"Liberating women" as part of hegemonic discourse in the US invasion of Afghanistan

This study problematizes the role of masculinity in the establisment and maintenance of hegemonic discourse in the US invasion of Afghanistan. It tries to address the central question of how and why the concept of hegemonic masculinity is manifested through hegemonic discourses. My study also tries to show how these hegemonic discourses serve the cultural hegemony of the US. Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony which combines coercion and consent inspires my work. The study focuses on the period between 2001 and 2003, analyzing Presidential discourses and discourses of senators, and members of the congress. The time frame is essential for understanding how the invasion's legitimacy was established through the formation of hegemonic discourse in the context of manufacturing consent of international and domestic community. It aims to uncover how these discourses played pivotal roles in shaping the international community's perception towards the invasion. I also emphasize discursive construction of ontology of Afghan women within the Orientalist framework. In sum, this study, while focusing on the discourses of "liberation" that manifested hegemonic masculinity in the context of US invasion of Afghanistan argues that they masterfully served the maintenance of cultural hegemony of the United States. Key Words: Afghan Women, Liberation, Hegemonic Discourse, Hegemonic Masculinity, Cultural Hegemony, the US Invasion of Afghanistan