🔗 Share this article

“Machismo in the nation is so deeply rooted that not one the head of state is protected,” declared a professor and feminist, voicing a feeling echoed by numerous women across the nation. This comes after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she walked from the National Palace to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a press briefing: “If they do this to the leader, what happens to all the other women in the nation?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Widespread Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s historic role has made this a teaching moment in a culture where unwanted advances and assault on streets and public transport are often normalized and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, political opponents have claimed the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently assassination of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. However, the majority of women know that sexual violence need not be manufactured—research indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have experienced it at one time or another in their lives.

Balancing Accessibility and Safety

The president, like her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and taking photos. It was during such an encounter that she was assaulted. “This is a fragile equilibrium between being safe and maintaining proximity to the public,” explained Ishtar Cardona. As a female president, it’s a stark realization that frequently can’t win.

Those brought up in a deeply conservative manner where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies all that traditional males in Mexico hate,” the sociologist explained.

Common Stories of Assault and Fighting Back

Sexual assault is not unique to Mexico, naturally. Discussing the president’s ordeal unleashed a flood of recollections and shared stories among female individuals. When the expert mentioned urging her students to react when assaulted, she learned about personal experiences, such as a case where a individual was violated twice during a religious pilgrimage. In a similar vein, accounts of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a club—highlight a increasing worldwide movement of females rejecting to stay silent.

Shattering Taboos and Channeling Anger

Perhaps this event will represent a critical moment for Mexican women. “We have been breaking the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona remarked. “Many women feel ashamed, but now we can discuss it with more freedom.” She routinely shares with her students the precautions she employs when leaving home, such as thinking about attire to avoid harassment. And she poses a question to her male pupils: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Today, with the leader’s violation recorded on video and viewed globally, can Mexican men begin to think differently? Cardona urges everyone: “It’s essential to embrace the outrage!”

One thing is clear: The individuals who resist leave a lasting impression.