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“Machismo in Mexico is so pervasive that not even the head of state is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, expressing a sentiment shared by many women throughout the country. This comes after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man molesting Claudia Sheinbaum as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, remarked at a press briefing: “When this happens to the president, what happens to every other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Position Highlights on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

The president’s unprecedented role has made this a learning opportunity in a culture where unwanted advances and assault on public spaces and public transport are often accepted and not taken seriously. At the same time, rival factions have alleged the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently murder of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. However, most women understand that gender-based aggression need not be manufactured—research indicate that half of women in Mexico have faced it at one time or another in their lives.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

The president, similar to her preceding leader, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. She was such an encounter that she was assaulted. “This is a delicate equilibrium between ensuring security and being close to the people,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. For a female president, it’s a stark realization that frequently can’t win.

“For people brought up in a deeply conservative manner where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a leftist, represents all that traditional males in Mexico hate,” the sociologist elaborated.

Shared Stories of Violation and Fighting Back

Sexual assault is not limited to this nation, naturally. Talking about the president’s ordeal opened a wave of recollections and exchanged accounts among female individuals. When Cardona mentioned advising her pupils to react when groped, she learned about firsthand incidents, such as one where a woman was violated twice during a holy journey. Similarly, accounts of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—underscore a growing worldwide movement of women rejecting to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Embracing Outrage

Maybe this incident will represent a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist remarked. “A lot of women are 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 avoid harassment. She poses a query to her male pupils: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Now, after the president’s assault recorded on video and seen globally, can men in Mexico begin to think differently? Cardona encourages all: “You have to embrace the anger!”

One thing is clear: The individuals who resist make their assailants remember.