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“Machismo in Mexico is so pervasive that not even the president is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, voicing a sentiment shared by many women throughout the nation. This comes after a widely circulated footage showed a intoxicated man groping the country’s first female president as she walked from the presidential residence to the department of education. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the assailant, remarked at a media conference: “When this happens to the leader, what occurs to all the other women in the nation?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Widespread Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s unprecedented position has made this a learning opportunity in a culture where unwanted advances and assault on streets and buses and trains are often normalized and dismissed. At the same time, rival factions have alleged the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently assassination of a local mayor, Carlos Manzo. Yet, most women know that sexual violence doesn’t need staged—research indicate that half of women in Mexico have experienced it at some point in their lives.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, is known for wading into crowds, shaking hands, and taking photos. She was such an interaction that she was assaulted. “This is a fragile equilibrium between ensuring security and being close to the public,” explained Ishtar Cardona. For a woman leader, it’s a stark realization that you often can’t win.

“For people brought up in a very traditional manner where patriarchal structure are accepted, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a leftist, embodies all that macho men in Mexico hate,” the sociologist explained.

Common Experiences of Assault and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not limited to this nation, naturally. Discussing the leader’s experience unleashed a flood of memories and exchanged accounts among female individuals. As the expert spoke about urging her pupils to react when assaulted, she heard about personal experiences, such as a case where a individual was assaulted on two occasions during a holy journey. Similarly, accounts of fighting back—like physically confronting a groper in a club—highlight a growing worldwide trend of women rejecting to remain passive.

Shattering Taboos and Embracing Anger

Perhaps this event will represent a critical moment for women across Mexico. “For about a decade, we’ve been breaking the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist remarked. “A lot of women feel ashamed, but now we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” The expert routinely discusses with her students the precautions she takes when going out, such as considering clothing to prevent unwanted advances. She poses a query to her male pupils: “Did you ever thought about that?” Their response is always no.

Today, after the leader’s violation recorded on film and seen worldwide, will men in Mexico begin to reconsider? The sociologist urges all: “You have to harness the anger!”

A key point is evident: The individuals who fight back leave a lasting impression.