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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the president is protected,” declared a professor and feminist, expressing a sentiment shared by many women across the country. This comes after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man molesting the country’s first female president as she strolled from the National Palace to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a media conference: “When this happens to the president, what happens to every other women in the country?”

Unprecedented Situation Highlights on Widespread Gender-Based Violence

The president’s unprecedented position has turned this into a learning opportunity in a society where sexual harassment and assault on streets and buses and trains are frequently normalized and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, rival factions have alleged the incident was staged to divert attention from the recently assassination of a local mayor, Carlos Manzo. However, the majority of women understand that sexual violence need not be staged—studies indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have experienced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Balancing Public Engagement and Safety

The president, similar to her preceding leader, is known for wading into crowds, shaking hands, and taking photos. She was one such interaction that she was groped. “It’s a fragile balance between being safe and being close to the public,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. For a female president, it’s a stark realization that frequently can’t win.

Those raised in a very traditional way where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a leftist, embodies all that traditional males in Mexico despise,” the sociologist explained.

Common Stories of Violation and Resistance

Sexual assault is not limited to this nation, of course. Discussing the leader’s ordeal unleashed a wave of memories and shared accounts among female individuals. As the expert spoke about advising her students to react when groped, she heard about personal experiences, such as one where a woman was assaulted twice during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, accounts of resisting—like beating up a assailant in a nightspot—underscore a growing worldwide trend of females refusing to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Embracing Anger

Maybe this event will represent a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “A lot of women are embarrassed, but today we can discuss it with more freedom.” She routinely shares with her class the measures she employs when leaving home, such as considering clothing to avoid harassment. She asks a question to her male pupils: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.

Today, after the president’s violation captured on film and viewed globally, can men in Mexico begin to think differently? The sociologist encourages everyone: “You have to harness the outrage!”

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