People who obsessively follow or pursue someone else without permission, often intending to cause harm or fear.
From 'stalk,' originally meaning to walk stealthily like a hunter (Old English 'stealcan'). The -er suffix makes it 'one who stalks.' The predatory sense became prominent in modern usage.
The word 'stalking' was barely recognized as a crime until the 1990s—before that, obsessive following wasn't taken seriously, but psychology and law enforcement changed their approach.
Stalking disproportionately targets women; language often minimizes male-perpetrated stalking as 'persistence' or 'romance.' Gendered victim-blaming ('she should be flattered') is embedded in discourse.
Treat stalking as serious crime regardless of victim gender. Avoid romanticizing obsessive behavior.
["harasser","pursuer with harmful intent"]
Women's advocacy against stalking led to legal recognition (1990s stalking laws); survivors' voices transformed safety policy.
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