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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the president is protected,” stated a professor and feminist, voicing a sentiment shared by numerous women across the country. This follows after a widely circulated footage showed a intoxicated man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she strolled from the National Palace to the department of education. The president, who has filed a complaint against the assailant, remarked at a press briefing: “If they do this to the president, what happens to all the other women in the country?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

The president’s historic role has made this a teaching moment in a society where unwanted advances and physical violation on public spaces and public transport are frequently accepted and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, political opponents have claimed the assault was orchestrated to shift focus from the recent assassination of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. Yet, most women know that gender-based aggression doesn’t need staged—studies indicate that 50% of Mexican women have faced it at some point in their lives.

Balancing Public Engagement and Security

The president, like her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, greeting people, and taking photos. She was one such interaction that she was assaulted. “It’s a delicate equilibrium between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the people,” noted Ishtar Cardona. For a female president, it’s a stark realization that you often face no-win situations.

Those raised in a deeply conservative way where male-dominated systems are normalized, a woman such as the president, who is a scientist and a leftist, represents everything macho men in the country hate,” Cardona elaborated.

Shared Experiences of Violation and Resistance

Sexual assault is not limited to Mexico, of course. Talking about the president’s experience unleashed a flood of recollections and shared accounts among female individuals. As Cardona mentioned advising her students not to freeze when groped, she learned about firsthand incidents, such as one where a woman was assaulted on two occasions during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, accounts of fighting back—like beating up a assailant in a club—underscore a increasing worldwide trend of females refusing to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Outrage

Maybe this incident will mark a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the taboo, but it’s very tough,” Cardona remarked. “Many women feel embarrassed, but now we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” She often discusses with her class the precautions she employs when going out, such as thinking about attire to prevent unwanted advances. And she asks a query to her male students: “Have you ever considered about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Now, after the president’s assault recorded on video and seen globally, will Mexican men start to reconsider? Cardona urges all: “You have to embrace the anger!”

A key point is evident: The individuals who fight back make their assailants remember.