This study analyzes the narratives of 12 men who report having been abused by their female partners, & compares their accounts to the narratives & findings of past studies of wife abuse. The author identifies that the accounts of the relationships of battered men & women follow similar patterns, including the structure of the relationships, the acceptance of the abuse, & the social context of the situations. Suicide is discussed in terms of being an extreme reaction to domestic violence on the part of the abused, as well as a tool used by abusers to maintain a relationship. (46 refs)