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“Machismo in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the head of state is safe,” declared Caterina Camastra, expressing a feeling echoed by many women throughout 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 department of education. The president, who has pressed charges against the perpetrator, remarked at a media conference: “When this happens to the leader, what happens to all the other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

The president’s historic position has made this a teaching moment in a culture where unwanted advances and physical violation on public spaces and buses and trains are frequently accepted and dismissed. At the same time, rival factions have alleged the assault was orchestrated to divert attention from the recent assassination of a local mayor, Carlos Manzo. Yet, most women understand that sexual violence need not be manufactured—research indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have experienced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

Sheinbaum, like her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, greeting people, and posing for selfies. It was during such an encounter that she was groped. “It’s a delicate balance between ensuring security and being close to the people,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. For a woman leader, it’s a stark realization that you often face no-win situations.

“For people raised in a deeply conservative manner where patriarchal structure are normalized, a woman such as the president, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies all that macho men in the country hate,” Cardona elaborated.

Shared Experiences of Violation and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not unique to this nation, of course. Discussing the president’s ordeal opened a flood of memories and shared stories among female individuals. When the expert spoke about advising her pupils to react when assaulted, she heard about personal experiences, such as one where a individual was violated on two occasions during a holy journey. Similarly, stories of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a club—highlight a increasing worldwide trend of women refusing to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Anger

Perhaps this event will represent a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been breaking the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “A lot of women feel embarrassed, but now we can discuss it with greater openness.” The expert routinely shares with her students the measures she employs when going out, such as thinking about clothing to avoid unwanted advances. She asks a query to her male students: “Have you ever considered about that?” Their response is invariably no.

Now, after the president’s assault captured on film and viewed globally, will Mexican men begin to reconsider? Cardona encourages everyone: “You have to embrace the anger!”

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