Analysis: Gender Equality in Political Leadership in Mexico and the US
As Mexico gears up to potentially elect its first woman president, a comparison is drawn to the ongoing male-dominated presidential elections in the US. Explore the contrasting landscapes of gender representation in political leadership between the two nations.
Alice Driver, a writer who splits her time between Mexico and the US, is known for her book “Life and Death of the American Worker: The Immigrants Taking on America’s Largest Meatpacking Company.” Her writing has been featured in prestigious publications like The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, and Oxford American. The views expressed in this piece are solely her own. For more opinion pieces, visit CNN's website.
In Mexico, the leading candidates for the 2024 presidential race are both women. Women hold at least 50% of the seats in Congress, make up half of the Cabinet, and are at the helm of the Supreme Court. As the country gears up for the election on June 2, all signs point to the likelihood of Mexico electing its first female president. This stands in sharp contrast to the United States, where a woman has never held the highest office and where the Supreme Court recently overturned a decision that had granted women a nationwide right to choose abortion.
Alice Driver
Alice Driver
Mexican presidential frontrunners Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez have expressed their support for reproductive rights, although they have not shared specific proposals on abortion. Gálvez, a former senator of indigenous Otomi descent, has stated that she opposes the criminalization of women who have abortions. Sheinbaum, a scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, has pledged to ensure access to healthcare for women at all stages of life, particularly in terms of sexual and reproductive health.
If Gálvez or Sheinbaum are elected, it would be a historic moment for Mexico. If former President Donald Trump wins the US election in November and oversees a further restriction of access to women’s health services, women may need to cross the border to Mexico to access such fundamental reproductive rights as buying birth control.
This is not to say that Mexico’s candidates are perfect because women are as complex and fallible as anyone else. For example, Sheinbaum is a staunch supporter of current Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has called women’s rights activists “pseudo-feminists.” Nearly 100 million Mexicans will cast their ballots on June 2, and in Mexico, many debate whether Sheinbaum, who leads the race, will be a feminist leader or even a great president.
In a country where at least 10 women and girls are murdered per day, electing a woman to lead the country goes beyond symbolism. Whether Sheinbaum or Gálvez wins, Mexican citizens will witness a woman leading the country for the next six years. As Americas Society/Council of the Americas President and CEO Susan Segal pointed out, women are more likely to build consensus and advocate for a socially inclusive agenda, even if they do not govern with a feminist perspective.
While the US has often claimed to be a leader in gender equality, in some aspects, Mexico is surpassing the United States.
In a striking difference, voters in the United States are currently faced with a lackluster decision between two candidates. One candidate has actively worked against reproductive rights, while the other has not done much to support them. Despite the US historically promoting gender equality, Mexico seems to be outpacing America in certain aspects.
Trump is currently on trial in New York for allegedly helping to falsify business records in order to cover up a supposed 2006 sexual encounter with adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump denies both the affair and the criminal charges. While not in court, he has been busy on the campaign trail, telling voters that he is proud of the Supreme Court justices he nominated for overturning Roe v. Wade.
Recently, Trump, who is leading in the polls, mentioned that he is considering allowing bans on birth control. However, after facing criticism, he quickly retracted his statement, stating that he would never support restrictions on contraception. His campaign assured that a policy on the matter would be released soon and emphasized that Trump has consistently favored states having the authority to make decisions on abortion within their own borders.
Biden, as president, has voiced support for "reproductive freedom" but has taken minimal action to protect it. Despite expressing backing for Roe v Wade, Biden mentioned at a fundraiser in 2023, "I'm a practicing Catholic. I'm not big on abortion." Recent polls show that 63% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases.
In a post-Roe America, individuals who are pregnant often face delays and denials in receiving necessary care, putting their lives in danger. As a result, more individuals in the US are traveling to Mexico for abortions, taking advantage of the procedure being decriminalized in certain states.
Feminist activists demonstrate in favor of the decriminalization of abortion on International Safe Abortion Day, in Mexico City, September 2023.
Feminist activists demonstrate in favor of the decriminalization of abortion on International Safe Abortion Day, in Mexico City, September 2023.
Abortion laws have seen significant changes in both Mexico and the US over the years. In Mexico, abortion was considered a crime until 2023 when the Supreme Court removed it from the federal penal code. This decision allowed officials to decide on a state level whether the procedure should be permitted. Currently, 12 out of 32 states in Mexico have decriminalized abortion.
On the other hand, the US has been moving in the opposite direction with its abortion laws. Following the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision, more than 20 states have implemented bans or restrictions on abortion. For example, in Arkansas, where I am from, abortion is completely illegal without any exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Feminist movements in Latin America have led to an increase in abortion access in the region. Mexican feminists welcomed their Supreme Court's decision, while conservative groups in the Catholic-majority country expressed disappointment. In recent years, three out of the four most populous countries in Latin America - Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia - have decriminalized abortion.
Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Mexican activists have shown solidarity with American women by providing resources such as pills and arranging for women to travel from the US to Mexico for abortions. Verónica Cruz, the founder of Las Libres, a Mexican NGO that advocates for women's rights, supports women in the US who lost their right to choose after the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Cruz was surprised by the progress in Mexico and the regression in the United States, stating, "It surprised me that Mexico is going forward, and the United States is going backward. I never imagined that."
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I often wonder if I will witness a woman being elected as president in the US during my lifetime. However, what concerns me more is the erosion of reproductive rights that has taken place during both the Trump and Biden administrations. The implementation of abortion bans has made pregnancy more dangerous, as evidenced by articles like “Did an Abortion Ban Cost a Young Texas Woman Her Life?” But beyond reading articles, I see firsthand the impact on the girls, women, and pregnant individuals in my life. They are faced with difficult decisions that often put their lives at unnecessary risk.
My mom, who is 75 years old, had an abortion when she was in her 20s. Recently, she asked me to get a tattoo with her - a coat hanger. To her, this symbolizes the danger of not allowing pregnant individuals to have a full range of reproductive choices. She is grateful that times have changed, and women in the US living in the over 20 states that restrict or ban abortions can now receive abortion pills by mail from Mexico.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the stark contrast between Mexico's progressive stance on women's rights and the United States' ongoing erosion of reproductive freedom. Mexico's potential election of its first female president, coupled with the decriminalization of abortion in several states, represents a significant step forward for gender equality. In contrast, the United States lags behind, with conservative forces rolling back access to abortion and women's overall reproductive health.
This disparity is particularly concerning in light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. The resulting abortion bans in numerous states have created a situation where pregnant individuals face increased risks and barriers to healthcare. The article underscores the solidarity shown by Mexican activists in providing support to American women who have lost their right to choose. It also raises questions about the future of gender equality in the United States and the urgent need for action to protect reproductive rights and ensure that women have full control over their bodies and lives.
