HISTORICALLY, MANY SOCIETIES HAVE TOLERATED HIGH AND CONSTANT DEGREES OF PHYSICAL ABUSE TO WOMEN. IT IS STATED THAT WIFEBEATING MUST BE RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED AS A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SICKNESS THAT IS BUT ONE EXPRESSION OF SEXISM, IF EFFECTIVE MEASURES ARE TO BE TAKEN AGAINST IT. UNTIL RECENTLY, WIFEBEATING HAD GONE UNNOTICED BECAUSE OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS WOMAN'S ROLE IN THE FAMILY AND IN SOCIETY. AS IN THE INSTANCE OF RAPE, WIFE ASSAULT HAD BEEN USUALLY THOUGHT OF AS A CRIME THAT IS VICTIM PRECIPITATED. PSYCHIATRISTS HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE THEORY THAT WIFEBEATING IS AN EXPRESSION OF PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF SICK INDIVIDUALS, BOTH THE WIFEBEATER AND HIS VICTIM. THIS HELPS TO EXPLAIN WHY VICTIMS OF THESE BEATINGS ARE COMMITTED TO MENTAL INSTITUTIONS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THEIR ASSAILANTS. WOMAN'S INNATE MASOCHISM IS ALSO USED AS AN EXCUSE FOR EXPLAINING MALE VIOLENCE. MANY WOMEN HAVE DEVELOPED FEELINGS OF WORTHLESSNESS WHICH ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE WOMEN'S POSITION IN THE FAMILY AS AN UNPAID LABORER. SUCH FEELINGS ARE MAINTAINED THROUGH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT (WIFEHOOD IS SEEN AS AN APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR A WOMAN TO EXERCISE HER TALENTS) AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT (LIMITED OPTIONS DISCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE). THE IMPACT OF 'SOCIAL' WORKERS, SUCH AS PSYCHOLOGISTS AND POLICE, IS BOTH SUBTLE AND TREMENDOUS IN BEHALF OF MALE DOMINATION. THE PREVALENCE OF WIFEBEATING AND WOMAN'S FREQUENT INABILITY TO ESCAPE THE SITUATION MUST BE UNDERSTOOD WITHIN THE REALM OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC FORCES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT WOMEN'S ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE MUST BE ABOLISHED AND THE FAMILY STRUCTURE MUST CHANGE TO EFFECT REAL AND PERMANENT CHANGES IN THE CONDITION OF WOMEN. ERADICATION OF ALL ASPECTS OF MALE PRIVILEGE AND DOMINATION IS NECESSARY. SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS ARE SUGGESTED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HOUSES OF REFUGE AND SANCTUARY. APPENDICES AND FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (JCP)