THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE ON MARITAL VIOLENCE INDICATES THAT A NUMBER OF WOMEN ARE FORCED INTO HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH THEIR HUSBANDS THROUGH INTIMIDATION OR PHYSICAL FORCE. FAULK'S RESEARCH (1977) IDENTIFIED CASES WHERE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WAS FORCED ON A WIFE AFTER HER HUSBAND BEAT HER. OTHER DATA POINT OUT THAT ALTHOUGH MARITAL RAPE IS NOT POSSIBLE IN A STRICT LEGAL SENSE, SOME WOMEN ARE TALKING ABOUT AND REPORTING INCIDENTS OF MARITAL RAPE. FROM A RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE, MARITAL RAPE IS AN IMPORTANT AREA OF INVESTIGATION FOR SOCIAL SCIENTISTS. INVESTIGATIONS OF MARITAL RAPE AND SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTIONS OF FORCED SEXUAL RELATIONS BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE FAMILY, ITS POWER RELATIONS, AND THE RANGE AND NATURE OF SEXUAL ACTIVITIES IN MARRIAGE. A FOCUS ON MARITAL RAPE ALSO TENDS TO MOVE THIS SUBJECT FROM AN INERT STATE TO A PROBLEMATIC ISSUE. THIS TRANSITION MIGHT CHALLENGE THE LEGAL POSITION OF WOMEN VIS-A-VIS THEIR HUSBANDS. IGNORING THE ISSUE OF VIOLENT SEXUAL INTIMIDATION IN MARRIAGE IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE FOR SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, MEMBERS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, OR WOMEN. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)