Battered women frequently experience difficulties in seeking help from formal sources. They do not always know what services are available and they may be deterred by feelings of embarrassment, shame and even guilt. They may also fear reprisals. A further problem is that services are poorly co-ordinated. This paper examines the response of the three agencies most frequently approached by battered women seeking help. The police, social workers and medical and paramedical personnel reveal the same or similar attitudes towards marital violence and the problem is either ignored or redefined (usually in terms of child care). There is a marked reluctance on the part of all practitioners to become involved in cases of marital violence which they see as peripheral to their main concerns. The privacy of the family and of marriage is constantly stressed and women are viewed primarily as wives and mothers. When practitioners do become involved, therefore, the emphasis is on reconciliation rather than firm action. This response has the effect of trivializing the problems, and the legitimacy of male violence as a means of controlling women remains largely unchallenged. It is small wonder that battered women frequently express dissatisfaction with the services concerned.
