Recognize and respond: National Stalking Awareness Month

Each January marks National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on increasing awareness and improving the understanding of stalking as a public safety issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about one in three women and one in six men have been stalked at some point in their lives. Stalking can affect anyone, and NSAM aims to shed light on warning signs, support survivors, and promote resources for intervention and prevention.

According to The Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center, stalking is defined as “a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or suffer substantial emotional distress.”  

This can encompass a variety of behaviors including but not limited to persistent phone calls, physical monitoring, text messages and social media interactions. When a person is being stalked, they may experience someone trying to gain power and control over them, which is also linked to other forms of intimate partner violence such as physical and mental abuse. 

“Unfortunately, the media we consume misconstrues what many of us understand as stalking, similar to what it does for other forms of violence,” Nicole Gonzalez, program manager for ASU’s Sexual and Relationship Violence program, said. “There is a general understanding that stalking is usually done by a stranger and that stalkers are easy to spot as someone who is hiding in the shadows following someone else around. In reality, stalking is more commonly the opposite. Usually someone known, an acquaintance or more, who is using some form of surveillance whether physical or via social media to hold power and control over someone else.”

Gonzales said that to combat this misinformation, the ASU community works together to share stalking awareness messaging to continue fostering a safe and thriving campus community.

NSAM was established in 2004 by the National Center for Victims of Crime to build public awareness and foster conversations between communities regarding how to recognise and prevent stalking, which is a crime in all 50 states. Understanding the dangers of stalking is crucial - it is a serious and often misunderstood form of harassment that can sometimes lead to physical, emotional and psychological harm. Stalking behaviors are frequently dismissed as “harmless” or just “persistent interest.” Maybe you’ve seen something like this, whether that’s an ex-partner persistently texting and showing up at your door, or someone creating multiple social media accounts to view every story you post. 

Recognizing signs previously dismissed as harmless can help victim-survivors seek support, and allows the public to step in and intervene when necessary. One of the most pressing challenges around stalking is that it often goes unreported. Many victim-survivors feel that their complaints are not taken seriously, or fear retaliation from their stalkers. According to a 2018 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 69% of victim-survivors knew their offender in some capacity. Experiencing stalking can be incredibly isolating, and many people report suffering from feelings of anxiety, depression and trauma.

Arizona State University’s Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention Program (SRVP) provides Stalking Awareness Education, which includes crucial resources and information to help students understand, recognize and respond to stalking behaviors. It aims to provide education and highlight options for students to report stalking incidents and access support, reinforcing ASU’s commitment to fostering a safe and respectful campus environment. One way you can get involved is through keeping up with SRVP, and using #ASUNSAM on anything you post relating to stalking awareness. 

Your safety and the safety of everyone around you matters. You may feel that you are experiencing stalking yourself or become concerned for a friend or family member. You do not have to wait until the behaviors escalate, it is normal to want to talk to someone to formulate a plan:
ASU resources

• Visit ASU Counseling Services to learn more about counseling and crisis support on campus.
• Consult with an ASU Victim-Survivor Advocate by calling 480-727-5167 or emailing victimservices@asu.edu.
• Reach out to EMPACT’s 24-hour ASU-dedicated crisis hotline at 480-921-1006.