BY PUTTING THE PROBLEM OF WOMEN ABUSE IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXAMINE SOME OF THE MYTHS REGARDING THIS SITUATION. THE EXPLANATION THAT WIFE ABUSE IS THE RESULT OF THE ACTIONS OF A FEW SICK MEN IS NOT CONVINCING WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THAT SUCH MEN ARE FOUND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD, AND OF EVERY CONCEIVABLE CLASS, COLOR, RELIGION, AND ETHNIC GROUP. THESE SOCIETIES ALLOWED MEN TO BEAT WOMEN SINCE THIS VIOLENCE IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED, IGNORED, OR ACTIVELY SUPPORTED. A VERY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE HOLDS THAT AT LEAST ONE WOMAN IS BEATEN BY HER HUSBAND EVERY 18 SECONDS. RATHER THAN BEING SOCIETY'S 'VICTIMS' THESE MEN COME FROM ALL CLASSES INCLUDING THE RICH AND POWERFUL, POLICE, LAWYERS, AND POLITICIANS. NOR IS SUCH ABUSE THE RESULT OF ECONOMIC STRESS. THE PROBLEM RESULTS FROM OUR ENTIRE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION IN WHICH WOMEN ARE DEFINED AS POWERLESS DEPENDENTS OF MEN. RESPONSES TO THIS PROBLEM (INCLUDING THE CREATION OF REFUGES FOR BATTERED WOMEN) WILL REMAIN AS BANDAID SOLUTIONS UNLESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES FOR SUCH ABUSE ARE MET THROUGH A RESTRUCTURING OF SOCIETY'S POWER RELATIONS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFORTS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY WOMEN (ESPECIALLY IN MASSACHUSETTS) TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM SHOWS HOW THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS CAN BE ADDRESSED WHILE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO EFFECT THE BASIC SOCIAL CHANGES NEEDED. (KCP)