The extent and specific nature of this violence make the 'traditional' explanations for its occurrence insufficient. By explicitly taking into account the cultural background of this violence and the social context in which women are victimized, it is possible to explain the violence and the reactions of institutions like the criminal justice system, social agencies, etc. By considering violent incidents exclusively as the individual problem of the parties involved, the essence of the problem is missed, even while dealing with individual cases. Basically, wife beating and rape should be recognized as sex-political crimes: acts that reinforce the powerful (men) over the powerless (women). About 35 references are provided. (Author summary modified)