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The original was posted on /r/twoxchromosomes by /u/hajisaurus on 2023-09-02 15:15:00.

I (42F) have new job where I occasionally have to travel to a busy city center. It’s not terrible but like most big US cities, there’s lots of people who are unhoused/loitering. This week, I was walking to my office when an older man stepped into my walking path, after I side stepped around him three times. By the third time, we were passing and I dodged what was an attempt to bump into me and said “excuse me” not very loud and not as polite as I normally would.

The man then turned and followed me for three city blocks before I could get to my building safely (badge access and security cameras, thankfully). It really shook me up and I did mention it throughout the day to the other (mostly women) coworkers I met throughout the day as a warning. They were all grateful for the heads up and horrified that it happened.

When I got home, I related the story to my husband (44), who thought that was the moment to discuss my strategy for fighting the guy. Which, honestly, was never a strategy. I would have done so many other things than fight the dude, but like you do not get it? He was already winning without having to touch me. I’m already traumatized from the stalking, but let’s add to it by hypothesizing how much worse it would’ve been?

Idk, I ended up feeling so unheard. And his reaction was not the help I needed. I’m sure literally every woman has a story like this,so I figured you all would get it.