In The Fall Risk, protagonist Charlotte initially greets the disappearance of the staircase to her apartment as a welcome relief. Having endured months of stalking from a man named George, to whom she has no connection except that he was once a client at the bank where she worked, she lives in a state of constant fear that has greatly reduced her autonomy, limiting where she can live, work, and socialize. 

According to the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, stalking is defined as “a course of action directed at an individual that causes the victim to fear for their safety, and generally involves repeated visual or physical proximity, nonconsensual communication, and verbal, written, or implied threats” (“Stalking.” Office for Victims of Crime). While stalking impacts people of all genders, women are disproportionately affected, with the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC) reporting that one in three women will experience stalking in their lifetimes, as compared to one in six men (“What is Stalking: Definition and FAQs.” SPARC). This disparity places stalking within a constellation of gender-based violence that can limit women’s freedom and opportunities. 

Charlotte notes that while she has gone to the police about George’s stalking, they have been able to do little to help. While stalking is a crime in all 50 US states, the individual actions that make up a pattern of stalking are often not in themselves illegal, and stalkers often go to great lengths to make their behaviors appear innocent. These challenges, coupled with a longstanding pattern of disbelieving women in US culture and the US legal system, make the crime uniquely difficult to prosecute or prevent. For many survivors, social media introduces further dangers. When a well-meaning neighbor posts a video of Charlotte on social media, the post allows George to find her. This climactic incident illustrates the difficulty of protecting one’s privacy in the digital age.