Participant gender, stalking myth acceptance, and gender role stereotyping in perceptions of intimate partner stalking: a structural equation modeling approach

Abstract

The present research used a mock juror experiment (N = 360) to assess two primary goals: (1) to examine the direct and indirect effects of participant gender, stalking myth acceptance, and gender role stereotyping on guilt ratings in a stalking trial; and (2) to examine the role of perceived victim fear and distress, and defendant intended danger on perceptions of a stalking trial. Using structural equation modeling, we found an indirect effect of participant gender, and both direct and indirect effects of stalking myth acceptance and gender role stereotyping on guilt ratings. Men and participants who endorsed more traditional gender role stereotypes were associated with adherence to stalking myth acceptance beliefs. Endorsement of particular stalking myth acceptance beliefs offers a partial explanation for why women and men differed on perceptions of the defendant's intent to cause danger and the victim's perceived fear and distress. Results provide insight into the efficacy of current anti-stalking legislation that relies on a juror's capacity to evaluate an 'objective' interpretation (i.e., 'reasonable person') standard of fear for intimate partner stalking.

Gender, Perpetrator Attractiveness, and Ambivalent Sexism as Predictors of Victim Blaming, Minimization, and Subjective Fear in Stalking Incidents

“…We found that men blamed stalking victims and minimized stalking behaviors more than women did, and these findings have been previously noted (Dunlap, 2010;Dunlap et al, 2015;Lambert et al, 2013;McKeon et al, 2015;Sinclair, 2012). Furthermore, researchers have also found that women more readily perceive stalking behaviors and identify these behaviors as stalking compared to men (Chan & Sheridan, 2017;Phillips et al, 2004).…”

“…Other researchers have found that men typically blame victims of stalking and minimize stalking incidents more than women (Dunlap et al, 2015;McKeon et al, 2015;Sinclair, 2012). In general, men tend to minimize the seriousness of stalking behavior (e.g., fail to recognize stalking behavior as dangerous; Hall, 1998;Purcell et al, 2001).…”

Cultures of gendered violence: An integrative review of measures of attitudinal support for violence against women

“…(2015) report a three-factor structure: ‘stalking isn’t serious’, ‘stalking is romantic’, and ‘victims are to blame’. Dunlap et al. (2015) report a similar three-factor structure, emerging from their sample of US university students, which they describe as ‘minimising’, ‘flattery’, and ‘victim blaming’.…”

“…For example, McKeon et al (2015) report a three-factor structure: 'stalking isn't serious', 'stalking is romantic', and 'victims are to blame'. Dunlap et al (2015) report a similar three-factor structure, emerging from their sample of US university students, which they describe as 'minimising', 'flattery', and 'victim blaming'. Meanwhile, in their Italian university student sample, De Fazio and colleagues (2015) report two-factors emerging; one that taps into the notion that stalking is a nuisance or even flattering behaviour rather than a criminal act.…”

Campus Law Enforcement Resources for Rape Prevention and Responses to Stalking

“…Similar to sexual victimization, the definition of stalking varies by jurisdiction and by study. Although it requires that the victim experience fear or a reasonable person would feel fear as a result of the offender’s behavior (Catalano, 2012; Sheridan, Blaauw, & Davies, 2003), legally defined stalking behaviors might mistakenly be perceived as “romantic” gestures from their partner (Belknap & Sharma, 2014), misinterpreted as harmless by victims (Cass, 2011), and accepted as less problematic by potential jurors—particularly males (Dunlap, Lynch, Jewell, Wasarhaley, & Golding, 2015). In reality, stalking is anything but harmless (Belknap & Sharma, 2014).…”