Introduction
I am Malala is an intriguing autobiography of a young girl who defies societal expectations and stands up for education. Malala Yousafzai is a young girl from Pakistan who stands up for the rights of girls to get quality education, however, because she speaks against a powerful group known as the Taliban, they target her and her family. She was shot in the head on her way back from school but she survives and went on with the struggle, which made her the youngest Nobel Prize winner. In the novel, I am Malala, by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai, Malala fights against gender inequality through advocacy for women's rights to education; by standing up against the Taliban and advocating for women's rights in education, Malala encourages individuals around the globe to fight for their rights.
Malala, now an education advocate, survived an assassination attempt and went on to win the Nobel Prize. She became the youngest person to ever win a Nobel Prize. Her story continues to inspire millions of girls, particularly in a suppressive society where they are often disregarded while men are celebrated, as stated in the novel, 'For most Pashtuns, it's a gloomy day when a daughter is born (Lamb 15). However, in the present time, it can be argued that this is very rare now, and Pashtun families are very happy if a daughter is born into their family. Malala's campaign started in 2009 when she was 11 years old and she wrote a blog for BBC about life under the Taliban law and their attempts to control the Swat Valley (Lamb 21). She gave her viewpoints on education and prompted it so that the young girls in a nation where gender inequality is rife can strive for it (Pavithra 354). Her views angered the Taliban group and they shot her in the head but she survived and went on to become the beacon of hope to many girls.
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Gender Inequality Discussed in I am Malala
Malala, in her novel, might be highlighting the issue of inequality in education, however, her advocacy encompasses all facets of a woman's life. Women are disadvantaged in all areas of their life. They are deemed to be inferior to men and are only present to satisfy men's needs. Malala is a young girl passionate about education and gender equality. She often quotes Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, 'No struggle can succeed without women participating side by side with men. There are two powers in the world, one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women' (Lamb 24). Even though the founder of Pakistan had a vision for women, it is not so even in the 21st century. When the Taliban took over the Swat Valley, the area where Malala grew up, they stopped girls from going to school, as stated in the novel, 'The Taliban's deadline was drawing closer: girls had to stop going to school. How could they stop more than 50,000 girls from going to school in the twenty-first century? I kept hoping something would happen and the schools would remain open. But finally, the deadline was upon us (Lamb 36). Malala's mother as well stopped going to school at the age of six. Women, therefore, are discouraged from obtaining an education. Benazir Bhutto was the Prime Minister of Pakistan, she was celebrated as an icon of democracy however just like Malala, she was assassinated in 2007 but she was unlucky, and passed on. It is interesting that this society hates women so much that a woman of Bhutto's status could be assassinated just because she defied societal expectations. Many articles say that her husband, Asif Zardari, is the suspect in Benazir's murder because Asif Zardari wanted to be in power. Despite her global reputation, she still never mattered in this marginalized society.
Malala grows up in the 21st century yet women's rights are still disregarded. Taliban, which is a radical group, use intimidation and violence to enforce the rules of oppression against women. They claim that it was God's will for women to hide their faces and stop attending schools, which is false, Taliban have nothing to do with Islam neither can they be called Muslims as the Quran states, 'Are those who have the knowledge and those who have no knowledge alike? Only the men of understanding are mindful' (Quran, 39:9). The Taliban are using the mask of Islam to degrade Islam and Muslims. The world needs to stop blaming Muslims for terrorism and should have the guts to speak the truth. Malala refuses to wear a veil and this is seen as defiance by the Taliban group, ' 'Who is Malala?' he demanded. No one said anything, but several of the girls looked at me. I was the only girl with my face not covered' (Lamb 15). Malala can see the Taliban for who they are, distressed men who take out their distress, aggression, and anger on women. Despite the gender inequality in the country, Malala does grow up understanding the importance of educated women (Pavithra 357). This is because of the individuals in her circle. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, is educated and understands the significance of equality between men and women. Yousafzai utilizes his knowledge to operate a chain of schools that provide education to men and women. He also utilizes his position to write articles advocating for the significance of women's rights. Malala states, '[My father] believes strongly in freedom of speech. 'First, let's read the book, and then why not respond with our own book,' he suggested' (Lamb 3). Ziauddin is an example of the support that women want in society. Having such men allows women to have a voice. This shows that in the fight for equality, support from all quarters is needed. Even though his family is targeted, he still advocates for women's rights. He imparts values of respect and gives Malala books and articles on the importance of women (Lamb 4). Malala's courage, therefore, to defy the Taliban and strive for gender equality is largely alluded to by the support she gets from her family. Malala's passion for women's rights grows with time. She realizes that education for women is not just important but equal rights in everything are vital too. They are morally valid and contribute positively to society. In her book, she argues, 'I wrote it for every person around the world who could make a difference. I wanted to reach all people living in poverty, those children forced to work, and those who suffer from terrorism or lack of education. Deep in my heart, I hoped to reach every child who could take courage from my words and stand up for his or her rights' (Lamb 10). Malala is an exemplary icon that women look at. This global icon portrays the competencies of women when given opportunities. Malala became the youngest person to win a Nobel Prize and this serves as a big inspiration to women in this disenfranchised society to follow their dreams (Khurshid and Mariline 168). The young Malala challenged the Taliban and her enthusiasm became so powerful that the Taliban tried to assassinate her. Even after an attempt of murder, she continues to fight for gender equality and her sacrifice gave her a global platform to advance her views.
In conclusion, Malala, a young girl, stood up in a society where women are denied basic rights. Through her resilience and Defiance, she became a global symbol of feminism and has gone on to achieve so much more. She continues to use her platform to inspire women to fight for their rights not just in Pakistan but across the world. This novel gives historical insights into women's rights, roles, positions as well as participation. She successfully challenges traditional gender roles and addresses many injustices women endure in different societies.
Works Cited
- Islamicity.org. “The Pleasures of Seeking Knowledge.” IslamiCity, https://www.islamicity.org/6580/the-pleasures-of-seeking-knowledge/.
- Yousafzai, Malala. I am Malala: The girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Little, Brown, 2013.
- Pavithra, A. 'Malala: A Crusader Of Women's Education With Reference To I Am Malala.' Literary Endeavour: 351.
- Malala Yousafzai's Autobiography.' Girlhood Studies 10.3 (2017): 23-38. Khurshid, Ayesha, and Mariline Guerro. 'Malala Yousafzai as an Empowered Victim: Media Narratives of Girls' Edication, Islam, and Modernity.' Education and Youth Agency. Springer, Cham, 2016. 157-171.
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