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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so pervasive that not one the head of state is protected,” declared a professor and feminist, expressing a feeling shared by many women across the country. This comes 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 education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the perpetrator, commented at a media conference: “If they do this to the president, what happens to every other women in the nation?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

The president’s unprecedented role has made this a learning opportunity in a society where unwanted advances and physical violation on streets and public transport are often accepted and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, political opponents have alleged the assault was orchestrated to shift focus from the recently assassination of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. Yet, most women understand that sexual violence doesn’t need manufactured—studies indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have faced it at some point in their lives.

Balancing Public Engagement and Safety

Sheinbaum, like her predecessor, is recognized for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. She was one such interaction that she was assaulted. “It’s a fragile equilibrium between being safe and being close to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. For a female president, it’s a sobering reminder that frequently face no-win situations.

“For people brought up in a deeply conservative way where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a progressive, represents all that macho men in the country despise,” Cardona explained.

Shared Stories of Violation and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not limited to Mexico, of course. Talking about the president’s ordeal opened a wave of memories and exchanged accounts among women. When Cardona mentioned advising her pupils not to freeze when assaulted, she heard about firsthand incidents, such as one where a woman was violated twice during a religious pilgrimage. In a similar vein, accounts of resisting—like physically confronting a assailant in a nightspot—highlight a growing global movement of females refusing to remain passive.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Outrage

Perhaps this incident will mark a turning point for women across Mexico. “We have been breaking the taboo, but it’s very tough,” Cardona remarked. “Many women feel ashamed, but today we can discuss it with greater openness.” The expert often discusses with her students the measures she employs when going out, such as considering clothing to prevent harassment. She poses a query to her male students: “Did you ever considered about that?” The answer is always no.

Now, after the president’s assault captured on film and seen globally, will men in Mexico begin to reconsider? The sociologist encourages everyone: “You have to embrace the outrage!”

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