Claudia Sheinbaum and women’s time

I write from a feeling of joy and optimism, not only because of the arrival of first woman to be president of the Republic, but also for all the women who came with her, when assuming this position. As María del Consuelo Valle Espinoza, former activist of the 1968 movement, expressed, “Not only did Claudia arrive, the women’s struggle arrived in Claudia“.

This powerful and significant phrase invites us to reflect on the monumental change that is taking place in Mexico, in a long-awaited and unprecedented women’s time.

María Consuelo’s words contain a great truth: Claudia is a woman and her fight is with M for woman, which represents a significant challenge in a country considered one of the most sexist according to the OECD.

In this context, violence is an everyday reality, and we are forced to work twice as hard to overcome the stereotypes and gender roles ingrained in our society. The arrival of Claudia as president symbolizes that women, from different realities, who have fought and continue to fight today, are represented.

Women managed to break the glass ceiling imposed by an unequal and unfair social structure. After 200 years of the governance of around 60 men in the presidency, today there is an opportunity to make a 180-degree turn in the way of governing in Mexico.

Although it sounds idyllic, like an impossible dream in a time of women in a country that is paradoxically cruel to us, marked by harassment, physical and emotional violence, rape, and an alarming average of 11 femicides a day, the support of the historic popular mandate, with more of 35 million votes in favor of a woman, is a very encouraging sign. And what is even more encouraging is that one of the main guidelines of her speech has been towards women and above all the commitment to a broad equality agenda.

“Girls, young women, have the power to achieve their dreams,” proclaimed the Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum. It seems that we are at the beginning of a new era for all women in Mexico, where the election of the first president will be a powerful and hopeful symbol of change for future generations, where they will be able to live in a country free of stereotypes and be the that they want.

With an inspiring example from the highest threshold of power, a woman with an outstanding academic and political career, and a social fighter for public education, has arrived. This also establishes a precedent for the importance of social causes for women and how they reflect a large part of who we are.

Their agenda, titled “Republic of and for Women,” is promising and represents a significant commitment to equality. Implementing the National Care System, a policy that unfortunately was not implemented in the last six years, will help many women to enter and remain in the labor market, in an environment of greater equality of conditions.

Another policy that, unlike its predecessor, was not put on the table is: the investigation of the deaths of women as femicides and the obligation to have female lawyers in public ministries in a femicidal country marked by gender violence.

In addition, the commitments to establish a support program for women aged 60 to 64, the elimination of the wage gap, priority for agricultural women and children of day laborers, among other equally relevant proposals.

A recent event that I cannot ignore is Claudia’s statement stating that “her eyes filled with tears of emotion due to the congratulatory message from President Andrés Manuel.” This episode brought to mind Tatiana Clouthier, who showed her emotions on the surface when reading her resignation as Secretary of the Economy.

In an environment where old politics has repressed the expression of feelings, it is crucial that emotions are an integral part of public discourse, as they are indicators of strength, transparency and sincerity. What better way to begin a new six-year term than with this emotional openness and authenticity?

With Claudia, we all arrived. Let us recognize that she will not be able to achieve it alone; The union of all is required to achieve what men could not or did not want. It is time to make a call to forge a pact between us, where we are agents of change and not simple spectators in a time of women that demands our unity. For our ancestors, grandmothers, mothers and for all the women who fight daily in Mexico.

More from the same author:

She is a lawyer, public servant, columnist, and feminist convinced that men and women are equal in the sense of participating in social life and in life as a whole. She has a Law Degree from the Sinaloa Free School of Law, a Degree in Nutrition from the Mexican American Studies Center, and an AC Master in Public Policy from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico.

Additionally, she studied English for two years at the University of Lake County in Illinois and has a Diploma in Human Rights from a Gender Perspective from the National Human Rights Commission.

Originally from Culiacán, Sinaloa, she lives in Mexico City, where she has worked in different federal agencies, recently as director of Budget Evaluation in the General Directorate of Programming and Budget, and Area Director in the General Directorate of Material Resources and General Services of the Ministry of the Interior. Currently, she is Secretary of Presentation Support in the Federal Judiciary Council of the Judicial Branch of the Federation.

She has specialized in issues of gender equality, labor matters and human rights through courses and research work. She has participated as a guest columnist in various media outlets, and has also been invited to participate as a commentator on the Mexican Government’s Radio Education.

see more