Patriarchal Face of Cyber Stalking
Maharashtra, India
Volume II – Issue II, 2019
Although related to stalking and other forms of harassment, cyber stalking is a new form of deviant behavior about which comparatively little is known. Its is argued that cyber stalking has arisen as a result of increased access to information communication technology, in particular the Internet.
Legislation from the UK, US, Canada and Australia fails to define cyber stalking. However, it is recognized that victims are offered limited protection from this form of harassment. Legal definitions of stalking and harassment fail to take into account many of the behavior associated with cyber stalking, such as electronic surveillance.
Existing definitions of stalking and cyber stalking have a number of deficiencies, such as the fact that an incidence of cyber stalking may involve more than one victim. In attempting to define cyber stalking as a form of behavior associated with harassment and stalking, the experience of victims are marginalized. In addition it becomes difficult to offer protection to member of the public.the main targets of cyber stalking are the females due to the patriarchal mindset that still exists and the ratio between men and women.
This paper proposes a formal definition of cyber stalking in an attempt to encourage discussion and stimulate further research. The proposed definition encompasses many of the behavior associated with cyber stalking and seeks to overcome many of the difficulties identifies within the discussion and also discussing about how women are the main targets of cyber stalking and how the problem can be resolved.