Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Exploring perceptions of stalking-like behaviour for autistic young people within a neurodivergent and strengths-based framework: Critiquing relationships, sex and health education provision

Bovill, Helen; Chicken, Sarah; Bovill, Elouise; Buckland, Julie; McCartan, Kieran

Authors

Helen Bovill Helen2.Bovill@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor of Education

Sarah Chicken Sarah.Chicken@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Childhood and Education

Elouise Bovill

Kieran McCartan Kieran.Mccartan@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Sociology and Criminology



Contributors

Maria Mellins
Editor

Rachael Wheatley
Editor

Caroline Flowers
Editor

Abstract

Many young people do not have a strong understanding of stalking-like behaviour; this chapter considers the challenges this presents with specific reference to autistic young people, focusing upon: prevalence, recognition, awareness and consequences of stalking-like behaviour. Validity of arguments which suggest autistic young people may be at greater risk to perpetration and victimisation of stalking-like behaviour are examined. We make the case that Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is lacking for autistic young people and does not equip them with skills to form healthy intimate relationships. This chapter sits within a neurodivergent and strengths-based framework, aligned to a social model view of autism. The author team includes an autistic young person, and a parent of an autistic young person; remaining authors have experience working with autism. This chapter may be useful to special and mainstream education providers, and education, initial teacher education, social work, police, criminology, and sociology students.

Online Publication Date Aug 12, 2023
Publication Date Aug 12, 2023
Deposit Date Jan 27, 2023
Publicly Available Date Aug 13, 2025
Publisher Palgrave Macmillan (part of Springer Nature)
Pages 253-275
Book Title Young People, Stalking Awareness and Domestic Abuse
ISBN 9783031323782
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32379-9_12
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10390678
Related Public URLs https://www.alicerugglestrust.org/
Additional Information A Book in Partnership with the Alice Ruggles Trust.
Contract Date Jan 20, 2023