappropriate blaming of the victim may occur because of the balance of power in the patriarchal structure to which the victim, and probably her batterer, have been socialized. Why the victim does not leave the batterer may be explained by the traditional role assignments defined by power- control theory, roles which the victim and the batterer have come to acknowledge as the reality of their relationship. Power- control theory suggests that men batter women because unless they are in control of their production sphere, and unless their women are perceived to be irrevocably contained by the boundaries of the consumption sphere, the potential upset of the family's balance of power is a real threat to them. The response to these men from society as a whole and from the criminal justice system in particular is that they are doing what comes naturally, although from time to time they do exceed the boundaries of their patriarchally defined authority. Laws reflect the legislators' perspectives under pressure from the community; and the law enforcement role in woman battering is a function of State law and community pressure. Police authority, in turn, is defined and limited by State law. In the courts, gender bias is present in nearly every aspect of decisionmaking, with women as the victims of this bias. Until the criminal justice system changes, the response to woman battering will not change. 3 notes and 41 references