Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Congressman Marte Alejandro Ruiz Nava has stirred controversy with recent remarks in which he classified actions such as a wife not preparing lunch for her husband or declining sexual relations due to personal reasons as forms of microviolence against men. Speaking in a public forum, Ruiz Nava suggested that these behaviors contribute to gender-based discrimination against men, equating them to subtle acts of violence in relationships.
“If a woman raises her voice to a man, if she doesn’t make him lunch, it can also be said that it is a micro situation of violence,” the congressman stated. He went further by saying that if a woman refrains from engaging in sexual relations due to a headache or similar reasons, this too qualifies as microviolence. “If you don’t spend the night with him… because you are not giving in to being with your partner, that is also micro-violence,” Ruiz Nava added.
The comments were made in the context of discussions on an initiative the congressman supports, aimed at protecting men from what he perceives as growing discrimination and addressing complaints made by men in relationships. Ruiz Nava criticized the current focus of gender-based violence initiatives, which he believes disproportionately favor women. “Today more attention is paid to complaints made by women and not in favor of men,” he argued.
Feminist Response: “Encouraging Violence Against Women”
These statements have drawn strong backlash from feminist organizations, with many condemning the congressman’s interpretation of gender dynamics. Martha de la Cruz López, a prominent member of the feminist collective Mujer Manglar, expressed deep concern over the potential societal impact of Ruiz Nava’s comments. She emphasized that such remarks could perpetuate harmful stereotypes and foster an environment conducive to violence against women.
“There is freedom of expression that we defend, but there is a fine line between opinions and inciting violence,” de la Cruz López told El Sol de Tampico. She noted that equating everyday decisions in relationships, such as not making lunch or opting out of sexual intimacy, with microviolence trivializes the serious issues women face in abusive situations.
Violence Against Women in Mexico: A Growing Concern
Ruiz Nava’s comments come against the backdrop of Mexico’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence, particularly against women. According to data from the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Mexico ranked second in femicides in Latin America in 2022, with 976 cases recorded.
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) further reports that 70.1 percent of women in Mexico aged 15 and older have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. This includes psychological violence (51.6 percent), sexual violence (49.7 percent), and community violence (45.6 percent). Meanwhile, intimate partner violence affects nearly 40 percent of Mexican women.
In a country where violence against women is rampant, feminist groups argue that proposals like Ruiz Nava’s risk undermining efforts to address the real crisis women face. Between October 2020 and October 2021 alone, 42.8 percent of women aged 15 and older experienced violence, with psychological and sexual violence being the most prevalent forms.
A National Debate on Gender Violence
The debate over gender-based violence in Mexico continues to intensify. While men’s rights activists argue for more inclusive protections that also address male victims of abuse, feminist organizations stress the urgent need for resources and legislation focused on the disproportionate impact violence has on women.
Ruiz Nava has reiterated that he supports women’s rights and is not opposed to the feminist movement. “I am not against the women’s movement and the fight for rights,” he stated, though his comments have left many questioning whether his initiative aligns with the broader goals of gender equality.
As the conversation around microviolence evolves, the core issue of violence against women in Mexico remains critical. Advocates emphasize that the country’s alarming rates of femicide and domestic abuse require comprehensive and sensitive approaches, rather than equating issues like household chores or sexual consent with microaggressions.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Congressman Marte Alejandro Ruiz Nava has stirred controversy with recent remarks in which he classified actions such as a wife not preparing lunch for her husband or declining sexual relations due to personal reasons as forms of microviolence against men. Speaking in a public forum, Ruiz Nava suggested that these behaviors contribute to gender-based discrimination against men, equating them to subtle acts of violence in relationships.
