Although not a new phenomenon, wife-beating has been largely ignored by
mental health professionals. The author describes a context in which the
physical abuse of women as wives can be understood and suggests alternative
theoretical constructs to traditional theories of masochism as explanations
of why women stay in violent marital relationships. She discusses the
societal attitudes that normalize the use of family violence as well as
attitudes about women, men, and sex roles that leave women vulnerable to
assault; summarizes the research on abused wives; identifies a specific
stress response syndrome caused by violent abuse; and elaborates on the
problems posed for clinicians working with abused women.Abstract Teaser