A 1977 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS ESTIMATES THAT WIFE BEATING HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST ONCE IN HALF OF ALL MARRIAGES. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT WIFE BEATING CUTS ACROSS CLASS LINES, ALTHOUGH SOME STUDIES FIND HIGHER INCIDENCES OF ADMITTED ATTACKS AMONG THE WORKING CLASS. THEORETICAL TENDENCIES FOUND IN DIFFERENT RESEARCH APPROACHES PROCLAIM THAT THE INNATE NATURE OF WOMAN (MATERNAL INSTINCT, SEXUAL PASSIVITY) COMPLEMENTS THE INNATE NATURE OF MAN (AGGRESSION), THAT AN ABUSED WIFE UNCONSCIOUSLY ENCOURAGES THE ABUSE BY VIOLATING THE NORMS OF FEMALE CONDUCT (I.E., A VICTIM PRECIPITATED CRIME), AND THAT THE ABUSED WOMAN IS A MASOCHIST. THE ORIGINS OF THESE INTERPRETATIONS ARE LOCATED IN REAL SOCIAL PHENOMENA, INCLUDING WOMEN'S ROLES IN PRODUCTION AND REPRODUCTION, STATE FAMILY POLICY, THE CONTEMPORARY FEMINIST MOVEMENT, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SHELTERS FOR ABUSED WOMEN. PRESSURE IS BEING EXERTED UPON LEGISLATORS, POLICE, AND THE JUDICIARY TO TREAT WIFE BEATING AS A CRIME RATHER THAN AS A PRIVATE DOMESTIC PROBLEM. LAWS ARE BEING PASSED WHICH, IF ENFORCED, WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR WOMEN TO OBTAIN RESTRAINING ORDERS, FOR POLICE TO MAKE ARRESTS, AND FOR PROSECUTORS TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST BATTERERS. REFUGES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, CRISIS TEAMS, SELF-DEFENSE CLASSES, AND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE WELL ESTABLISHED IN LARGE CITIES AND ARE BEING STARTED ELSEWHERE. THESE ATTEMPTS ARE TEMPORARY LIFESAVERS AS WELL AS NEEDED SYMBOLIC ACTS OF CONDEMNATION OF BATTERING AND SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS. BUT ONLY THE LIBERATION OF FAMILY AND SEXUAL RELATIONS WILL ASSURE THAT SUCH STEPS ARE MEANINGFUL IN THE LONG RUN. NUMEROUS QUOTATIONS ARE CITED, MANY FROM CASE HISTORIES, AND FOOTNOTES, RESOURCES, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)