Breathe
ByKelly Méndez
For the first time in Mexico's history, International Women's Day is being commemorated with a woman in the presidency. Claudia Sheinbaum embodies a political milestone: in a country where spaces of power have historically been dominated by men, her arrival to the highest office symbolizes the advancement of female representation. But, beyond the symbol, this 8M raises a fundamental question: what does it really mean for us, Mexican women, to have a female president?
For years, feminist collectives have taken to the streets every March, demanding justice for femicides, effective policies against gender violence and a structural transformation that guarantees security and equality. Under previous administrations, demonstrations have been met with indifference, repression and even criminalization. Now, the expectation could be different. Sheinbaum is not only the first woman in power, but she has built her career in a political party that presents itself as a defender of social rights. This generates an inevitable question: will she be a real ally of the feminist movement or will she maintain the line of her predecessors?
Her government has promoted initiatives such as the creation of the Women's Secretariat and the constitutional reform to guarantee substantive equality. However, the feminist struggle goes beyond well-intentioned policies on paper. It requires a sufficient budget, a clear strategy to reduce gender violence and a firm commitment to justice for victims.
This 8M will be a test for the president, how will she respond to the mobilizations? Beyond the speeches, concrete actions are expected, because the true transcendence of a first woman president is not only in the position she holds, but in what she will do with the power she now has in her hands.
While Sheinbaum's arrival to the presidency is a milestone, it also reflects a global phenomenon in which more women have risen to positions of power in recent years. Latin America has seen figures such as Michelle Bachelet in Chile, Cristina Fernández in Argentina and Xiomara Castro in Honduras break with male hegemony in politics. However, in many cases, the presence of a woman in power has not automatically meant advances in the gender agenda. The question here is whether we will see something different in Mexico.
Sheinbaum has reiterated on multiple occasions her commitment to women's rights, stressing that her government will promote equality and address the issues that most affect them. However, her tenure as Mexico City's head of government left doubts about her stance on protests, especially after feminist marches were encapsulated and repressed with tear gas.
The criminalization of feminist protest is a matter of concern. In previous years, we have seen how the 8M mobilizations have been labeled as acts of vandalism, diverting attention from legitimate demands. In this first 8M with Claudia as president we will be able to observe her position. Will there be a genuine recognition of the protests as a legitimate manifestation of the struggle for women's rights or will the narrative of disqualification be repeated?
Another aspect that will mark this 8M is the budget. Although Sheinbaum has promoted reforms in favor of equality, the reduction of resources allocated to gender policy has raised concerns. Without sufficient investment, the creation of new institutions and the implementation of programs to eradicate gender violence run the risk of remaining in discourse.
In addition, gender violence continues to be one of the most urgent problems in Mexico. With an average of 10 femicides a day and thousands of cases of disappearances, the families of the victims demand justice. A government that claims to be committed to equality cannot ignore this crisis. The expectation is not only that she will be the first female president, but that her administration will mark a before and after in the protection of women's rights.
Mexico continues to face enormous challenges and the great unknown is whether this government will be up to the historic demand for a more just and, above all, safe country. 8M is a day of memory and much reflection. It is not only a march for the shortcomings at the political level. It is a march for the women who were silenced by violence, for those who disappeared, for the mothers, sisters and daughters who left a void impossible to fill, for the relatives who go out to march every year and continue the constant search.
In every poster, in every cry for justice, their names are still alive. We march for those who can no longer do so, for those who were victims of violence, for those for whom we are still searching and for those who are still waiting for justice.
Their names resound in every slogan, in every step, in every embrace between strangers who share the same pain and the same rage. May privilege not cloud empathy in the face of a reality that we cannot ignore.
"If they touch one, we all respond."
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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