ALTHOUGH BY MOST STANDARDS MARITAL RAPE IS NOT LEGALLY CONSIDERED TO BE A CRIME, THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT FORCED SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITHIN A MARRIAGE IS AN ASPECT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE DESERVING SCHOLARLY AND LEGAL ATTENTION. STUDIES OF MARITAL RAPE HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY THE WIDELY HELD SOCIAL PRECEPT THAT THE WIFE IS A 'PROPERTY' OF THE HUSBAND AND THAT THE HUSBAND HAS A RIGHT TO SEXUAL ACCESS TO HIS WIFE AT ALL TIMES. THEORIES OF VICTIM OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS IN CASES OF RAPE ARE EXAMINED TO SHOW THAT RAPE IN A MARRIAGE MAY BE USED BY HUSBANDS AS A METHOD OF ASSERTING POWER AND DOMINANCE IN THE FAMILY SETTING. TO OBTAIN PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ON THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF MARITAL RAPE, THE AUTHOR PRESENTS RESULTS OF TWO STUDIES: ONE WHICH SURVEYED RAPE CRISIS CENTERS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON MARITAL RAPE AND ONE WHICH STUDIED PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES....DMC