Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 What is stalking?
- 2 How common is stalking?
- 3 Who stalks?
- 4 Could I be assaulted?
- 5 Can stalkers be treated?
- 6 Who are the victims of stalking?
- 7 The impact of stalking
- 8 Reducing your chances of victimization
- 9 Evading the stalker
- 10 Navigating the criminal justice system in the United States of America
- 11 Navigating the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom
- 12 Navigating the criminal justice system in Australia
- 13 Should I just disappear?
- 14 How do I deal with the emotional impact of stalking?
- 15 How you can assist victims of stalking
- Conclusions
- References
- Reading guide
- Appendix 1 Other resources
- Appendix 2 Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Appendix 3 Sample restraining order under Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Appendix 4 Criminal justice system flow chart, UK
- Index
6 - Who are the victims of stalking?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 What is stalking?
- 2 How common is stalking?
- 3 Who stalks?
- 4 Could I be assaulted?
- 5 Can stalkers be treated?
- 6 Who are the victims of stalking?
- 7 The impact of stalking
- 8 Reducing your chances of victimization
- 9 Evading the stalker
- 10 Navigating the criminal justice system in the United States of America
- 11 Navigating the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom
- 12 Navigating the criminal justice system in Australia
- 13 Should I just disappear?
- 14 How do I deal with the emotional impact of stalking?
- 15 How you can assist victims of stalking
- Conclusions
- References
- Reading guide
- Appendix 1 Other resources
- Appendix 2 Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Appendix 3 Sample restraining order under Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- Appendix 4 Criminal justice system flow chart, UK
- Index
Summary
Although we may take comfort from the observation that relatively few people in our society will have their lives invaded by a stalker, as noted in Chapter 2 the experience of being stalked is by no means rare. No one can claim immunity from a stalker's attentions by virtue of age, gender, social class, occupation, religion or cultural background. In large community samples a fifth of all stalking victims were male, and stalkers may pursue individuals of their own gender (Pathé et al., 2000).
Victims fall into six broad groups, based on the nature of the prior relationship between victim and stalker and the context in which the stalking arises.
Previous partners
Most stalking victims belong to this category, a typical example being a woman who previously shared an intimate relationship with her (usually) male stalker. For some victims, harassment begins before the relationship ends, their partners being increasingly intrusive, controlling and jealous. They may be subjected to following by their partner, unwanted approaches at their workplace, property damage, even assaults. This intimidation and control often serve to isolate the victim from outside support, hindering her prospect of leaving the relationship.
Victims in this category are exposed to the widest range of harassment methods. Persistent following, repeated phone calls, threats and assaults are more likely to be reported by this group.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Surviving Stalking , pp. 43 - 50Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2002