The 2024 elections highlighted a stark contrast between Mexico and the US, with Mexico rallying behind Sheinbaum’s ‘It’s time for women’ message, while Harris emphasized her political record over gender milestones. In her article for Foreign Policy, Carin Zissis explores the factors behind Mexico’s support for its first female president.
The 2024 elections highlighted the contrasting political narratives shaping Mexico and the United States. In Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum’s campaign captured national attention with the historic slogan “It’s time for women,” symbolizing a broader push for gender equality and political change. This message resonated deeply with voters, culminating in her election as the nation’s first female president. Meanwhile, in the US, Kamala Harris chose to downplay the historic nature of her candidacy as a woman of colour, opting instead to emphasize her track record, experience, and policy achievements.
By providing data on public sentiment—such as 61% of Mexicans preferring a female president—Zissis highlights the stark contrast in public optimism compared to the US, where only one in four Americans believes a woman president is likely in their lifetime.
Why has this been the case?
Zissis starts her argument on this dilemma. By juxtaposing Mexico’s legislative progress and cultural expectations with the political landscape in the US, she argues how legislative reforms in Mexico paved the way for this historic moment, particularly the implementation of gender quotas and constitutional amendments.
Zissis also emphasizes historical context, explaining how the end of one-party dominance in Mexico led to a wave of electoral reforms. She traces Mexico’s steady march toward gender parity, citing key reforms such as the 1996 recommendation for 30% female candidacy, which became mandatory in 2002 and was later increased to full parity in 2014. By presenting this chronology, Zissis demonstrates how institutional changes, not just cultural shifts, can create political opportunities for women.
However, gender-based violence remains a crucial issue in Mexican politics. While Mexico has implemented laws to protect women, yet enforcement is falling behind. The country continues to struggle with widespread violence, facing an impunity rate for domestic violence cases of 98.6% and an alarming rate of 10 women murdered daily.
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This article was published at Foreign Policy. See the original article: Why Mexico Picked a Woman President First