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“Machismo in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not even the head of state is safe,” declared a professor and feminist, voicing a sentiment shared by many women across the nation. This comes after a viral video showed a drunk man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she walked from the National Palace to the department of education. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, remarked at a media conference: “When this happens to the president, what occurs to all the other women in the nation?”

Historic Position Highlights on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

The president’s historic role has made this a learning opportunity in a culture where sexual harassment and assault on streets and buses and trains are often accepted and dismissed. At the same time, rival factions have alleged the incident was staged to divert attention from the recent assassination of a city leader, Carlos Manzo. However, most women know that sexual violence doesn’t need manufactured—studies indicate that half of Mexican women have faced it at one time or another in their lives.

Navigating Public Engagement and Safety

Sheinbaum, similar to her predecessor, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. It was during such an interaction that she was assaulted. “This is a fragile equilibrium between being safe and being close to the people,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. As a female president, it’s a sobering reminder that you often can’t win.

Those raised in a deeply conservative manner where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader such as the president, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies everything traditional males in Mexico hate,” Cardona explained.

Common Stories of Assault and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not limited to this nation, of course. Talking about the president’s experience opened a wave of recollections and exchanged stories among female individuals. When Cardona spoke about advising her students to react when assaulted, she heard about firsthand incidents, such as one where a individual was assaulted on two occasions during a holy journey. Similarly, stories of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—highlight a growing global movement of females refusing to remain passive.

Breaking Taboos and Embracing Outrage

Perhaps this event will represent a turning point for Mexican women. “We have been challenging the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “Many women feel embarrassed, but now we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” The expert routinely discusses with her students the measures she employs when going out, such as thinking about clothing to avoid harassment. She asks a question to her male students: “Have you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.

Now, with the president’s assault recorded on video and viewed worldwide, will Mexican men begin to reconsider? Cardona urges everyone: “You have to harness the anger!”

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