🔗 Share this article

Male chauvinism in Mexico is so pervasive that not one the head of state is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, expressing a sentiment shared by many women throughout the nation. This comes after a viral video showed a drunk man molesting Claudia Sheinbaum as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the perpetrator, remarked at a press briefing: “If they do this to the president, what occurs to every other women in the country?”

Unprecedented Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

The president’s unprecedented role has turned this into a learning opportunity in a culture where unwanted advances and assault on streets and public transport are frequently accepted and dismissed. At the same time, political opponents have claimed the assault was orchestrated to shift focus from the recent assassination 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 experienced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Public Engagement and Safety

The president, like her predecessor, is known for wading into crowds, greeting people, and posing for selfies. It was during such an encounter that she was groped. “This is a fragile balance between being safe and being close to the public,” explained Ishtar Cardona. As a woman leader, it’s a stark realization that frequently can’t win.

“For people raised in a very traditional manner where male-dominated systems are accepted, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a progressive, embodies all that macho men in the country despise,” Cardona elaborated.

Common Experiences of Violation and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not unique to this nation, naturally. Discussing the leader’s experience opened a flood of memories and shared accounts among women. As Cardona spoke about urging her pupils to react when assaulted, she heard about personal experiences, such as one where a individual was assaulted on two occasions during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, stories of fighting back—like beating up a groper in a club—highlight a growing global movement of women rejecting to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Outrage

Maybe this incident will represent a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been breaking the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “A lot of women are embarrassed, but now we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” The expert often shares with her students the measures she employs when going out, such as thinking about attire to prevent unwanted advances. She asks a query to her male students: “Have you ever considered about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Now, with the president’s violation captured on film and seen globally, will men in Mexico start to reconsider? Cardona urges all: “It’s essential to embrace the outrage!”

One thing is evident: Those who resist make their assailants remember.