Overview
Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress. (The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC))[i]
The legal definitions of stalking vary by jurisdiction.
Survivors may not use the specific word “stalking” to describe their experiences but instead may use other language to share what is happening to them.
SPARC identifies four categories of stalking behaviors: 1. surveillance, 2. life invasion, 3. intimidation, and 4. interference through sabotage or attack.
To learn more about these four categories of stalking behaviors and more detailed information about identifying stalking, stalking dynamics, and tools for supporting survivors of stalking, please see these two guides:
Key Tips for Service Providers
Take stalking seriously.
Survivors often report that they are not believed about stalking or find it difficult to share their experiences. Because stalking is a pattern of behavior, each individual incident may be difficult to explain or may not seem harmful in isolation. Victims of stalking sometimes doubt themselves about their experience, since so many stalking behaviors are subtle or may be non-harmful in some situations.
Service providers can share information about stalking, support survivors to identify patterns, and validate their client’s fears and concerns.
Safety plan
The goals of a stalking safety plan will vary by individual. A safety plan may include:
- Ways to keep location and activities private
- Tools for emotional well-being
- Ideas for avoiding physical interactions with the stalker
- Strategies to lessen the impact of the stalking on work, school, or personal life.
Safety plans with trans/nonbinary survivors might also include:
- An understanding of the impact of anti-trans attitudes on the survivor’s access to resources,
- Ways the survivor can get gender affirmation and affirming care,
- Strategies to avoid anti-trans hate and harassment,
- Methods to build trans affirming support systems and community.
Safety plans will not necessarily end the stalking behaviors but may help to lessen the negative impact on the survivor’s life. Service providers can remind survivors that the stalking is not their fault and they are not to blame. Service providers can also remind them that their trans or nonbinary identity is not to blame, either.
Much information about stalking includes advice for the victim to avoid any contact with the stalker. This may not always be possible and may not be what the survivor wants. Trans/nonbinary people may have smaller support networks, be part of close-knit trans communities, or have networks of chosen family. Ending contact with the stalker may have a major impact on the survivor’s social support systems. The survivor may also feel safer by maintaining contact and having some awareness of the location or mood of the stalker. Service providers can support victims by understanding and respecting their decisions and working to help the survivor meet their own goals (rather than the providers’ goals).
Documentation
Documentation of stalking behaviors can be beneficial for several reasons. Documentation can help a survivor to identify patterns and to believe themselves about what is happening. If a survivor wants to engage with the legal system through an injunction or criminal charges, documentation can help to establish the pattern of stalking and other abusive behavior.
Documentation may include photographs, a log of encounters and interactions, and screenshots of messages.
Resources
[i] The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center | SPARC. (2023). Stalking Awareness. https://www.stalkingawareness.org/