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“Machismo in the nation is so pervasive that not one the president is safe,” declared a professor and feminist, voicing a sentiment shared by many women across the nation. This follows after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man groping the country’s first female president as she walked from the National Palace to the department of education. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, remarked at a press briefing: “If they do this to the president, what happens to all the other women in the nation?”

Historic Position Sheds Light on Widespread Sexual Harassment

The president’s historic role has turned this into a learning opportunity in a society where sexual harassment and physical violation on streets and public transport are frequently accepted and dismissed. At the same time, rival factions have claimed the incident was staged to divert attention from the recently assassination of a city leader, Carlos Manzo. Yet, the majority of women understand that sexual violence need not be manufactured—research indicate that half of women in Mexico have experienced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Public Engagement and Safety

The president, like her predecessor, is known for wading into crowds, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. It was during one such interaction that she was assaulted. “It’s a fragile balance between being safe and being close to the people,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. As a woman leader, it’s a sobering realization that frequently face no-win situations.

“For people raised in a deeply conservative way where patriarchal structure are accepted, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a progressive, embodies all that macho men in the country hate,” the sociologist elaborated.

Shared Stories of Violation and Resistance

Gender-based violence is not limited to Mexico, naturally. Discussing the leader’s ordeal unleashed a flood of recollections and shared accounts among female individuals. As the expert mentioned advising her students to react when groped, she heard about firsthand experiences, such as one where a individual was violated on two occasions during a holy journey. Similarly, accounts of fighting back—like physically confronting a groper in a club—underscore a growing worldwide trend of women rejecting to remain passive.

Breaking Silence and Embracing Anger

Maybe this event will represent a turning point for women across Mexico. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the taboo, but it’s very tough,” Cardona remarked. “Many women are embarrassed, but today we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” The expert routinely discusses with her class the measures she takes when going out, such as considering clothing to avoid harassment. She asks a question to her male students: “Did 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 start to think differently? The sociologist encourages everyone: “It’s essential to harness the anger!”

A key point is evident: Those who resist make their assailants remember.