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“Machismo in Mexico is so pervasive that not even the head of state is protected,” declared a professor and feminist, voicing a sentiment shared by many women across the country. This follows after a viral video showed a intoxicated man molesting the country’s first female president as she walked from the presidential residence to the department of education. The president, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a press briefing: “If they do this to the president, what happens to all the other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Highlights on Widespread Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s unprecedented role has turned this into a teaching moment in a culture where sexual harassment and physical violation on streets and buses and trains are frequently accepted and dismissed. At the same time, political opponents have alleged the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently assassination of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. Yet, the majority of women know that gender-based aggression need not be manufactured—studies indicate that 50% of Mexican women have faced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Public Engagement and Security

Sheinbaum, like her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, greeting people, and taking photos. She was such an interaction that she was groped. “This is a delicate balance between being safe and maintaining proximity to the people,” noted Ishtar Cardona. As a woman leader, it’s a stark reminder that frequently face no-win situations.

“For people brought up in a very traditional manner where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a leftist, represents all that macho men in the country despise,” the sociologist explained.

Common Stories of Violation and Fighting Back

Sexual assault is not unique to this nation, of course. Discussing the leader’s experience unleashed a wave of recollections and shared stories among female individuals. As Cardona spoke about urging her students not to freeze when assaulted, she heard about firsthand incidents, such as a case where a individual was violated on two occasions during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, accounts of resisting—like beating up a assailant in a nightspot—highlight a growing worldwide movement of females rejecting to stay silent.

Breaking Taboos and Embracing Anger

Perhaps this event will mark a critical moment for Mexican women. “We have been challenging the taboo, but it’s very tough,” Cardona stated. “A lot of women are embarrassed, 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 attire to avoid unwanted advances. She asks a query to her male students: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is invariably no.

Now, after the president’s assault captured on film and seen worldwide, can Mexican men start to think differently? The sociologist urges all: “You have to embrace the anger!”

A key point is clear: Those who fight back make their assailants remember.