"i feel like the most free woman in the whole world"

In Chapter 5 of "Gender, Race and Class in Media," James Lull defines hegemony as "the power or dominance that one social group holds over others." In our society, that often refers to the uppper class, who tends to be dominant over the poor, some minority and religous groups, and others. This dominant social group emphacizes particular lifestyles and values. Hegemony works when the society is cooperative and follows the ideologies that are being promoted. It reaches a point where hegemony just seems natural and the dominant ideas are accepted.

There are two levels of hegemony in this news piece on a polygamist sect in Texas, which was featured on Good Morning America. The hegemony of mainstream American culture over the polygamist society allowed our authorities to enter the compound and take custody over children. This would never have occured in reverse, with a polygamist group entering one of our homes, because our society is dominant over their's. Another level of hegemony is evident through what we know about the men in such polygamist groups having control over women and children. The women have clearly reached a point where they simply follow ideologies of the men who control the compounds. These women being interviewed could be a good example of individuals who have not resisted the influence of the dominant social group (the leaders of their religion). The question is why haven't they resisted, even when they are no longer in the compound, and it could be a number of reasons. Their responses and facial expressions during the interview seem rehearsed and strangely unnatural.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVGK2Aa4uEk