Head of State Assaulted in Public View, Igniting National Protest from Women in Mexico
“Machismo in the nation is so deeply rooted that not one the president is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, voicing a sentiment shared by many women across the country. This comes after a viral video showed a drunk man groping the country’s first female president as she strolled from the National Palace to the department of education. The president, who has pressed charges against the assailant, commented at a press briefing: “When this happens to the president, what occurs to every other women in the country?”
Historic Position Highlights on Pervasive Gender-Based Violence
The president’s unprecedented role has made this a learning opportunity in a culture where sexual harassment and physical violation on streets and buses and trains are often normalized and dismissed. At the same time, rival factions have claimed the incident was staged to shift focus from the recent murder of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. Yet, most women know that sexual violence doesn’t need staged—studies indicate that half of women in Mexico have faced it at some point in their lives.
Balancing Public Engagement and Safety
Sheinbaum, like her preceding leader, is known for wading into crowds, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. She was such an interaction that she was groped. “It’s a fragile balance between being safe and being close to the public,” noted Ishtar Cardona. As a female president, it’s a stark reminder that you often face no-win situations.
“For people raised in a deeply conservative manner where patriarchal structure are accepted, a female leader such as the president, who is a scientist and a progressive, embodies all that traditional males in the country hate,” Cardona elaborated.
Common Stories of Violation and Fighting Back
Sexual assault is not unique to Mexico, of course. Talking about the leader’s ordeal opened a flood of memories and exchanged accounts among women. As the expert spoke about advising her pupils not to freeze when groped, she heard about personal experiences, such as one where a individual was assaulted on two occasions during a holy journey. Similarly, accounts of fighting back—like physically confronting a groper in a nightspot—highlight a growing worldwide trend of females refusing to remain passive.
Shattering Silence and Embracing Outrage
Perhaps this incident will represent a turning point for women across Mexico. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” the sociologist stated. “A lot of women feel ashamed, but today we are able to talk about it with more freedom.” She often shares with her class the measures she employs when leaving home, such as considering attire to prevent unwanted advances. She asks a question to her male pupils: “Did you ever thought about that?” Their response is invariably no.
Today, with the leader’s assault captured on film and viewed worldwide, will men in Mexico begin to think differently? Cardona urges everyone: “It’s essential to embrace the anger!”
One thing is clear: The individuals who resist make their assailants remember.
