Diversity, Social Justice, and Inclusive Excellence: Transdisciplinary and Global Perspectives

7: Examining Cyberstalking Through the Prism of Race and Gender

CHAPTER SEVEN Examining Cyberstalking Through the Prism of Race and Gender TOSHA A. ASUMAH AND DEBRA F. GLASER Introduction: Rethinking Stalking Having gained coinage since the sixteenth century in the world of poachers, the twenty-first century reference to stalking has been popularized by the media for people who are obsessed with the other and engage in an uninvited intrusion in the other’s life. Just as poachers pursued their game illegally, stalkers do the same to their victims, but this time the game is human. The literature on stalking is impressive, yet the research on why people stalk in reference to race and gender is limited. This study examined whether there is a correlation between gender, as well as race, and a perceived threat in regard to characteristics of cyberstalkers. Past research has shown that what people perceive to be threatening varies based on gender and race. With the advances in technology, cyberstalking, has become a growing issue, yet there is no standard law across the United States to combat the problem. This study was conducted to help determine whether the difference in perception of threat could further hinder the development of creating a standard law for the crime. It was found that there was a difference between genders and what is perceived to be threatening, but no difference in terms of race. Meloy (2007) described stalking as being behaviorally expressed pathological attachment, which can be both insecure and preoccupied . Although researchers have gathered information regarding the characteristics of the stalker, aspects of the phenomenon still require investigation. One third of stalking cases involve physical violence, so stalking should not be considered insignificant (Meloy, 2007). Meloy 131 132 Tosha A. Asumah and Debra F. Glaser (2007) has suggested that stalking has been linked to behaviors during an intimate relationship, such as domestic violence, jealousy, and domination of the partner. Roberts and Dziegielewski (2006) reviewed 60 cases of stalking from prosecutor’s files in two New Jersey counties. They found that in most cases, the stalkers were male and the primary victims were female. Of the stalkers, 67% were noncommitted (single or divorced) males. Of the victims, 73% were noncommitted. Eighty percent of the cases involved current or previous relationships. In 23% of the cases, the perpetrator used a weapon, resulting in serious injury to the victim. In total, 54 cases involved domestic violence, and six were erotomanic. The term erotomanic describes a delusion that the victim is in love with the perpetrator. These studies highlight the connection between stalking habits and romantic relationships. Spitzberg (2002) conducted a meta-analysis to examine the research on stalking and stalking phenomena. A literature search was conducted using psychological and legal search engines, and entering derivatives of the term stalking. Spitzberg (2002) included 103 studies, with 68,615 participants. Based on results from across the studies, Spitzberg (2002) found that 23.3% of women and 10.5% of men reported experiencing stalking. Forty-nine percent of stalking involved a previous romantic relationship. Prior acquaintances were involved in 22.5% of the cases, and in 18% of the cases, the victim and the perpetrator were strangers. It is important to recognize that stalking is an international issue. In 2001, Sheridan, Davies, and Boon conducted a study in Britain and Northern Ireland. Sheridan et al. surveyed 95 self-identified victims of stalking who contacted a London-based charity concerned with the promotion of personal safety. Overall 92% of the participants were female, 7% were male, and a couple was considered as one participant (1%). Participants reported that 87% of their stalkers were male, 7% of stalkers were female; and 5% of participants had multiple stalkers. In terms of participants’ relationship with their perpetrators, 48% stated that the stalker was an ex-partner, 12% had no prior relationship with the stalker, and 37% stated that they were a former acquaintance. Participants reported that in 91% of the cases the stalker watched the victim, in 82% of the cases victims reported being followed, and in 77% of cases victims reported that the perpetrator tried to obtain information about the victim. Of the participants, 72% reported that these behaviors worsened over time; 53% of victims reported being threatened with physical assault; 32% reported actually being assaulted, 25% reported being victims of attempted murder; and 3% of victims reported being sexu- 133 Examining Cyberstalking ally assaulted. Only 21% of participants reported that stalking had ceased at the...