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“Machismo in the nation is so pervasive that not one the president is protected,” stated a professor and feminist, voicing a sentiment shared by numerous women throughout the country. This follows after a widely circulated footage showed a intoxicated man groping 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 perpetrator, commented at a press briefing: “When this happens to the leader, what occurs to all the other women in the country?”

Unprecedented Situation Highlights on Widespread Gender-Based Violence

Sheinbaum’s historic role has turned this into a learning opportunity in a culture where sexual harassment and physical violation on streets and public transport are often accepted and dismissed. Meanwhile, political opponents have claimed the assault was staged to divert attention from the recently murder of a local mayor, Carlos Manzo. However, the majority of women understand that gender-based aggression doesn’t need staged—research indicate that 50% of Mexican women have faced it at one time or another in their lives.

Balancing Public Engagement and Safety

Sheinbaum, similar to her predecessor, is recognized for mixing with the public, greeting people, and posing for selfies. She was one such interaction that she was assaulted. “This is a fragile balance between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the public,” noted a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. As a woman leader, it’s a sobering reminder that you often can’t win.

“For people brought up in a deeply conservative manner where male-dominated systems are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a academic and a progressive, represents all that traditional males in Mexico despise,” the sociologist elaborated.

Shared Experiences of Violation and Resistance

Gender-based violence is not unique to Mexico, of course. Discussing the president’s experience opened a wave of recollections and exchanged stories among women. When Cardona mentioned advising her students not to freeze when groped, she heard about personal incidents, such as one where a woman was assaulted twice during a holy journey. Similarly, stories of fighting back—like beating up a groper in a nightspot—underscore a growing global movement of women rejecting to stay silent.

Shattering Taboos and Embracing Outrage

Maybe this event will represent a critical moment for Mexican women. “We have been challenging the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona remarked. “A lot of women feel embarrassed, but now we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” The expert routinely discusses with her students the precautions she takes when going out, such as thinking about clothing to prevent harassment. And she asks a question to her male students: “Have you ever considered about that?” Their response is invariably no.

Today, after the leader’s violation captured on film and seen worldwide, can men in Mexico begin to reconsider? Cardona encourages everyone: “You have to harness the outrage!”

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