The understanding of abuse, intervention, and change by women who have been abused by their husbands

21 women who had used transition houses were studied with regard to their perceptions of the sequence of events in relationships in which their husbands had abused them, the response to their efforts to get help, how their understanding of abuse affected their utilization of the intervention sources and their suggestions for how male abuse of women could be ended. Six themes emerged from this descriptive/exploratory study. It was found that the abuse started early in the relationships, was not an isolated occurrence in the lives of the women or their husbands and that traditional sex-role stereotypes were a factor in all stages of the abuse. A need to increase sensitivity and availability of sources of intervention was noted and comparisons among the sources were made. When the women realized only the men could change their behavior they either left or tried to force change. Fundamental changes in the existing social structure are necessary to stop abuse.