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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the head of state is safe,” declared a professor and feminist, expressing a sentiment shared by numerous women throughout the country. This comes after a viral video showed a intoxicated man groping the country’s first female president as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. The president, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, remarked at a media conference: “If they do this to the president, what happens to all the other women in the country?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

Sheinbaum’s unprecedented position has turned this into a learning opportunity in a culture where unwanted advances and assault on streets and buses and trains are frequently accepted and not taken seriously. At the same time, rival factions have claimed the incident was staged to shift focus from the recent assassination of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. However, most women understand that gender-based aggression need not be staged—research indicate that 50% of Mexican women have experienced it at some point in their lives.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

The president, like her predecessor, is recognized for wading into crowds, greeting people, and posing for selfies. It was during such an encounter that she was assaulted. “This is a fragile balance between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. As a woman leader, it’s a stark reminder that you often face no-win situations.

Those raised in a very traditional manner where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader such as the president, who is a scientist and a progressive, embodies all that macho men in the country hate,” Cardona elaborated.

Common Stories of Assault and Resistance

Sexual assault is not unique to Mexico, of course. Discussing the president’s ordeal opened a wave of memories and exchanged accounts among female individuals. As Cardona mentioned advising her pupils to react when groped, she learned about personal experiences, such as one where a woman was violated on two occasions during a holy journey. In a similar vein, accounts of fighting back—like beating up a groper in a club—underscore a increasing worldwide trend of women rejecting to remain passive.

Breaking Silence and Embracing Outrage

Maybe this incident will mark a critical moment for women across Mexico. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist remarked. “A lot of women are embarrassed, but now we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” The expert often discusses with her class the measures she employs when leaving home, such as thinking about attire to avoid unwanted advances. She poses a query to her male pupils: “Have you ever thought about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Today, with the president’s assault captured on film and viewed worldwide, will men in Mexico start to think differently? Cardona encourages everyone: “It’s essential to harness the outrage!”

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