🔗 Share this article

“Machismo in Mexico is so pervasive that not even the president is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, voicing a feeling shared by numerous women throughout the nation. This comes 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 filed a complaint against the assailant, remarked at a media conference: “If they do this to the president, what occurs to every other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Position Highlights on Widespread Sexual Harassment

The president’s unprecedented role has made this a teaching moment in a society where unwanted advances and physical violation on public spaces and buses and trains are often accepted and not taken seriously. At the same time, political opponents have claimed the incident was staged to shift focus from the recently assassination of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. However, the majority of women understand that sexual violence doesn’t need manufactured—research indicate that 50% of Mexican women have experienced it at one time or another in their lives.

Navigating Public Engagement and Security

Sheinbaum, similar to her preceding leader, is recognized for wading into crowds, shaking hands, and taking photos. It was during such an encounter that she was groped. “It’s a delicate balance between being safe and being close to the public,” explained Ishtar Cardona. For a woman leader, it’s a sobering reminder that you often face no-win situations.

Those raised in a very traditional way where male-dominated systems are accepted, a woman such as the president, who is a scientist and a leftist, embodies everything traditional males in Mexico despise,” Cardona elaborated.

Common Stories of Violation and Fighting Back

Sexual assault is not unique to Mexico, of course. Talking about the president’s experience unleashed a wave of recollections and shared stories among female individuals. When Cardona mentioned advising her students not to freeze when assaulted, she heard about firsthand incidents, such as one where a woman was assaulted twice during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, accounts of resisting—like beating up a groper in a nightspot—highlight a increasing worldwide movement of women refusing to remain passive.

Breaking Silence and Channeling Anger

Maybe this event will represent a turning point for women across Mexico. “We have been challenging the taboo, but it’s very tough,” the sociologist stated. “Many women feel embarrassed, but today we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” She routinely shares with her students the measures she takes when leaving home, such as thinking about attire to prevent harassment. She asks a query to her male students: “Have you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.

Now, after the leader’s violation captured on video and viewed worldwide, will Mexican men start to think differently? Cardona urges all: “It’s essential to embrace the anger!”

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