Mexico's young women reveal how violence begins at home and in schools
Many young women in Mexico have faced gender-based violence from an early age. Their first experiences often happened at home, in school, or on the streets—places where they should have felt safe. For years, some did not even recognize the abuse as violence, accepting it as normal until much later in life.
Keny Zavala first noticed signs of violence in her own home by the age of seven. She only began to question its normality at 25. Marisela Giles was sexually abused by her biological father when she was eight, but she did not understand it as abuse until she turned 14. When she finally told her mother, she received no support—instead, her mother returned to live with the abuser.
Karen suffered violence from a teacher at just ten years old. The experience left her too afraid to speak up in class. Johana Morales faced street harassment for the first time at 15, which later extended to digital harassment. At home, she also dealt with violence linked to rigid gender roles.
Since 2019, Mexican authorities and Naucalpan's local government have introduced measures to address such violence. The National Program for the Prevention of Violence Against Women expanded psychological support through the 911 emergency line and IMSS child centres. Legal reforms under the 2022 General Law on Women's Access to a Violence-Free Life also created specialized prosecutorial units in Estado de México. Despite these steps, NGOs like Amnesty International report that Naucalpan still struggles with underfunding and weak support systems for victims as of 2025.
The stories of these women highlight how deeply gender-based violence is embedded in daily life for many young girls in Mexico. While government initiatives have been put in place, gaps in funding and support continue to leave survivors without the help they need. Recognizing abuse early and providing consistent protection remains a critical challenge.
