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“Machismo in Mexico is so deeply rooted that not one the head of state is safe,” declared Caterina Camastra, expressing a sentiment shared by many women throughout the nation. This comes after a widely circulated footage showed a intoxicated man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she strolled from the National Palace to the department of education. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a press briefing: “If they do this to the president, what occurs to all the other women in the nation?”

Historic Situation Sheds Light on Widespread Sexual Harassment

The president’s unprecedented position has turned this into a teaching moment in a society where sexual harassment and physical violation on public spaces and buses and trains are often normalized and dismissed. Meanwhile, rival factions have alleged the assault was staged to divert attention from the recent murder of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. However, most women understand that sexual violence need not be manufactured—studies indicate that 50% of Mexican women have faced it at some point in their lives.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

Sheinbaum, similar to her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, greeting people, and posing for selfies. It was during one such encounter that she was groped. “This is a delicate balance between ensuring security and maintaining proximity to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. As a woman leader, it’s a stark realization that you often face no-win situations.

“For people brought up in a very traditional way where patriarchal structure are normalized, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a leftist, represents everything macho men in the country despise,” the sociologist explained.

Common Stories of Violation and Resistance

Sexual assault is not limited to this nation, naturally. Discussing the president’s ordeal unleashed a wave of recollections and exchanged accounts among women. When Cardona mentioned urging her pupils to react when groped, she learned about personal experiences, such as a case where a woman was violated twice during a religious pilgrimage. Similarly, stories of fighting back—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—underscore a growing global trend of women rejecting to stay silent.

Shattering Silence and Embracing Outrage

Maybe this event will represent a critical moment for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been breaking the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “Many women are ashamed, but today we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” The expert routinely discusses with her class the measures she employs when leaving home, such as considering attire to avoid unwanted advances. And she poses a query to her male students: “Did you ever considered about that?” Their response is always no.

Today, after the president’s assault recorded on film and viewed worldwide, will men in Mexico start to reconsider? The sociologist urges all: “You have to embrace the outrage!”

A key point is evident: Those who resist leave a lasting impression.