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“Machismo in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the president is protected,” declared a professor and feminist, voicing a feeling shared by numerous women across the nation. This follows after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she walked from the National Palace to the department of education. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, commented at a press briefing: “If they do this to the leader, what occurs to all the other women in the country?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

Sheinbaum’s historic role has turned this into a teaching moment in a culture where sexual harassment and assault on public spaces and buses and trains are often normalized and dismissed. At the same time, rival factions have alleged the incident was staged to shift focus from the recent murder of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. Yet, the majority of 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.

Balancing Public Engagement and Safety

The president, like her predecessor, is recognized for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. It was during one such interaction that she was groped. “This is a fragile balance between ensuring security and being close to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. For a woman leader, it’s a stark reminder that you often face no-win situations.

“For people brought up in a deeply conservative manner where patriarchal structure are accepted, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a progressive, embodies all that macho men in Mexico despise,” Cardona explained.

Shared Experiences of Assault and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not unique to Mexico, of course. Discussing the president’s ordeal opened a flood of memories and exchanged accounts among female individuals. As Cardona mentioned advising her pupils not to freeze when groped, she learned about firsthand experiences, such as one where a individual was violated twice during a holy journey. In a similar vein, accounts of resisting—like physically confronting a assailant in a nightspot—underscore a increasing worldwide trend of women refusing to remain passive.

Breaking Silence and Embracing Outrage

Maybe this event will represent a critical moment for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been breaking the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona stated. “Many women feel ashamed, but now we can discuss it with greater openness.” She routinely shares with her class the precautions she employs when going out, such as thinking about clothing to prevent harassment. And she asks a question to her male pupils: “Have you ever thought about that?” Their response is always no.

Now, after the leader’s violation recorded on film and seen worldwide, can men in Mexico start to reconsider? Cardona urges everyone: “You have to embrace the anger!”

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