THE PROBLEM OF WIFE BEATING MAY BE EVEN MORE PERVASIVE THAN HAS BEEN INDICATED IN ESTIMATES. ALTHOUGH 200,000 MEN REGULARLY BEAT THEIR WIVES, A NATIONAL SURVEY INDICATED THAT 47 PERCENT OF THE HUSBANDS RESPONDING ADMITTED TO HITTING THEIR WIVES AT LEAST ONCE. WIFE BEATING IS, THEREFORE, ONE OF THE MOST COMMON UNREPORTED CRIMES IN AMERICA. THIS PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE WITHIN MARRIAGE IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE STRESS PLACED ON MARRIAGES, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FRUSTRATION OF PARTICIPANTS' EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RELATIONSHIP. THE RELUCTANCE OF BATTERED HUSBANDS TO REPORT THE ASSAULTS MADE BY THEIR WIVES EXPLAINS THE PREVIOUS LACK OF PUBLICITY ABOUT THIS ASPECT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, BUT A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE IS COMMITTED BY HUSBANDS. THE SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS REVIEWED, INDICATING THAT PREVIOUS CENTURIES' ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN STILL EXIST AND THE UNEQUAL STATUS OF WOMEN CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR ABUSE. MEN USUALLY ASSAULT THEIR WIVES BECAUSE OF FEELINGS OF THEIR OWN INFERIORITY, ALTHOUGH EXCUSES FOR THESE BEATINGS ARE OFTEN FOUND. WIVES, WHO MAY SEE NO ALTERNATIVE TO THEIR MARRIAGE SITUATION, FREQUENTLY WILL ENDURE THE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP. SOCIETAL ATTITUDES AND STRUCTURES MAY PREVENT A WIFE FROM LEAVING HER HUSBAND. CASE HISTORIES AND SURVEYS INDICATE THAT THE FAILURE TO APPLY CORRECTIVE ACTION OFTEN RESULTS IN MORE SEVERE ABUSE. BATTERED WIFE SHELTERS MAY AMELIORATE THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE, BUT THE TRUE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE WOMEN'S EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND TREATMENT. (TWK)