*Photo by Steffen Muldbjerg on Upsplash
Denmark implemented the anti-discrimination law in 1939. Since the 1960s, immigration patterns have led to a gradual increase in the number of residents from other countries in Denmark, with immigrant families now accounting for approximately 15.4% of the total population.
However, Denmark is not standing at the center of discussions on racial discrimination issues. In other words, for most Danes, racism is not a ‘visible’ social agenda. A survey conducted by Politiken and TV2 in 2020 found that 51% of respondents completely or largely disagreed that racism is a widespread problem in Denmark.
So, if you decide to study in Aarhus, Denmark’s biggest student city, will you be able to avoid racism and live a safe, peaceful daily life? Through this journey, you will experience the issues of racism faced by non-western people living in Denmark.
This virtual journey features stories adapted from the real-life experiences of international people living in Aarhus. In particular, emotional words such as “unwelcome, horrifying, and speechless” were taken directly from their words.
This map was created based on six testimonies the reporter collected through interviews. If you click the icon, you can see their photos, read their stories, and hear their voices.
Danish students who do not directly experience racism also say they often hear disappointing stories from their close friends. Kamilla Gamborg, a 26-year-old college student, said, “If you look at the classroom in Denmark, it’s mostly white, blonde students. Sometimes, I think we need more diversity in our society.”
Non-western people living in Denmark face discrimination in their daily lives, ranging from overt verbal discrimination to subtle discrimination in speaking tone and behavioral attitude, to practical social structural barriers such as disadvantages in the job market.
Victims of racial discrimination say that just because such problems are opaque and difficult to identify, that doesn’t mean it can’t become a topic of social discourse. Luis Cervantes, an International student from Mexico, said “If Danes accepted that racism is something on a daily basis for some people, wouldn’t there be more efforts to address it?”
Written, and Edited by Eunseo Hong