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Male chauvinism in the nation is so pervasive that not one the head of state is safe,” declared Caterina Camastra, voicing a sentiment echoed by numerous women throughout the nation. This comes after a viral video showed a drunk man groping Claudia Sheinbaum as she walked from the presidential residence to the department of education. The president, who has filed a complaint against the perpetrator, remarked at a media conference: “When this happens to the president, what happens to all the other women in the nation?”

Unprecedented Situation Sheds Light on Pervasive Sexual Harassment

The president’s unprecedented position has made this a teaching moment in a culture where sexual harassment and assault on public spaces and buses and trains are often normalized and not taken seriously. Meanwhile, rival factions have alleged the assault was orchestrated to shift focus from the recently assassination of a city leader, Carlos Manzo. However, the majority of women know that gender-based aggression doesn’t need manufactured—studies indicate that 50% of Mexican women have experienced it at one time or another in their lifetimes.

Balancing Accessibility and Safety

The president, like her preceding leader, is known for mixing with the public, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. It was during such an encounter that she was groped. “This is a delicate balance between being safe and maintaining proximity to the people,” explained a sociologist specializing in cultural studies. For a female president, it’s a stark reminder that frequently face no-win situations.

Those brought up in a very traditional manner where male-dominated systems are accepted, a female leader such as the president, who is a scientist and a leftist, embodies all that macho men in Mexico hate,” the sociologist elaborated.

Common Experiences of Assault and Fighting Back

Sexual assault is not unique to Mexico, naturally. Talking about the leader’s experience unleashed a wave of memories and exchanged stories among female individuals. As the expert mentioned advising her pupils not to freeze when groped, she heard about personal experiences, such as a case where a individual was violated twice during a religious pilgrimage. In a similar vein, accounts of resisting—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—highlight a growing global movement of women refusing to remain passive.

Breaking Taboos and Channeling Anger

Perhaps this incident will represent a turning point for Mexican women. “We have been breaking the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona remarked. “Many women are embarrassed, but today we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” The expert routinely discusses with her students the precautions she takes when leaving home, such as considering attire to avoid unwanted advances. She poses a question to her male pupils: “Have you ever considered about that?” Their response is always no.

Now, with the leader’s violation captured on film and viewed worldwide, will Mexican men start to think differently? Cardona urges everyone: “You have to embrace the anger!”

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