Why use a Mutex to lock on?

Question

Why would someone use a new mutex just for locking?

public class Job
{
    private static Mutex mutex = new Mutex();

    public void Execute(Context context)
    {
        lock (mutex)
        {
            // some work here
        }

        // some more work here
    }
}

Answer 1

If this really is the only use of said Mutex, then it does indeed not make sense. A normal object would have been enough.

Answer 2

Why would someone use a new mutex just for locking?

Probably because someone in a tutorial said "Mutex", and they literally thought of the Mutex object. There is no benefit or any special effects to using it as a lock. Any reference type has an Object Header Word making it eligible for use as a lock object.

Side note - locking using a static object will cause any instance of your Job class to be blocked while another instance is holding that lock.