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Male chauvinism in Mexico is so pervasive that not even the president is safe,” declared a professor and feminist, expressing a feeling shared by many women across the country. This follows after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man groping the country’s first female president as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the assailant, remarked at a media conference: “If they do this to the leader, what happens to all the other women in the country?”

Unprecedented Position Sheds Light on Widespread Sexual Harassment

The president’s historic role has turned this into a learning opportunity in a society where sexual harassment and physical violation on public spaces and buses and trains are often accepted and not taken seriously. At the same time, rival factions have alleged the assault was orchestrated to shift focus from the recently murder of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. However, the majority of women know that gender-based aggression need not be staged—research indicate that half of women in Mexico have experienced it at one time or another in their lives.

Balancing Accessibility and Security

The president, similar to her predecessor, is recognized for wading into crowds, greeting people, and posing for selfies. She was such an encounter that she was groped. “It’s a delicate balance between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the people,” noted Ishtar Cardona. As a woman leader, it’s a sobering realization that you often can’t win.

Those raised in a very traditional manner where male-dominated systems are normalized, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a leftist, represents all that traditional males in Mexico hate,” the sociologist explained.

Shared Experiences of Violation and Fighting Back

Sexual assault is not unique to this nation, of course. Talking about the president’s ordeal opened a flood of memories and shared stories among women. When Cardona mentioned advising her students to react when groped, she learned about firsthand experiences, such as a case where a individual was violated on two occasions during a holy journey. Similarly, accounts of resisting—like physically confronting a assailant in a club—highlight a increasing worldwide movement of females rejecting to remain passive.

Shattering Taboos and Embracing Outrage

Perhaps this incident will represent a critical moment for women across Mexico. “We have been challenging the taboo, but it’s very tough,” Cardona stated. “Many women feel embarrassed, but today we can discuss it with greater openness.” She often shares with her class the measures she takes when going out, such as considering clothing to avoid unwanted advances. And she poses a query to her male pupils: “Did you ever thought about that?” Their response is invariably no.

Today, with the leader’s violation recorded on film and viewed globally, will men in Mexico start to think differently? Cardona urges everyone: “It’s essential to embrace the outrage!”

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