Institutional resistance and feminist activism in creating a gender-based violence protocol at a Mexican university

BMC Glob Public Health. 2025 Sep 17;3(1):82. doi: 10.1186/s44263-025-00200-7.

ABSTRACT

Despite the legal mandate to address gender-based violence (GBV) in Institutions of Higher Education (HEIs) in Mexico, the actual application of laws and implementation of programs has lagged. Even when GBV protocols do exist, they have been haphazardly implemented or, in the worst cases, not actually designed to bring justice or equality. In this article, the authors narrate their experiences as feminist faculty members participating in the creation of a GBV protocol at a Mexican HEI, documenting the institutional resistance they encounter along the way. They find common forms of institutional resistance previously identified in the literature but also new ones particular to the Mexican context, including opacity (lack of transparency in the creation of GM initiatives) and gatopardismo (creating policies yet never implementing them). These findings highlight the importance of examining institutional resistance within a broader understanding of political cultures, particularly those defined by authoritarian political practices. Additionally, by detailing their advocacy efforts for the creation of a functional GBV protocol, the authors demonstrate how feminist activism is important in promoting gender equality as well as more democratic cultures within Mexican HEIs.

PMID:40963141 | DOI:10.1186/s44263-025-00200-7