Gender and Stalking: Current Intersections and Future Directions

Abstract

Within this concluding commentary, three important gender-stalking intersections that emerge across the papers included in this special issue are explicated. First, we consider the degree to which existing measures and definitions of stalking are gender sensitive toward both men and women. Second, gender roles and gender socialization scripts are shown to impact our understanding of, perceptions about, and the impacts associated with stalking-like behaviors for both genders. Third, the intersection of gender and developing theories of stalking is considered. Finally, it is argued that future stalking researchers will need to be sensitive to changing cultural norms about gender, relationships, technology, and privacy as these are likely to alter the prevalence, perceptions, and prosecution of stalking within the United States and across the world.

The prevalence of stalking: Current data from a German victim survey

“…On the one hand, this result corresponds to the prevailing notion that stalking is mainly committed by men against women (Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2012). On the other hand, it is consistent with outcomes of other stalking studies (for example, Dressing et al, 2005;FRA, 2014) and with results of other studies on violence in the close social environment (for example, Black et al, 2011;Hellmann, 2014;Hellmann and Blauert, 2014;Walby and Allen, 2004).…”

“…So, to date, no universally accepted definition of stalking exists (Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2012). The threshold from socially acceptable behaviour to stalking is individually determined and the subjective perception of victimization does not always coincide with the definition of the relevant criminal offence (see Stadler, 2013).…”

Unwanted Pursuit Behavior After Breakup: Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Gender Differences

“…Genderspecific sociocultural beliefs that promote men to initiate courtship behaviors and requests for intimacy and women as the weaker sex may make it more normative or justifiable for men to display affectionate approaches and for women to engage in aggressive behaviors (Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2012). Indeed, Thompson, Dennison, and Stewart (2012) found evidence for the sociocultural attitude that a woman's use of violence against her partner is more acceptable, and that women who endorse this attitude self-report higher levels of stalking and associated violence.…”

New Trends in the Criminalization of Stalking in the EU Member States

“…Over 60% of the self-defined victims did not meet the legal threshold, because they did not meet the legal fear requirement. Owen's (2016) results furthermore suggested gender differences, with women being much more fearful than men, making fear a gendered construct (see also Sheridan and Lyndon 2012;Wigman 2009;Langhinrichsen-Rohling 2012). The same gender-divide can be seen when it comes to cyberstalking (Pereira and Matos 2015).…”