'WOMEN-ABUSE' IS PORTRAYED AS A MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, WOMAN-BEATING IS AMERICA'S MOST FREQUENT, BUT LEAST REPORTED CRIME, OCCURRING THREE TIMES AS OFTEN AS RAPE. ABUSIVE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR BY MEN AGAINST WOMEN CROSSES ALL SOCIOECONOMIC AND ETHNIC LINES. EVEN THOUGH THE BEATING OF ANYONE, EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER, IS A CRIME IN ILLINOIS (UNLESS IN SELF-DEFENSE), CASES OF MALE-FEMALE VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE FAMILY, RARELY MAKE IT TO THE COURTS. REASONS FOR LACK OF COURT ACTION INCLUDE THE BELIEF THAT SUCH INCIDENTS ARE PRIVATE RELATIONAL MATTERS BETWEEN THE SEXES AND THE VICTIM'S FEAR OF RETALIATION FROM HER HUSBAND OR BOYFRIEND. ALTHOUGH CIRCUMSTANTIAL PRESSURES OR ALCOHOL ABUSE MAY EXACERBATE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, THEY DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY EXPLAIN THE CAUSES OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR BY MEN AGAINST WOMEN. THE EXAGGERATED NEED OF INSECURE MEN TO CONTROL WOMEN FOR THEIR OWN NEEDS, REINFORCED BY CULTURAL ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN AS SACRIFICIAL, PASSIVE, AND OBEDIENT SERVANTS OF MEN, CONTRIBUTES GREATLY TO WOMEN-ABUSE. WOMEN ARE CAUTIONED TO AVOID BECOMING INVOLVED WITH MEN WHO EXHIBIT CONTROLLING AND DEMANDING TENDENCIES, BECAUSE VIOLENCE IS USED FREQUENTLY BY SUCH MEN TO GAIN SUBMISSION. BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW COMMUNITY AGENCIES OR PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL INTERVENE VOLUNTARILY IN AN ABUSIVE MALE-FEMALE RELATIONSHIP, THE WOMAN USUALLY MUST TAKE ACTION TO FREE HERSELF FROM ABUSE. THE VARIOUS LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO BATTERED WOMEN IN ILLINOIS ARE EXPLAINED, AND A LIST OF HELPING RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR BATTERED WOMEN IN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, ILLINOIS, IS PROVIDED, ALONG WITH REFERENCES AND READING RESOURCES. (RCB)