Misogyny, Sexism and Hegemonic Masculinity in Zimbabwe’s Operation Restore Legacy

Abstract

This chapter uses the case of former first lady Grace Mugabe to demonstrate connections between politics, misogyny, sexism and hegemonic masculinity during Zimbabwe’s November 2017 military coup codenamed Operation Restore Legacy, which ended President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule. Guided by Raewyn Connell’s hegemonic masculinity concept, the chapter draws on qualitative ethnographic data, including posters, placards, chants and songs directed at Grace Mugabe by a demonstrating public in Harare and other parts of Zimbabwe that demanded Robert Mugabe’s resignation. Data was also obtained from online social media forums, especially WhatsApp. Semiotic analysis and qualitative content analysis were utilized to analyse the data. Owing to perceived presidential aspirations, Grace was subjected to brutal sexist vitriol. She was framed as the biblical Jezebel and prostitute who had taken advantage of an aged Robert Mugabe to instigate a bedroom coup and capture the Executive. Through songs, chants and placards, the protesting public appealed to General Constantino Chiwenga (Commander in Chief Defence Forces) to thwart Grace’s presidential ambitions by bringing in a ‘boob-less’ commander-in-chief (President Emmerson Mnangagwa). Thus, the chapter demonstrates male-gendered domination and perpetuation of gender exclusion, sexism and misogyny in Zimbabwean politics. Indeed, politics and state political institutions in the country are constructed as masculine domains, which are seen as naturally controlled and led by males.