Abstract
Traditional stalking and cyberstalking have become a significant legal and social issue in today's society. Although a sizeable body of research on stalking victimization and perpetration currently exists, very little is known about cyberstalking victimization. Relatedly, there is a dearth of comparative research on the topics of traditional stalking and cyberstalking. Examining the prevalence and nature of stalking victimization across national settings will allow for an exploration of the significance of social context in affecting victims’ experiences as well as help highlight the competing influences operating in different contexts. Cross-national research on stalking will also provide an opportunity to consider a wide range of alternative options and solutions to the problem. The aim of this study is to compare and contrast the prevalence and nature of traditional stalking and cyberstalking victimization between American and Spanish university students. This study focuses on university students because there is evidence that they have a higher risk of becoming victims of stalking relative to the general population. Moreover, the comparative analysis undertaking in this study involves a country that has criminalized stalking for almost three decades (the United States) and a country that has just recently enacted an anti-stalking statute (Spain). Such analysis is warranted as it will allow the researchers to engage in critical analyses of current anti-stalking statutes and advocate for innovative, sensible, and effective solutions in addressing the crime of stalking. In addition to presenting the results, the policy implications derived from the study will also be discussed.
Highlights
Stalking is a relatively new crime in Spain
We have considered victims of cyberstalking those who have indicated that they have experienced at some point in their life and on more than one occasion any of the following unwanted contact that could have been committed by a stranger, acquaintance, friend, relative or partner: a) receiving unsolicited or unwanted e-mails and b) having information about them posted on the Internet
One of the objectives of the project was to identify the differences in the prevalence of stalking and cyberstalking victimization in Spain and in the U.S The results are consistent with previous studies (Cavezza & McEwan, 2014): single females are at a higher risk of being stalked and cyberstalked by males in both countries and there is usually some kind of previous relationship between them
Summary
Stalking is a relatively new crime in Spain. In 2001, at the Council of Europe’s Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in Istanbul, the subject of combatting violence against women emerged as a top priority on the European Union political agenda. A series of behaviors were identified as criminal at the meeting and the signatory countries subsequently introduced a series of unwanted and harassing behaviors in their penal codes. In March 2015, stalking was outlawed and included in the Spanish Criminal Code through the organic law 1/2015 (article 172b). The debate shines a light on the necessity for more research on this topic
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