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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the president is safe,” declared Caterina Camastra, voicing a feeling 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 department of education. The president, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, remarked at a press briefing: “If they do this to the leader, what happens to every other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Sheds Light on Widespread Sexual Harassment

The president’s historic position has made this a learning opportunity in a society where sexual harassment and assault on public spaces and buses and trains are frequently normalized and dismissed. Meanwhile, rival factions have alleged the assault was orchestrated to shift focus from the recent murder of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. However, most women know that gender-based aggression doesn’t need manufactured—research indicate that 50% of Mexican women have faced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Balancing Public Engagement and Safety

Sheinbaum, like her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, greeting people, and posing for selfies. She was one such interaction that she was groped. “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 face no-win situations.

Those raised in a very traditional manner where male-dominated systems are accepted, a woman such as the president, who is a scientist and a leftist, represents everything traditional males in Mexico despise,” the sociologist explained.

Common Experiences of Assault and Resistance

Sexual assault is not unique to this nation, of course. Discussing the leader’s ordeal opened a wave of memories and exchanged stories among female individuals. When Cardona mentioned urging her students not to freeze when groped, she learned about firsthand incidents, such as one where a individual was violated twice during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, stories of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—underscore a growing global trend of females refusing to remain passive.

Breaking Silence and Channeling Anger

Maybe this event will mark a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “A lot of women are embarrassed, but today we can discuss it with more freedom.” She often discusses with her class the measures she employs when leaving home, such as considering clothing to prevent unwanted advances. And she asks a query to her male pupils: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.

Now, with the leader’s assault recorded on film and seen worldwide, will Mexican men start to think differently? Cardona encourages all: “It’s essential to harness the anger!”

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