Stalking and Harassment
Stalking
Stalking is defined as a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. This pattern typically involves two or more behaviors, such as sending unwanted emails or texts or showing up at a person's home or workplace. The same action can hold very different meanings for different people and what causes someone to feel fear can vary from person to person; therefore, it is important to put ourselves in the victim's shoes. If you are getting stalked, you have the option of filing for a Relief from Stalking order through the court.
Harassment
Harassment is based on how it is received. If actions are perceived as harassment, in the "eye of the beholder," then it is harassment. There are two types of harassment: hostile environment and quid pro quo (this for that). Hostile environment entails unwelcome or unwanted language, behavior, or visual display of a sexual nature that causes an individual fear, anxiety, shame or embarrassment, and limits, denies, or interferes with the person's job or schooling. Quid pro quo is harassment that attempts to extort sexual cooperation by means of subtle or explicit threats in exchange for something else. Harassment can also be any behavior directed at members of one sex, a person's actual or perceived gender, sex or orientation.
Technology Abuse
Technology abuse is the misuse of technology by perpetrators to further abuse and control victims. This misuse of technology could include monitoring technology use, including computers and cell phones, sending multiple unwanted or threatening text messages or voicemail messages, or posting negative comments or images of the victim online.