Violence is a part of daily life in the United States, the world's leader in the number of homicides, rapes, and assaults. This working paper examines the issue of violence in the United States from a gender equity perspective. Gendered violence is reinforced by cultural beliefs that allow individuals and groups to use violence to establish and maintain systems of control over others. Looking closely at the different ways in which we continue to perpetuate violence against women and girls, based on deeply ingrained gender-role stereotypes and expectations, helps us to see all the arenas--sexual harassment, date rape, battering, homophobic violence, and street violence--as linked. Within all areas the commonalties are clear: rigid gender-role expectations and the role of socialization create an acceptance of violence. The role of our society in supporting nonviolence can be strengthened through social institutions. Especially crucial to this is the role of education, a major carrier of the culture, which can help shape students' attitudes and behaviors toward nonviolence. By exploring violence as a gender issue, we hope to create an understanding of the entire issue of violence and offer hope for stemming all violence. Contains 49 endnotes; citations for over 100 books, journal articles, and videos; and a listing of 59 organizations located throughout the United States. (JBJ)