Mexican President to sue man over sexual harassment - Reflecting the broader struggles faced by women in Mexico

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On November 5, 2025, local time, Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, decided to take legal action against a man who sexually harassed her while she was speaking with supporters, highlighting the deeply rooted culture of machismo in Mexico.

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The incident occurred on November 4 (Tuesday) as she met with supporters near the presidential palace in Mexico City. A man approached her, groped her chest, and attempted to kiss her neck before her aiding team intervened.

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A man approached Sheinbaum, groped her chest and attempted to kiss her neck./ Photo: The Guardian

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Sheinbaum decided to press charges against the man, saying, “I decided to press charges on the man who was drunk and harassed me because this is something I experienced as a woman and something all women in our country experience.” She also noted that this was not the first time she had experienced sexual harassment, having faced similar situations as a student.

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The man was arrested overnight, according to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, and is currently in custody at the Sex Crimes Investigation Unit. Preliminary investigations indicated that the man had also harassed two other women on the same day.

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The video of the harassment against Sheinbaum, Mexico’s female president, sparked debate and criticism regarding sexual harassment and women’s safety in Mexico.

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Following the incident, public concern about Sheinbaum’s security grew, particularly as just days earlier, Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, was assassinated during a Day of the Dead celebration, raising questions about the level of protection for public officials.

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Public concerns about security standards stem from the decision to abolish the presidential guard in Mexico since the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, based on the belief that “the people will protect us themselves.” Sheinbaum has followed this policy, relying on only a small team of aides for assistance.

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On November 5, she told the media, “We can’t stay far from the people — that would deny who we are. Our aides will continue to accompany us, but we must remain close to citizens.”

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Machismo: Crimes against women in a male-dominated society

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Sheinbaum told the media that she decided to press charges on the man./ Photo: The Guardian

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“If they do this to the president, then what will happen to all the young women in our country?” Sheinbaum said while announcing her decision to pursue legal action against the man who harassed her.

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The incident sparked debate in Mexican society about women’s quality of life. Women’s rights groups and feminist critics said the event reflected the deeply rooted “machismo culture” in Mexican society.

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Many Mexican women suffered from the crimes against women and attempted to fight the system./ Photo:BBC

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Machismo is a culture that excessively glorifies masculinity, believing men are superior to women in power, social roles, and decision-making abilities.

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Mexican women expressed skepticism about relying on the police to handle sexual crimes, regardless of whether harassment is a punishable offense in their city. This reflects how deeply ingrained the culture is in both daily life and the legal system. The election of Sheinbaum as president sparked hope that Mexico’s male-dominated society may begin to change.

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After winning the presidency, Sheinbaum announced her goal to make Mexico safer and more equal for women. Examples of her policies include a pension program for women, Equal pay policies making it unconstitutional to pay women less than men, a national care system to reduce the caretaker burden on women.

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Additionally, she required all security and justice institutions to recognize that gender can be a factor in crimes and mandated that every state have a specialized prosecutor’s office for femicides, defined in Mexico as murders where authorities can prove the victim was killed because of her gender.

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Following the harassment incident, Sheinbaum announced a new initiative to criminalize sexual harassment in all Mexican cities, Educate prosecutors and judges about crimes against women, and encourage women to report sexual harassment

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However, transforming Mexican society into one that is safe and equal for women remains a difficult challenge. This is evident from the fact that Mexico’s female homicide rates are higher than the global average, although they have decreased over the past three years. At the same time, the incidence of nonlethal crimes against women has not declined at all.

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Citlalli Hernández Mora, the first minister for women./ Photo: Mexico News Daily

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Part of the problem is that sexual offenders are often not punished. “Even if we improve assistance, even if there are more reports, the best way to engage with prevention and move toward eradication is through cultural change,” said Citlalli Hernández Mora, the first minister for women.

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This reflects that crimes against women in Mexico, including against the female president, are shaped by a culture and belief system that values men over women.

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Even with the country’s first female president and policies aimed at improving women’s basic safety and quality of life, Mexico’s deeply ingrained culture means that neither Sheinbaum nor future female presidents can guarantee a safer life for Mexican women.

SOURCE: CNN & The New York Times

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