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Male chauvinism in the nation is so pervasive that not one the president is safe,” stated a professor and feminist, voicing a feeling shared by many women across the country. This follows after a viral video showed a drunk man groping the country’s first female president as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. The president, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a media conference: “When this happens to the leader, what occurs to all the other women in the nation?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

The president’s historic position has made this a teaching moment in a society where unwanted advances and physical violation on streets and public transport are frequently accepted and dismissed. Meanwhile, political opponents have alleged the incident was orchestrated to shift focus from the recent murder of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. However, the majority of women know that sexual violence doesn’t need manufactured—studies indicate that half of women in Mexico have faced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

Sheinbaum, similar to her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. She was one such interaction that she was assaulted. “It’s a fragile equilibrium between being safe and being close to the people,” explained Ishtar Cardona. As a female president, it’s a stark realization that frequently face no-win situations.

“For people raised in a very traditional way where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies all that traditional males in the country hate,” Cardona explained.

Common Experiences of Violation and Resistance

Sexual assault is not unique to this nation, of course. Discussing the leader’s experience unleashed a wave of memories and exchanged accounts among female individuals. As the expert mentioned urging her students not to freeze when assaulted, she learned about personal incidents, such as a case where a woman was violated twice during a religious pilgrimage. In a similar vein, stories of resisting—like physically confronting a assailant in a club—highlight a growing worldwide movement of women refusing to stay silent.

Shattering Taboos and Channeling Anger

Perhaps this incident will represent a turning point for women across Mexico. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist remarked. “Many women feel ashamed, but now we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” She routinely discusses with her students the precautions she takes when leaving home, such as thinking about clothing to prevent unwanted advances. And she asks a query to her male pupils: “Have you ever considered about that?” Their response is invariably no.

Today, with the president’s assault recorded on video and seen worldwide, can Mexican men start to reconsider? Cardona urges all: “It’s essential to harness the anger!”

A key point is clear: Those who fight back make their assailants remember.