Head of State Groped in Public View, Sparking National Outcry from Women in Mexico
“Machismo in Mexico is so pervasive that not even the president is protected,” declared Caterina Camastra, voicing a feeling echoed by numerous women across the country. This follows after a viral video showed a drunk man molesting Claudia Sheinbaum as she walked from the presidential residence to the education ministry. Sheinbaum, who has pressed charges against the assailant, remarked at a media conference: “If they do this to the leader, what happens to all the other women in the nation?”
Historic Position Sheds Light on Widespread Gender-Based Violence
The president’s unprecedented role has turned this into a teaching moment in a society where unwanted advances and assault on public spaces and public transport are frequently normalized and not taken seriously. At the same time, rival factions have alleged the assault was staged to shift focus from the recently assassination of a city leader, a critic of organized crime. Yet, the majority of women know that sexual violence doesn’t need staged—studies indicate that half of Mexican women have faced it at some point in their lifetimes.
Balancing Public Engagement and Safety
The president, like her preceding leader, is known for mixing with the public, greeting people, and taking photos. She was such an interaction that she was assaulted. “It’s a delicate balance between ensuring security and being close to the people,” explained Ishtar Cardona. For a female president, it’s a sobering reminder that frequently face no-win situations.
“For people brought up in a deeply conservative way where patriarchal structure are accepted, a woman like Sheinbaum, who is a scientist and a progressive, represents everything macho men in Mexico despise,” Cardona elaborated.
Shared Stories of Assault and Fighting Back
Gender-based violence is not unique to Mexico, naturally. Discussing the president’s experience unleashed a wave of recollections and shared stories among women. When Cardona spoke about advising her pupils to react when groped, she heard about firsthand incidents, such as a case where a woman was violated on two occasions during a holy journey. In a similar vein, accounts of fighting back—like physically confronting a groper in a club—highlight a growing worldwide movement of females refusing to stay silent.
Shattering Silence and Embracing Outrage
Perhaps this event will represent a turning point for women across Mexico. “For about a decade, we’ve been challenging the silence, but it’s incredibly difficult,” Cardona stated. “A lot of women are embarrassed, but now we are able to talk about it with greater openness.” She routinely shares with her students the measures she employs when going out, such as thinking about attire to avoid unwanted advances. And she asks a question to her male students: “Did you ever thought about that?” The answer is always no.
Now, with the president’s assault recorded on video and seen worldwide, can men in Mexico start to think differently? Cardona encourages all: “It’s essential to embrace the outrage!”
One thing is clear: The individuals who resist make their assailants remember.
