WITH THE INTENT OF EDUCATING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, IT REFUTES POPULAR MYTHS SURROUNDING BOTH CRIMES. THE INFERIOR STATUS OF WOMEN IN HISTORY AND LAW UNTIL THE EMERGENCE OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IS OUTLINED. THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF RAPE, TYPICAL VICTIMS AND RAPISTS, THE RESPONSE OF THE AUTHORITIES, AND THE EFFECTS OF RAPE ON VICTIMS ARE DESCRIBED. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF WIFE BEATING, STATISTICS ON THE CRIME CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTIMS AND AGGRESSORS, AND A SUMMARY OF THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE. SUGGESTED PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO CURB VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN INCLUDE CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING, TASK FORCES ON RAPE AND WIFE BEATING (SUCH AS THOSE RECENTLY CREATED BY THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN), HOTLINES AND LOCAL VICTIM SUPPORT GROUPS, REFUGES FOR BATTERED WOMEN, PUBLICITY FOR AVAILABLE LEGAL AID, CHANGING POLICE ATTITUDES AND PROCEDURES, CRISIS UNITS IN HOSPITALS, LEGAL REFORMS, RESEARCH INTO THE NATURE OF BOTH OFFENSES, AND PUBLIC PRESSURE ON ASSAULTIVE MEN (E.G., PUBLICATION OF NAMES IN NEWSPAPERS). A LIST OF NATIONAL RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS AND SUGGESTED READING (18 SELECTIONS) ARE APPENDED.