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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so pervasive that not one the president is safe,” stated Caterina Camastra, voicing a feeling shared by numerous women throughout the country. This follows after a viral video showed a drunk man molesting the country’s first female president as she strolled from the National Palace to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the assailant, commented at a press briefing: “When this happens to the leader, what occurs to every other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Highlights on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s unprecedented role has made this a learning opportunity in a society where unwanted advances and assault on streets and public transport are frequently normalized and dismissed. Meanwhile, political opponents have claimed the assault was orchestrated to shift focus from the recently assassination of a city leader, Carlos Manzo. Yet, the majority of women know that sexual violence need not be manufactured—research indicate that half of women in Mexico have experienced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Accessibility and Security

Sheinbaum, like her preceding leader, is known for wading into crowds, greeting people, and taking photos. She was such an encounter that she was groped. “This is a delicate equilibrium between being safe and maintaining proximity to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. As a woman leader, it’s a sobering reminder that frequently can’t win.

“For people brought up in a very traditional way where patriarchal structure are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a leftist, represents everything macho men in Mexico hate,” Cardona elaborated.

Common Stories of Violation and Resistance

Gender-based violence is not unique to Mexico, of course. Talking about the leader’s ordeal unleashed a wave of recollections and shared stories among female individuals. When the expert spoke about urging her students to react when groped, she heard about firsthand experiences, such as a case where a individual was assaulted on two occasions during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, stories of fighting back—like beating up a assailant in a nightspot—highlight a increasing global movement of females rejecting to remain passive.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Outrage

Maybe this incident will mark a critical moment for Mexican women. “We have been challenging the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona remarked. “Many women feel embarrassed, but today we can discuss it with greater openness.” The expert often shares with her students the measures she employs when leaving home, such as thinking about clothing to avoid unwanted advances. She poses a question to her male students: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.

Now, after the leader’s violation captured on film and seen globally, can Mexican men start to reconsider? Cardona encourages everyone: “You have to harness the anger!”

One thing is evident: Those who fight back leave a lasting impression.