AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE DEFINES BATTERING; DESCRIBES ITS HISTORY, ITS CAUSES, AND ITS FREQUENCY; PROVIDES A PROTRAIT OF THE BATTERER AND THE BATTERED; AND PROPOSES PERSONAL, SOCIAL, LEGAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS. THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF BATTERING IS FURTHER EXPLORED, WITH ATTENTION TO CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES, LEGAL AGENCIES' VIEWPOINTS, AND EXPLANATIONS OF SOCIAL IMPERATIVES. THE CYCLE OF BATTERING IS DEPICTED AND WAYS IN WHICH THE LEGAL SYSTEM HAS ACTED TO ASSIST WOMEN CAUGHT IN THAT CYCLE OR FAILED THEN ARE DETAILED. CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR MAKING THE LEGAL SYSTEM WORK FOR BATTERED WOMEN, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO POLICE AND JURY REFORM. FINALLY, A STUDY OF PARTICIPANTS OF A 3-DAY WORKSHOP ON BATTERED WOMEN PRESENTS DATA ON THE PARTICIPANTS' FEELINGS ABOUT AND EXPERIENCES WITH BATTERING AND BATTERED WOMEN. APPENDIXES PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF BATTERED WOMEN, SUGGESTIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICIES ON BATTERED WOMEN, OVER 40 REFERENCES, AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE STUDY ON PARTICIPANTS' EXPERIENCES ALSO WITH AND ATTITUDES ABOUT BATTERING. NOTES FOR EACH CHAPTER ARE ALSO APPENDED.