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Male chauvinism in the nation is so deeply rooted that not even the president is safe,” declared Caterina Camastra, expressing a feeling shared by many women across the nation. This comes after a widely circulated footage showed a drunk man molesting the country’s first female president as she strolled from the National Palace to the department of education. The president, who has filed a complaint against the assailant, commented at a media conference: “When this happens to the president, what happens to every other women in the country?”

Unprecedented Position Sheds Light on Widespread Sexual Harassment

Sheinbaum’s historic position has made this a teaching moment in a culture where unwanted advances and assault on public spaces and public transport are often accepted and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, rival factions have alleged the incident was staged to divert attention from the recent murder of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. Yet, most women know that sexual violence need not be staged—studies indicate that half of women in Mexico have faced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Navigating Accessibility and Safety

Sheinbaum, similar to her predecessor, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. She was one such interaction that she was groped. “This is a delicate equilibrium between being safe and maintaining proximity to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. For a woman leader, it’s a sobering reminder that you often face no-win situations.

“For people raised in a very traditional way where male-dominated systems are accepted, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a leftist, embodies all that macho men in the country despise,” the sociologist elaborated.

Common Stories of Assault and Fighting Back

Gender-based violence is not unique to this nation, naturally. Talking about the president’s ordeal unleashed a wave of memories and exchanged accounts among female individuals. As Cardona spoke about advising her students to react when assaulted, she learned about personal incidents, such as one where a individual was violated on two occasions during a holy journey. In a similar vein, stories of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a club—highlight a growing global trend of women rejecting to remain passive.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Outrage

Perhaps this event will mark a turning point for Mexican women. “For about a decade, we’ve been breaking the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona stated. “A lot of women are ashamed, but today we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” She routinely shares with her class the precautions she takes when going out, such as thinking about clothing to prevent harassment. And she poses a question to her male students: “Have you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.

Today, with the leader’s violation captured on video and viewed worldwide, will men in Mexico start to reconsider? The sociologist urges everyone: “It’s essential to harness the outrage!”

A key point is clear: Those who resist make their assailants remember.