When it comes to classic stalker movies, Fatal Attraction is way up there on my "creepy" list. In the film, as everyone undoubtedly knows, Dan (Michael Douglas), a happily married family man, has a weekend affair with Alex (Glenn Close). Dan thinks of it as a quick, meaningless fling, but he's got another thing coming. Alex wants more — much more — and will kill innocent bunny rabbits to get it. As per the standard morally correct Hollywood formula, he pays for his sin — through anguish, guilt, possible loss of his marriage, recriminations, and the machinations of a psycho woman who just won't go away. But in the end he lives, and Alex dies.
This started me thinking about real-life stalkers and some of the personal feelings I had while watching this movie.
First off, stalking is a serious problem in this country, with celeb-stalking in a horrific league all its own. But perhaps no miscreant is considered more reprehensible and downright terrifying than the female stalker. Thus, seeing Alex in any sort of sympathetic light or identifying with her in any way is just not deemed acceptable.
Women, after all, are just not supposed to chase men. If they do, it is at their own peril — especially if they are looking for a long-term relationship. It's still considered cheap, slutty, and gauche in many circles — and I, for one, would prefer not to engage in it. However, it is perfectly acceptable for a woman to be a passive mental stalker, viz:
Obsessing over a guy. Waiting by the phone for his calls. Taking all sorts of ridiculous crap from him and making oneself too readily available to his whims instead of having a life. Endlessly deconstructing every move "Mr. Right" makes so you and your girlfriends can analyze his demeanor and motives to determine if he does/doesn't care about you. In other words, all the usual women's nonsense. Browse through the pages of Cosmopolitan sometime — or better yet, go to their message boards — and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Prematurely pushing for an exclusive relationship is often a deal-breaker. But in any case, no matter how smitten a woman may be, it's considered particularly bad form to have a quickie one-nighter and then demand a "commitment" the next morning. Not cool. No clinging, no whining, no blackmailing, no wrist slashing, no bunny boiling.
But let's face it: statistically speaking, most dangerous stalkers are overwhelmingly male. How many real-life female psycho-stalkers — meaning those with the potential for real violence — have you heard of or encountered?
I suppose there are women out there who might resort to more passive aggressive schemes such as calling a lover's wife or even trying to blackmail someone to get their way. Although these are creepy — even seriously sick and damaging — behaviors, they usually do not result in bodily harm or death.
Article comments
1 - sr
Elvira, since Im the first commenter does my family and I get the free all you can eat lobster dinner at Red Lobster? Great blog lady of song. Never have been on the giving or receiving end of unwanted advances. From a fathers point of view with a daughter, and should she ever be caught in the situation of unwanted advances this commenter would write blogcritics from San Quentin on death row. I should not get started because this will lead me into our crap legal system and not be inline with your blog. Just be thankful Im not judge of the world. Thanks for listing Elvira. Did you stop smokeing? Just a point of view from this commenter. Knowing Im conservative, ex military, the Army thing with many years long gone and retired thank God. Remember you did a blog on the latest Army enlistment TV commercials. After watching them maybe you were right. The only thing worse is being inundated with that John Bassfishower workout viedo or whatever his name is. He must also sell hair products for men since the dorks hair color is different for each frecking commercial. Him and Billy Mayes, however you spell it. Hey, Im retired, drink much rum, smoke to much, like I care. Asked my wife if she would like to be married to John The Bassfishermen workout dude and had a voice like Billy Cleaning Products Mayes over me, who would you want. Al Pacino and Charles Bronson. Not the answer I desired after 25yrs of marriage on 4-4-06. Almost wondering what the hell your blog was about Elvira. Keep up the good work lady of song, cut your smokeing back to 5 packs per day and have a great week. sr
2 - Elvira Black
sr:
Free lobster on Elvira! Still smoking away, unfortunately, and coughing like the dickens--must...stop...agh...
John Basedow, fitness celebrity? He does have quite an..um... impressive head of hair. And don't you love the little "Fitness Made Simple" jingle? Hey, happy anniversary and have a great week yourself!
3 - sr
Elvira, thanks and Im in no position to speak about smoking. Had one lady tell me while I was enjoying a smoke, minding my own business, and sitting on a bench outside my local market that I could get cancer smoking those nasty things. Told her she was right because my lung cancer was inoperable due to many years of smoking. Asked her if I quit now would my cancer go away. Wished her a great day as she walked away. No I have no cancer but someday I will. What a lier I is. By. sr
4 - Elvira Black
sr:
Cancer? Are you sure that lady knew what she was talking about? (lol). I think there's now some parts of the country where you can't even smoke outside, period. What a jokester you are! Serves her right.
5 - cancerman
i love cancer its so cool i eat it for breakfast thank you america
6 - Anonymously D.
I am a young man in his thirties and am presently being stalked for nearly three years of my life by a woman who chased me over half the planet to a foreign country and simply won't go away.
She says I am her best friend and that she knows every detail about me, yet, I have never allowed such an exclusive right to me as she claims and defends. I do not consider her even at friendship status and was puzzled why she hunted me and chased me from America to Asia.
She has taken over my friends and attempts to wedge herself between my social groups and myself in an attempt to own me. When I confront her with this behavior, she reverts into some kind of brainless Disney-like animated animal to attempt to avoid reality and responsibility for her actions and thoughts.
She doesn't have a life of her own and just waits to see me whenever she is aware of social activities. My friends are aware of the situation and we all don't know what to do. Sadly, we have to arrange more discrete meetings even for casual visits.
I just want to be left alone and for her to go back to her home and country. She came uninvited and just won't leave.
At first, people did not believe me when I said this person was stalking me. Because, the stereotype is that only males stalk, it was hard for me to convince others what was really happening in my life - especially when others left me alone and she behaved strangely in their absence. But after a year, finally people began to see what I meant and they tried to be helpful to me.
We have been understanding and attempted to be helpful, but short of forcing her on a plane home, I don't know how to fix this problem.
I'm not afraid for my life, I am quite capable of defending myself physically or verbally, and I do not think she would resort to attack, murder, or suicide, but I am still not free in my life.
She has admitted to having stalked other males previously.
I have never stalked anyone before. Even when I had crushes on girls in my youth, I always had a conscience to respect their life and decisions and give them proper space. How is it that my stalker cannot have such conscience toward me?
7 - Elvira Black
That sounds rough, but women do stalk men too, especially celebrities.
From what I understand, the only possible solution is to completely disengage with her in every way...stop all communications, as any and all responses will just encourage her more. If you retain contact, you "validate" her fantasy.
You should not be in a position where someone takes over your social and personal life. If legal recourse isn't an option, I'd advise going "cold turkey;" maybe even changing your number and so on if necessary.
Good luck with that. Someone famous (Dorothy Parker?) said that "hell is other people." Sometimes that can be all too true.
8 - Anonymously D.
Thank you for the advice. I dislike to be severe with anyone, and of course I realize her motivations are part of the human condition, but she isn't regarding what she does to me and others. She wants love so strongly but her behavior prevents it. I hope somehow the cycle of her inner-torment will end and that she will eventually enjoy a healthy and love-filled life.