IT GIVES A GRIM ACCOUNT OF PATRIARCHAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES IN ROMAN, ANGLO-SAXON, AND AMERICAN TRADITIONS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE RIGHT OF A HUSBAND TO DOMINATE AND CHASTISE HIS WIFE. THE FORMS AND FREQUENCY OF VIOLENCE ARE ANALYZED, ALONG WITH THE ROLE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS. THE ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE TO THE ABUSED WIFE THROUGH THE POLICE, JUDGES, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS ARE EVALUATED, AND THEIR FAILURES IN HELPING THE VICTIMS ARE DISCUSSED. NUMEROUS INTERVIEWS OF BATTERED WIVES COMPLETED DURING 5 YEARS OF RESEARCH ARE PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE THE PLIGHT OF THESE WOMEN FOR ANYONE CONCERNED WITH THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE STATUS OF WOMEN DURING THE EARLY CAPITALIST PERIOD THROUGH THE RISE OF PROTESTANTISM IS DETAILED, AS WELL AS THE LEGAL HISTORY OF CHASTISEMENT. AMONG THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED TO STEM THE WIFE ABUSE PROBLEM IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGES FOR BATTERED WIVES WHICH WOULD SERVE AS A MODEL OF CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY SHOULD CONDEMN WIFE ABUSE, REJECT THE AUTHORITY OF HUSBANDS OVER THEIR WIVES, AND ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE POWER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEM. NOTES, REFERENCES, AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A GLOSSARY OF SCOTTISH IDIOMS, TABULAR DATA, AND THE STUDY METHODOLOGY. (WJR)