I’ve been living in Copenhagen for the last couple months, and had never felt any danger until I moved from the relaxed, canal-lined Christianshavn to the inner city feeling Bispebjerg. I’ve lived in various metropolitan cities like Paris, New York and Barcelona where you know to always keep your guard up, and for the most part, that wasn’t the case in Copenhagen…until tonight.
I just got followed home by two men in their 20s/30s. It was around 10:30pm and I went to walk to a corner store two blocks away to get some snacks and had first noticed these guys walking in the same direction as me while I was leaving my place. It turned out that the corner store was closed so I walked back home to fetch my bike so I could find another one that’s farther away in the next neighbourhood, Nørrebro.
I took the back alley entrance as I only brought 1 key (the front entrance requires two keys). Once I got to my doorstep, I bent down to tie my shoelaces. That’s when I heard someone cough. I turn around and spot the same two men from earlier no more than two metres away from me! Once they were spotted, one of them immediately turned around and started walking away. The other just stared, as I quickly and calmly went to open my door. Before I got inside, I just stared back at them, as they now were walking away, but constantly looking back at me (I suppose to check to see if I was still there). Long story short, no snack run tonight.
Now I’m too frightened to go out alone at night in this neighbourhood. I’m actually moving away for good in two days, and I couldn’t be looking forward to it even more now. It’s not the first time this has happened to me, and by far not the worst experience (for that, it’s Paris); a part of me is just surprised it’s happened here in Copenhagen.
Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?
Make them aware that you know they’re following you. Whether it’s a simple stare down, to something more direct. And if you need help, scream as loud as humanly possible that you need help and you’re being attacked.
– A
Location: Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.
