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“Machismo in Mexico is so pervasive that not one the president is safe,” stated a professor and feminist, expressing a feeling echoed by numerous women across the nation. This comes after a viral video showed a intoxicated man groping the country’s first female president as she strolled from the National Palace to the department of education. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, commented at a press briefing: “If they do this to the leader, what happens to every other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

The president’s unprecedented role has turned this into a teaching moment in a culture where unwanted advances and physical violation on public spaces and buses and trains are often normalized and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, political opponents have alleged the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently murder of a city leader, Carlos Manzo. Yet, the majority of women understand that gender-based aggression doesn’t need staged—research indicate that half of Mexican women have faced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Public Engagement and Security

Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, is recognized for wading into crowds, greeting people, and posing for selfies. It was during such an encounter that she was assaulted. “This is a fragile balance between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the people,” explained Ishtar Cardona. For a woman leader, it’s a stark reminder that frequently face no-win situations.

“For people raised in a deeply conservative manner where patriarchal structure are normalized, a female leader such as the president, who is a academic and a leftist, represents everything macho men in the country despise,” Cardona elaborated.

Shared Stories of Assault and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not limited to Mexico, naturally. Discussing the leader’s experience unleashed a wave of recollections and exchanged stories among female individuals. As the expert mentioned advising her pupils not to freeze when assaulted, she heard about firsthand experiences, such as one where a woman was assaulted on two occasions during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, stories of resisting—like beating up a assailant in a nightspot—highlight a growing global trend of females refusing to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Anger

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,” Cardona stated. “Many women feel embarrassed, but now we can discuss it with more freedom.” She routinely shares with her class the precautions she takes when going out, such as thinking about clothing to prevent unwanted advances. She asks a question to her male students: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Today, after the leader’s violation captured on film and seen worldwide, will men in Mexico start to think differently? Cardona encourages everyone: “It’s essential to harness the outrage!”

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