As two women vie for Mexico's presidency, why are there questions about their ability to govern?
As two women candidates lead the polls in the race toward Mexico's June 2 presidential election, one question has been splashed across polls, debates, media and conversations across Mexico
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Are Mexicans ready for a woman president?
As two female candidates lead in Mexico’s presidential race, the question has appeared in polls, debates, media and conversations across Mexico. But it is also a sample of the sexism and “macho” culture that continues to permeate Mexico, according to political analysts.
The question of whether Mexicans are ready — or not — for a female president carries an implicit doubt of whether a woman or, in this case, whether the two female candidates are prepared to govern the country, said Julia Zulver, a researcher from the Latin American Centre at Oxford University and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
“Questioning someone for their level of studies, for their experience, for their public policies, that is valid,” Zulver said. “But questioning two women who have studied, who have experience in politics, for being women is where the questioning falls into sexism, into machismo.”
