More Than A Magazine, A Movement
Mexico just elected its first woman and first Jewish president: former Mexico City Governor Claudia Sheinbaum.
She bested her opponent, Xóchitl Gálvez, winning between 58.3 percent and 60.7 percent of the vote, according to the National Electoral Institute. Gálvez had between 26.6 percent and 28.6 percent.
Thanks to three decades of political innovation in Mexico, Sheinbaum, Gálvez and hundreds of other women received the chance to run for and serve in office.
Mexico’s women-led presidential race does not reveal a feminist utopia—but it does signal progress and possibility.
In a country where women—especially Indigenous women—struggle to survive, Xóchitl Gálvez and Claudia Sheinbaum studied science, shaped policy and crafted resumes worthy of presidential bids. One of them will surely shatter Mexico’s glass ceiling.
(This article originally appears in the Winter 2024 issue of Ms. Join the Ms. community today and you’ll get issues delivered straight to your mailbox!)
While U.S. feminists were focused on breaking the 25 percent barrier for women in the House of Representatives, Mexico became the world’s leader on gender parity.
Mexico is the first country in the world to implement gender parity so thoroughly and effectively. The journey has not been easy.
Women in leadership roles often face violence and harassment. This public abuse sends a distinctive message to all women and girls: Beware what happens when you step outside the roles prescribed for you.
Unless Congress steps up and enacts laws recognizing violence against women in politics as crimes, abusers will continue making public life a hostile place for women.
In adopting a feminist foreign policy, Mexico joins conversations on gender equality that are usually monopolized by wealthy nations in Scandinavia and Western Europe. Yet Mexico’s track record of promoting women in politics domestically means it belongs in that rarefied club—and puts to shame the so-called advanced democracies that have fallen behind.
Contributions of Democratic women state legislators show that women are more motivated by communal goals than political power; that women do politics backward and in high heels; and women spur each other on.
The female supermajority on Los Angeles County’s governing board proves why women in politics matters.
