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“Machismo in the nation is so deeply rooted that not even the head of state is safe,” declared a professor and feminist, expressing a sentiment echoed by numerous women across the country. This follows after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the assailant, commented at a press briefing: “If they do this to the leader, what occurs to all the other women in the nation?”

Historic Position Sheds Light on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s historic role has turned this into a learning opportunity in a society where sexual harassment and assault on streets and buses and trains are often accepted and dismissed. At the same time, political opponents have alleged the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently assassination of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. However, most women know that gender-based aggression need not be manufactured—studies indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have experienced it at some point in their lifetimes.

Balancing Accessibility and Safety

The president, like her predecessor, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. It was during 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 reminder that you often can’t win.

“For people brought up in a very traditional way where male-dominated systems are normalized, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies everything traditional males in Mexico despise,” Cardona elaborated.

Common Stories of Violation and Resistance

Gender-based violence is not unique to this nation, of course. Discussing the leader’s experience opened a wave of recollections and exchanged stories among women. As Cardona spoke about urging her pupils to react when assaulted, she learned about firsthand incidents, such as one where a individual was assaulted twice during a holy journey. In a similar vein, stories of fighting back—like beating up a groper in a club—underscore a growing worldwide trend of females refusing to stay silent.

Shattering Taboos and Channeling Outrage

Maybe this incident will represent a critical moment for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been breaking the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona remarked. “Many women are embarrassed, but today we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” She often discusses with her students the measures she employs when leaving home, such as thinking about attire to prevent harassment. She poses a query to her male pupils: “Did you ever considered about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Now, with the leader’s assault captured on film and viewed worldwide, will Mexican men start to reconsider? Cardona urges all: “It’s essential to harness the anger!”

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