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“Machismo in the nation is so pervasive that not even the head of state is safe,” stated Caterina Camastra, expressing a sentiment echoed by many women throughout the nation. This follows after a viral video showed a drunk man groping the country’s first female president as she walked from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the perpetrator, commented at a media conference: “If they do this to the president, what occurs to every other women in the country?”

Historic Position Sheds Light on Widespread Sexual Harassment

The president’s historic position has turned this into a teaching moment in a society where sexual harassment and assault on streets and public transport are often normalized and dismissed. Meanwhile, rival factions have claimed the incident was orchestrated to divert attention from the recently murder of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. Yet, most women understand that gender-based aggression doesn’t need manufactured—research indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have faced it at some point in their lives.

Balancing Public Engagement and Safety

The president, like her predecessor, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and taking photos. It was during such an encounter that she was assaulted. “This is a delicate balance between being safe and being close to the people,” noted Ishtar Cardona. As a female president, it’s a sobering realization that you often face no-win situations.

“For people brought up in a very traditional way where patriarchal structure are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a leftist, embodies everything macho men in Mexico hate,” the sociologist explained.

Common Stories of Violation and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not limited to this nation, naturally. Talking about the leader’s ordeal unleashed a wave of memories and shared accounts among female individuals. As Cardona spoke about urging her pupils not to freeze when assaulted, she heard about firsthand incidents, such as one where a individual was violated on two occasions during a religious pilgrimage. In a similar vein, stories of resisting—like physically confronting a assailant in a nightspot—highlight a growing worldwide trend of females refusing to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Embracing Outrage

Maybe this event will mark a critical moment for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the silence, but it’s very tough,” Cardona remarked. “A lot of women feel ashamed, but now we can discuss it with greater openness.” She often discusses with her class the measures she takes when leaving home, such as thinking about attire to avoid harassment. She asks a question to her male pupils: “Have you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.

Now, with the leader’s violation captured on video and viewed globally, will men in Mexico begin to reconsider? The sociologist encourages everyone: “It’s essential to harness the outrage!”

A key point is clear: Those who resist make their assailants remember.