Hegemony and Objectification: A Sexist Discursive Analysis of Egyptian Songs

Abstract

Sexist songs are among the key tools for disseminating masculine hegemony. They lead to the normalization of sexist practices. This study investigated how sexism is constructed in Egyptian society in one form of popular culture, i.e., songs. It examined songs in two music genres: Egyptian Pop songs and Sha’by (folk) songs. To deconstruct sexist strategies in songs, we devised an interdisciplinary analytical framework that draws upon Critical Discourse Analysis and Social Psychology. It is guided by Ideological Strategies, Objectification Theory, and Terror Management Theory. This study fills a gap in the literature as it linguistically investigates women’s representation in two different music genres. Findings showed that even though women in both genres were the target of oppression and unequal gender relations, it was the mind of the woman that was the target in Pop songs, while it was her body that was blazoned forth in Sha’by songs.

Keywords

• feminist critical discourse analysis
• egyptian songs
• gender studies
• masculine hegemony
• objectification