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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 feeling echoed by numerous women throughout the country. This follows after a viral video showed a intoxicated man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she strolled from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has filed a complaint against the assailant, commented at a media conference: “If they do this to the leader, what occurs to every other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

Sheinbaum’s historic role has made this a learning opportunity in a society where unwanted advances and physical violation on streets and buses and trains are often accepted and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, rival factions have claimed the assault was staged to shift focus from the recent assassination of a local mayor, a critic of organized crime. Yet, most women understand that gender-based aggression doesn’t need staged—research indicate that 50% of women in Mexico have faced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

Sheinbaum, similar to her preceding leader, is recognized for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and taking photos. She was one such interaction that she was groped. “It’s a delicate balance between being safe and maintaining proximity to the people,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. As a woman leader, it’s a sobering realization that frequently face no-win situations.

Those brought up in a deeply conservative way where male-dominated systems are accepted, a female leader like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a progressive, represents everything macho men in the country hate,” Cardona elaborated.

Shared Experiences of Violation and Resistance

Gender-based violence is not limited to this nation, of course. Discussing the leader’s ordeal opened a flood of memories and shared accounts among women. When the expert mentioned urging her students not to freeze when groped, she heard about personal experiences, such as one where a woman was violated twice during a holy journey. Similarly, stories of fighting back—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—underscore a growing worldwide trend of women rejecting to remain passive.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Anger

Maybe this event will mark a turning point for women across Mexico. “We have been challenging the taboo, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona stated. “A lot of women feel embarrassed, but today we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” The expert often discusses with her students the precautions she employs when leaving home, such as considering clothing to avoid unwanted advances. She poses a question to her male students: “Have you ever considered about that?” The answer is always no.

Now, with the leader’s assault captured on video and viewed worldwide, will men in Mexico start to think differently? Cardona encourages everyone: “You have to embrace the anger!”

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