The study examines the links between alcohol and violence against wives through a secondary analysis of the national Violence Against Women Survey (VAWS) conducted by Statistics Canada in 1993. A random sample of 12,300 women 18 years of age and older were interviewed by telephone about their experiences of physical and sexual assault by spouses and other men since the age of 16. The study focused on a subgroup of 7,707 women who were in an intact marriage or common-law relationship at the time of the interview. Findings revealed that unemployment may play a symbolic role for men enabling them to demonstrate masculine status, when this is removed, the risk of using violence to help restore dominance in the relationship increases. The higher odds of violence associated with employed men may be the result of exposure to male dominance values in male-only work environments where violence against wives is supported and is status enhancing. Notwithstanding limitations, the study has important implications for interventions and the treatment of male batterers. The study stressed that unless interventions aim to alter male attitudes and beliefs in the rightness of male dominance and control over women, they are unlikely to be successful. Notes and References