Head of State Groped in Public View, Sparking National Outcry from Mexican Women
“Machismo in the nation is so pervasive that not even the head of state is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, expressing a feeling echoed by numerous women across the nation. 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. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the assailant, remarked at a press briefing: “If they do this to the leader, what happens to every other women in the nation?”
Historic Situation Sheds Light on Widespread Sexual Harassment
Sheinbaum’s unprecedented position has turned this into a learning opportunity in a society where sexual harassment and physical violation on streets and buses and trains are often normalized and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, political opponents have claimed the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently assassination of a local mayor, Carlos Manzo. Yet, most women understand that gender-based aggression need not be staged—research indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have faced it at one time or another in their lives.
Balancing Accessibility and Safety
The president, like her predecessor, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and taking photos. It was during such an encounter that she was assaulted. “It’s a fragile equilibrium between being safe and maintaining proximity to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. For a female president, it’s a stark realization that frequently can’t win.
“For people brought up in a very traditional way where patriarchal structure are normalized, a female leader such as the president, who is a academic and a progressive, embodies everything traditional males in Mexico despise,” the sociologist elaborated.
Shared Experiences of Assault and Fighting Back
Gender-based violence is not unique to this nation, of course. Talking about the president’s ordeal opened a wave of memories and exchanged accounts among female individuals. When Cardona mentioned advising her pupils to react when groped, she learned about firsthand incidents, such as a case where a woman was violated on two occasions during a holy journey. In a similar vein, stories of resisting—like beating up a assailant in a nightspot—highlight a increasing global trend of females refusing to stay silent.
Breaking Silence and Channeling Outrage
Perhaps this event will mark a turning point for Mexican women. “We have been challenging the silence, but it’s very tough,” Cardona remarked. “A lot of women are ashamed, but today we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” She routinely shares with her class the measures she employs when going out, such as thinking about attire to avoid harassment. She asks a question to her male students: “Have you ever thought about that?” The answer is invariably no.
Today, after the president’s violation recorded on video and seen globally, will men in Mexico start to think differently? The sociologist encourages all: “You have to harness the anger!”
One thing is evident: Those who fight back leave a lasting impression.
