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“Machismo in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the president is safe,” stated Caterina Camastra, expressing a feeling shared by numerous women throughout the country. This comes after a viral video showed a drunk man molesting the country’s first female president as she strolled from the National Palace to the education ministry. The president, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, commented at a media conference: “If they do this to the leader, what occurs to all the other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Sheds Light on Widespread Gender-Based Violence

The president’s historic position has made this a learning opportunity in a society where unwanted advances and physical violation on public spaces and public transport are frequently normalized and dismissed. At the same time, political opponents have alleged the assault was orchestrated to divert attention from the recent assassination of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. However, the majority of women understand that gender-based aggression need not be manufactured—studies indicate that 50% of Mexican women have experienced it at one time or another in their lives.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

Sheinbaum, similar to her predecessor, is known for wading into crowds, greeting people, and taking photos. She was one such encounter that she was assaulted. “It’s a delicate balance between being safe and maintaining proximity to the people,” noted Ishtar Cardona. For a female president, it’s a stark realization that frequently face no-win situations.

Those raised in a deeply conservative way where male-dominated systems are accepted, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies all that traditional males in the country despise,” the sociologist elaborated.

Common Experiences of Violation and Fighting Back

Sexual assault is not limited to this nation, naturally. Talking about the leader’s experience unleashed a flood of recollections and exchanged accounts among female individuals. When Cardona mentioned advising her students not to freeze when groped, she learned about personal incidents, such as one where a individual was assaulted twice during a holy journey. In a similar vein, accounts of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a club—highlight a growing global trend of women rejecting to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Embracing Outrage

Perhaps this incident will represent a critical moment for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “A lot of women are ashamed, but today we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” She often shares with her students the precautions she takes when leaving home, such as thinking about clothing to avoid harassment. She asks a question to her male students: “Did you ever thought about that?” Their response is always no.

Today, with the president’s violation recorded on film and seen worldwide, will men in Mexico begin to reconsider? Cardona urges everyone: “You have to embrace the anger!”

One thing is clear: The individuals who resist leave a lasting impression.