Wife abuse, defined as a physical assault on a woman by a man with whom she has had a relationship, is viewed as a growing social problem. It is seen as rooted in the traditional view, held by English common law of women as property, and it cuts across racial and class boundaries. The film observes that the abuser may have himself been a victim of abuse as a child. The film suggests that women often remain with the abuser because of lack of support from police, doctors, social workers, or friends; fear of reprisals or charges of desertion; fear of community disapproval; financial dependency; and lack of suitable shelter. The film also discusses some obstacles to solutions for wife abuse such as incidence of police deaths and injuries in responding to calls about wife abuse and the discouragement of prosecution by law enforcement officials.