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Violence against women is a major social problem in the United States. The consequences of this violence against women may be long-lasting. Both rape and intimate partner violence (battering, which is frequently accompanied by psychological abuse) are associated with a host of both short and long-term problems, including physical injury and illness, psychological symptoms, and, in extreme cases death. And the consequences go far beyond the individual female victims, affecting their children, families, and friends, as well as society at large. Research on violence against women is a relatively young and fragmented field. At this early yet critical time in the developing field, Congress (in the Violence Against Women Act of 1994) directed the National Research Council to develop a research agenda to increase the understanding and control of violence against women, including rape and domestic violence. Congress specified that the agenda focus primarily on preventive, educational, social and legal strategies, including consideration of the needs of underserved populations.