Sheinbaum Responds to Chicharito: "Women Can Be Whatever We Want"

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has reacted strongly to recent statements by soccer player Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, calling them "very sexist." In a morning press conference, following a direct question, Sheinbaum emphasized that, although Hernández is a great soccer player, he still has a lot to learn about the perspectives of women.

The president emphasized that the idea that women should fulfill certain roles, such as cleaning or remaining exclusively at home, is a misconception and outdated.

Sheinbaum recalled that the concept of Substantive Equality is already established in the Mexican Constitution. This principle recognizes that women, with their unique characteristics, have the right to access all rights on equal terms with men. "Women can be whatever we want to be, and it is a relationship of equality," the president affirmed.

She refuted the notion that women's primary role is limited to the domestic sphere. While she recognized the love for family, children, and husbands, she emphasized that women have the capacity to fully develop in any sphere, as long as the necessary conditions are created for this.

President Sheinbaum was emphatic in stating that this idea is "very sexist" and that it is important to call it by its name. She clarified that her intention is not to provoke controversy with "Chicharito," whom she recognized as an outstanding soccer player who has represented Mexico. However, she considered it crucial that all men in the country recognize women as individuals with full rights and capabilities. This statement seeks to reaffirm the government's commitment to gender equality and dismantle the stereotypes that limit women's potential.

Sheinbaum Pardo also recalled the words of American civil rights activist and feminist Angela Davis, who stated that being a feminist simply means recognizing women as people. The president shared a personal anecdote about how, early in her administration, a comedian described her as a housewife upon assuming the presidency.

To this, Sheinbaum always proudly responds: "I'm a mother, a grandmother, and a homemaker, just because, but I'm also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces . Women can be whatever they want." This anecdote illustrates her personal struggle and the message she seeks to convey to society as a whole about the multifaceted potential of women.

The president concluded her remarks by reiterating that women's development is fundamental to the country's progress, and that any idea that limits their potential is a setback in the pursuit of a more just and equal society.