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“Machismo in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the president is safe,” stated Caterina Camastra, voicing a sentiment shared by many women throughout the country. This comes after a widely circulated footage showed a intoxicated man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she strolled from the presidential residence to the department of education. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, commented at a press briefing: “If they do this to the leader, what happens to every other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Position Sheds Light on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s historic role has turned this into a teaching moment in a culture where unwanted advances and assault on public spaces and public transport are often accepted and dismissed. Meanwhile, rival factions have claimed the assault was staged to divert attention from the recent murder of a city leader, Carlos Manzo. However, the majority of women know that sexual violence need not be manufactured—studies indicate that 50% of Mexican women have faced it at one time or another in their lives.

Navigating Accessibility and Security

Sheinbaum, similar to her predecessor, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and taking photos. She was one such encounter that she was groped. “This is a fragile equilibrium between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the public,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. As a female president, it’s a sobering reminder that you often face no-win situations.

“For people raised in a very traditional way where male-dominated systems are accepted, a woman such as the president, who is a scientist and a progressive, represents all that traditional males in Mexico despise,” the sociologist elaborated.

Shared Experiences of Assault and Resistance

Sexual assault is not limited to Mexico, naturally. Talking about the leader’s ordeal unleashed a wave of memories and shared accounts among women. As the expert spoke about advising her pupils to react when groped, she heard about firsthand incidents, such as a case where a woman was assaulted twice during a holy journey. In a similar vein, accounts of fighting back—like physically confronting a assailant in a club—underscore a growing worldwide movement of females refusing to stay silent.

Breaking Silence and Channeling Anger

Perhaps this incident will represent a critical moment for Mexican women. “We have been challenging the taboo, but it’s very tough,” the sociologist stated. “Many women are ashamed, but today we can discuss it with more freedom.” The expert routinely shares with her class the precautions she employs when going out, such as thinking about clothing to prevent harassment. She asks a query to her male students: “Did you ever considered about that?” Their response is always no.

Now, after the leader’s violation recorded on film and seen globally, will men in Mexico begin to think differently? Cardona encourages all: “It’s essential to embrace the outrage!”

One thing is evident: Those who resist leave a lasting impression.