#### Rising Female Representation in Mexican Politics
In a significant shift in gender representation, Mexico’s political landscape now features female majority in the Senate. When Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez, two contenders for the presidency, entered politics at the turn of the millennium, over 80% of senators were men. However, today, the majority of Mexican senators are women.
#### Female Presidential Candidates Breaking Barriers
The ascent of Sheinbaum and Galvez, the main candidates for the ruling party and the opposition respectively in the upcoming presidential election, marks a significant leap in female political inclusion since 2000. Josefina Vazquez Mota, the first female presidential candidate for a major party in Mexico in 2012, characterizes this change as extraordinary in a patriarchal society.
The confirmation of two leading female candidates for the June 2 election comes on the heels of the Mexican Supreme Court overturning a federal law criminalizing abortion. The women of Mexico, accounting for 52% of the population, are hopeful for the next government to further empower them.
#### Public Opinion and Polls
The latest polls suggest that either Sheinbaum, the current favorite and candidate of leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or Galvez, a successful businesswoman-turned-senator, are likely to win the election. The possibility of a female president in traditionally macho Mexico is generating great excitement among the public.
However, former foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard, who was the runner-up to Sheinbaum in the ruling National Regeneration Movement’s presidential primary, has criticized the contest as unfair and could potentially mount a rival bid. Nonetheless, women’s victories in state governorships, Supreme Court, and central bank governor positions signal the readiness of Mexico for a female president.
#### Gender Equality in Mexico – The Long Road Ahead
Despite these political victories, women in Mexico still face many challenges. They remain significantly underrepresented in board rooms, earn less than their male counterparts, and are more likely to work in the informal economy. Furthermore, issues such as forced marriages of girls and violence against women continue to persist.
However, Mexican society is gradually changing. The country now boasts the fourth-highest level of female inclusion in the national parliament worldwide, surpassing Brazil, Britain, and the United States. A study by the national statistics agency INEGI showed that over 90% of the public supports having a woman president.
As Mexico gears up for the presidential election, the success of Sheinbaum or Galvez could potentially make them the first woman to win a general election in the United States, Mexico, or Canada. Their victory would not only be a significant milestone in Mexican history but also a beacon of hope for gender equality in the country.
Despite the positive strides, there is still much work to be done. As Gabriela Cuevas, a former federal lawmaker and first Mexican to head the Inter-Parliamentary Union, rightly points out, “What’s been done in politics has still to be achieved in all walks of life.”
Original Story at www.reuters.com – 2023-09-10 01:54:00
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