Stalking not just physical anymore

The term “Facebook stalking” is not unheard of in daily conversation.

Simply put, it involves clicking through people’s posts and pictures to see what they’re about and what they’re doing.

“Stalking is an issue of concern because it’s a power relationship. (Stalkers) are using power over you,” said Dorothy Granger, marketing and special events coordinator for Middle Way House.

Middle Way is a shelter that provides emergency housing for victims of domestic abuse and takes in hundreds of women and children each year. Many of these victims have experienced stalking. In 2012, the Middle Way House had 198 recorded cases of
stalking.

The National Center for Victims of Crime defines stalking as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear,” according to its website. Aspects of stalking generally include being victim, receiving frequent phone calls and being monitored using a computer.

The NCVC reported that more than 6 million Americans experience stalking yearly, with one out of six females and one out of 19 males being subject to stalking once in their lives.

“It’s one of the more hidden, less talked about domestic crimes,” said Cierra Thomas-Williams, prevention programs coordinator at Middle Way. “It’s different because it is done from afar.”

Stalking victims may experience insomnia, anxiety, social dysfunction and severe depression. Apart from psychological trauma, victims of stalking may also endure physical abuse.

Stalking does not necessarily mean shadowy strangers following their victims. The NCVC reports 66 percent of female victims and 41 percent of male victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner.

Young adults between ages 18 and 24 experiences the highest rates of stalking, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2009 special report “Stalking Victimization in the United States.” Thomas-Williams sees this as a problem.

“These teens and young adults who are most at risk are the ones who are using social media the most,” she said. “They want to use Facebook to connect to each other, so they don’t use the privacy settings. Plus, terms like ‘Facebook stalking’ lessen its impact. I don’t think stalking is being taken seriously by this demographic.”

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, but might sometimes prove difficult to charge. Fewer than one-third states classify it as a felony on the first offense. The legal solutions for stalking, such as restraining orders, are unable to prevent it.

“Protective orders aren’t prevention,” Thomas-Williams said. “They are reactionary. They can only be enacted after they have been violated. In a moment of stalking, they are just a piece of paper.”

Stalking victims might also face problems in getting help from law enforcement. The Bureau of Justice report revealed 20 percent of stalking victims who reported incidents said the police took no action. According to the same report, the police took no action for various reasons, including not wanting to get involved, holding no legal authority or being inefficient or ineffective. In all cases, victims were equally likely to say their situation either improved or worsened after filing a police report.

When asked about stalking and this apathy toward cases, Bloomington Police Department offered no comments.

“The first step is awareness,” Granger said. Awareness includes understanding the risks of Internet presence.

Middle Way House employees said the organization  is committed to educating people about the dangers of domestic abuse and stalking. Its Healthy Relations Program involves thousands of high-school and college students per year in discussions about power in relationships.

It also has classes and informal sessions designed to teach people about domestic abuse. Its Knitting to Heal fundraiser, which involved covering 23 trees in downtown Bloomington with yarn, has posted information about stalking in January, which is National Stalking Awareness Month.

“But, awareness has a stopping point,” Granger said.

“We have to change social norms,” Thomas-Williams said. “We live in a culture that is really into voyeurism. Our bodies are always on display. Social media allows that at all hours of the day.”

She suggests changing privacy settings on social media accounts. Also, if individuals are already a victim of stalking, they should record incidents so they have solid, photographic evidence if they file a report.

Thomas-Williams said she remains hopeful about how stalking will be addressed in the future.

“We can change how we view access to other people,” she said. “Maybe there are some things that others don’t need to know.”