TY - JOUR

T1 - The hegemony tax: Performing masculinities and femininities by Egypt's Mubarak and Mrs. Mubarak

AU - Menshawy, M.

PY - 2024/3/31

Y1 - 2024/3/31

N2 - Hegemonic femininity has previously been defined as a static entity describing the behaviour of some women as they oppress other women for the sake of reinforcing hegemonic masculinity. In return, those women are paid limited and marginal benefits, alongside heavy “taxes” (Hamilton et al., 2019), including entrenching the subordination of all women as a group to men. This article makes a number of arguments. First, the benefits, or, “premiums” paid to women are proportional to their value to hegemonic masculinity. Second, hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic femininity are linked not only by dominance but also by resistance. There is the possibility for women to maximise their premiums, meaning the interests of hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic femininity may not always align. Third, we need to consider both the delivery and receptiveness of hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic femininity, that is, how people perceive them by accepting, rejecting or falsifying the payment system. Through the example of Egypt's first lady, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the article applies what I introduce as the “hegemony tax” approach to contend that there is a tax on the benefits of hegemonic femininity for both the woman and her male partner.

AB - Hegemonic femininity has previously been defined as a static entity describing the behaviour of some women as they oppress other women for the sake of reinforcing hegemonic masculinity. In return, those women are paid limited and marginal benefits, alongside heavy “taxes” (Hamilton et al., 2019), including entrenching the subordination of all women as a group to men. This article makes a number of arguments. First, the benefits, or, “premiums” paid to women are proportional to their value to hegemonic masculinity. Second, hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic femininity are linked not only by dominance but also by resistance. There is the possibility for women to maximise their premiums, meaning the interests of hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic femininity may not always align. Third, we need to consider both the delivery and receptiveness of hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic femininity, that is, how people perceive them by accepting, rejecting or falsifying the payment system. Through the example of Egypt's first lady, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the article applies what I introduce as the “hegemony tax” approach to contend that there is a tax on the benefits of hegemonic femininity for both the woman and her male partner.

U2 - 10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102866

DO - 10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102866

M3 - Journal article

VL - 103

JO - Women's Studies International Forum

JF - Women's Studies International Forum

SN - 0277-5395

M1 - 102866

ER -