🔗 Share this article

Male chauvinism in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the president is protected,” declared a professor and feminist, expressing a feeling echoed by many women throughout the nation. This follows after a viral video showed a drunk man molesting the country’s first female president as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a press briefing: “When this happens to the president, what happens to all the other women in the country?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Widespread Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s historic position has made this a learning opportunity in a culture where unwanted advances and physical violation on public spaces and buses and trains are frequently normalized and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, political opponents have alleged the incident was orchestrated to shift focus from the recent murder of a city leader, Carlos Manzo. Yet, most women know that gender-based aggression need not be staged—studies indicate that 50% of Mexican women have experienced it at one time or another in their lives.

Navigating Public Engagement and Safety

The president, like her preceding leader, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. She was such an encounter that she was groped. “This is a delicate balance between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. For a female president, it’s a stark reminder that frequently face no-win situations.

“For people brought up in a very traditional manner where patriarchal structure are accepted, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies all that traditional males in Mexico hate,” the sociologist elaborated.

Shared Stories of Assault and Resistance

Sexual assault is not unique to Mexico, of course. Talking about the leader’s experience unleashed a flood of memories and shared accounts among women. When Cardona spoke about advising her pupils not to freeze when groped, she learned about personal experiences, such as one where a individual was assaulted on two occasions during a holy journey. In a similar vein, stories of resisting—like beating up a assailant in a club—highlight a growing global trend of females refusing to remain passive.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Outrage

Perhaps this event will mark a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona stated. “A lot of women feel ashamed, but now we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” The expert routinely shares with her class the precautions she employs when going out, such as considering attire to avoid harassment. And she poses a question to her male students: “Did you ever considered about that?” The answer is always no.

Today, with the president’s assault recorded on video and seen globally, will men in Mexico start to reconsider? Cardona encourages all: “It’s essential to harness the outrage!”

A key point is clear: The individuals who fight back leave a lasting impression.