INTERVIEWED WOMEN DESCRIBED THE REALITIES OF BEING ABUSED, THE MYTHS WHICH HAVE ARISEN, AND THE WAYS IN WHICH SOCIETY HAS MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR WOMEN TO GET OUT OF SUCH ABUSIVE SITUATIONS. THE FACT THAT SPOUSAL ABUSE IS OFTEN VARIOUS AND SERIOUSLY DAMAGING PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY IS REVEALED BY THE STATEMENTS OF THE WOMEN. ONE WOMAN HAD HER RIBS CRUSHED, ANOTHER WAS BEATEN EVEN AFTER HER HUSBAND HAD KNOCKED HER UNCONSCIOUS. THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN THE WIFE LEAVING HER HUSBAND ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE CHILDREN. SEVERAL REASONS FOR WIVES STAYING DESPITE BEATINGS ARE GIVEN, INCLUDING FINANCIAL, AFFECTION FOR THE HUSBAND DESPITE THE BRUTALITY AND THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WIFE ABUSE AND CHILD ABUSE INCLUDING A GOOD CHANCE THAT A WIFE ABUSER WILL ALSO BEAT CHILDREN. IF A HUSBAND CONTINUALLY BEATS THE CHILDREN, THIS COULD LEAD TO THE STATE PLACING THE CHILDREN IN A FOSTER HOME FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION. THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL FORCES, INCLUDING DOCTORS, LAWYERS AND POLICE, IS CRITICIZED. THE LEGAL SYSTEM SEEMS DESIGNED TO KEEP WIVES WITH THEIR HUSBANDS. THE LEGAL SYSTEM REFLECTS THE CULTURAL VALUES, AND SEEMS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN MALE POWER AND POSITION. MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEMS FACED BY BATTERED WIVES. TRANSISTION HOUSES ARE ONE STEP, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BATTERED WOMEN WITH A PLACE TO GO WHERE THEIR HUSBANDS CANNOT FIND THEM. THE HOUSES WORK TO PROVIDE WOMEN WITH A GOOD SELF-IMAGE AND MUTUAL SUPPORT. (KCP)