Is Stalking More Common Than We Think?

The average stalking last two years. That’s two years of hang-up phone calls, two years of slashed tires, two years of looking over your shoulder. Technology has also given stalking new life.

As more and more attention has been paid to violence against women and girls, research has started to include stalking as a potential problem. A new study in Criminology & Public Policy, shows that stalking disrupted the lives of 13 percent of a national sample of college women during a 7-month time period.

Stalking only rarely resulted in physical harm, but stalking was frightening and disturbing, lasting an average of 2 months and resulting in frequent unwanted contact. Nine out of ten of the almost 4500 young women in the study were full time students and 86 percent were undergraduates. Stalking was defined as repeated, unwanted pursuit behaviors (such as following, watching, phone calls, e mails, or other contacts) that “seemed obsessive and made you afraid or concerned for your safety.”

The students reported nine kinds of stalking behaviors, and on average the student reported that a stalker pursued her in three different ways.

Three out of four events involved phone calls, three in ten were letters, and one in four was e mail.

Most students reported that the stalking took place two to six times a week. Half the women reported being stalked for two months or more. Almost all (98 percent) of the stalkers were male, four out of five were acquainted with the victim, and almost half of those who were acquainted were a boyfriend or former boyfriend. Most of the others were classmates, “friends” or co-workers. And most of the stalking was not reported to the police or to campus law enforcement officials. Most thought the incidents would not be considered serious enough for police to pursue. Although not the most important problem facing youth today, stalking is upsetting because it makes girls feel vulnerable, and it is apparently more common than we realize. It takes many forms, in addition to physically following girls. Dating is often a time of conflict and abuse, primarily against girls. One-third of all students, male and female, report some experience with physical violence in a dating relationship. For example, girls were much more likely to report being punched or forced to engage in sexual activity against their will. Boys, on the other hand, were more likely to be pinched, slapped, scratched, and kicked. The bad news for parents and other adults is that they are unlikely to be told about these incidents, making it difficult to deal with the problem.

Less than 3 percent of boys or girls reported the incident to an authority figure, such as a teacher, police, or counselor, and only 6 percent reported it to a family member.

Forty-two percent of the boys and 43 percent of the girls reported that the incidents occurred in a school building or on school grounds.

And although most of the incidents took place when the couple was alone, another boy or girl or group of people was present nearly half the time. That means that there are bystanders witnessing the abuse who need to do more to stop it, either by showing their concern or getting help.

Why are some teen romances so violent?

Many children in foster care have experienced violence, and there is good reason to be concerned that they may become victims or perpetrators of violence in the future. A recent study suggests that teenagers in foster care may be at risk for violence in their dating relationships.

Have you ever been stalked? How long did it last? What methods did they use? Are you safe now?

Dore E. Frances, M.A.