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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not even the head of state is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, expressing a sentiment echoed by many women throughout the nation. This follows after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she walked from the National Palace to the education ministry. The president, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a media conference: “If they do this to the president, what happens to all the other women in the country?”

Historic Situation Highlights on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

The president’s unprecedented role has made this a learning opportunity in a culture where unwanted advances and physical violation on public spaces and public transport are often accepted and dismissed. Meanwhile, rival factions have claimed the incident was staged to divert attention from the recently assassination of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. However, the majority of women know that gender-based aggression doesn’t need staged—research indicate that half of women in Mexico have faced it at some point in their lifetimes.

Navigating Public Engagement and Safety

The president, like her predecessor, is recognized for wading into crowds, greeting people, and taking photos. It was during such an interaction that she was groped. “It’s a delicate equilibrium between being safe and maintaining proximity to the people,” 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 male-dominated systems are accepted, a female leader such as the president, who is a academic and a progressive, represents everything traditional males in Mexico despise,” Cardona explained.

Common Stories of Violation and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not unique to this nation, naturally. Discussing the leader’s experience opened a wave of recollections and shared accounts among female individuals. As Cardona mentioned urging her students to react when groped, she heard about firsthand experiences, such as a case where a woman was violated twice during a religious pilgrimage. In a similar vein, stories of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—highlight a growing global trend of women rejecting to stay silent.

Breaking Silence and Channeling Outrage

Perhaps this incident will mark a critical moment for Mexican women. “We have been breaking the silence, but it’s very tough,” Cardona remarked. “Many women are embarrassed, but today we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” The expert routinely shares with her class the measures she takes when leaving home, such as considering attire to avoid harassment. And she asks a query to her male pupils: “Have you ever considered about that?” Their response is invariably no.

Today, after the president’s assault captured on video and seen worldwide, can Mexican men start to think differently? The sociologist encourages everyone: “You have to harness the anger!”

A key point is evident: The individuals who fight back make their assailants remember.