my role model malala yousafzai essay

I Am Malala

Malala yousafzai, everything you need for every book you read..

Malala is an icon, renowned for her support for education and women’s rights. As a result, one of the most prominent themes in I Am Malala is the theme of fame itself: how heroes and role models, known by millions of people they’ve never met, can contribute to change or distract from it.

From a young age, Malala is surrounded by good role models. Her paternal grandfather, Rohul Amin , is a famously brilliant speaker and rhetorician, capable of bringing any audience to cheers. Her father, Ziauddin , is an even more impressive man: a great speaker and journalist, as well as the founder of a large chain of schools that offer cheap, comprehensive education to thousands of boys and girls. When Malala begins to take steps to fight for education and women’s rights as a young girl, she does so anonymously: she’s still in the shadow of her role models, especially her father. At the age of 11, she writes a series of diary entries for the BBC, using a pseudonym to protect herself from harassment from the Taliban, the group she criticizes in her diary.

As Malala grows up and accumulates an increasingly impressive resume of fighting for political causes, she inevitably begins to rise to prominence, with somewhat mixed results. Humanitarian organizations give her lavish awards, often for many thousands of dollars, singling her out for her bravery and integrity. However, Malala’s first efforts at “being famous” are clumsy and uneven, as she herself acknowledges. She complains that traveling to accept lots of awards is actually counterproductive, because it distracts her from writing articles and making radio broadcasts in support of the causes she’s supposed to be fighting for. Fame can also be misleading: by accepting an award for her humanitarian work, Malala gives the impression that she, and she alone, is responsible for changing the status quo in Pakistan. Malala readily admits that this is nonsense: she’s been helped along by dozens of other people, including her father and her teachers.

Although Malala recognizes that fame has some disadvantages, she ultimately embraces her global fame because it gives her a platform from which she can continue her political projects. In a sense, the Taliban attack that nearly claims Malala’s life forces her to be famous. A Taliban soldier climbs onboard Malala’s bus and asks, “Who is Malala?” When it becomes obvious who Malala is, the soldier shoots her. This incident makes Malala even more famous than she was before. She becomes a martyr, wounded for bravely going to school. In the aftermath of her shooting, Malala proves that she has learned some valuable lessons about how to be a role model for other people. Instead of using I Am Malala to trumpet her own brilliance, Malala humbly admits that she owes her success to many other people: the surgeons who saved her life, her father, the journalists who published her work, etc. Nor does Malala let her fame distract her from her political goals. On the contrary, her fame becomes a part of her political project, as she realizes that she can use it to increase awareness of the situation of women in Pakistan.

In the end, Malala recognizes that being a role model for millions of people can be challenging, and sometimes counterproductive. Yet she also realizes that this level of fame can be a powerful political weapon, one that she’d be foolish not to use to her advantage. Thus, for the good of her cause, she “chooses” to be famous, a choice that’s boldly apparent in the title of her book: I Am Malala .

Fame, Power, and the Importance of Role Models ThemeTracker

Fame, Power, and the Importance of Role Models Quotes in I Am Malala

The man was wearing a peaked cap and had a handkerchief over his nose and mouth as if he had the flu. He looked like a college student. Then he swung himself onto the tailboard at the back and leaned in right over us. “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.

Under Zia’s regime life for women in Pakistan became much more restricted. Jinnah said, “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.”

It seemed like everyone knew I had written the BBC diary. Some thought my father had done it for me but Madam Maryam, our principal, told them, “No. Malala is not just a good speaker but also a good writer.”

“Go and ask the manager of the White Palace Hotel and he will tell you what these girls did…” He put down the paper. “It has no signature. Anonymous.”

We humans don’t realize how great God is. He has given us an extraordinary brain and a sensitive loving heart. He has blessed us with two lips to talk and express our feelings, two eyes which see a world of colors and beauty, two feet which walk on the road of life, two hands to work for us, a nose which smells the beauty of fragrance, and two ears to hear the words of love.

I was a good girl. In my heart I had only the desire to help people. It wasn’t about the awards or the money. I always prayed to God, “I want to help people and please help me do that.”

Malala Yousafzai: A True Heroine and Role Model

[Cartoon Credit: Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune]

“I was getting ready for school and about to wear my uniform when I remembered that our principal had told us not to wear uniforms – and come to school wearing normal clothes instead. So I decided to wear my favourite pink dress. Other girls in school were also wearing colourful dresses and the school presented a homely look.

“My friend came to me and said, ‘for God’s sake, answer me honestly, is our school going to be attacked by the Taleban?’ During the morning assembly we were told not to wear colourful clothes as the Taleban would object to it.”

-Malala Yousafzai, January 5, 2009

Stories about 15 year old Malala Yousafzai flooded the news in the days after she and two of her friends were shot on a school bus by Taliban members back at the beginning of October. What’s so special about this girl? She wrote a blog for the BBC Urdu . A blog about wanting boys and girls in Pakistan to have equal educational rights. She appeared in news stories across Pakistan and the rest of the world. She became the country’s first National Youth Peace Prize recipient in December 2011, at the age of 14. She was nominated for an international award. She campaigns for girls to have the right to an education. The problem? People are listening to her.

While the world hung in suspense, waiting to see if this courageous young woman would make it through, Pakistanis united together in honor of Malala. “They wanted to kill her. But she fell temporarily. She will rise again. She will stand again,” her father, Ziauddin, told reporters in late October. And so she will. Despite receiving shots to the head and neck, Malala is recovering well in a hospital in England. And Pakistani citizens? They too are speaking out against the Taliban.

“A rickshaw touring the streets of Islamabad has a slogan posted on it: ‘Malala for education and peace.’ Go to the local girls’ school and every girl seems to have written either a poem or a song, a letter or a card to Malala. Listen to the politicians and every speech is laced with references to the courage of Malala. Meet civil society organizations and they will tell you that the audience for their educational demands has risen markedly over the last few weeks. It seems that Malala’s courage has awoken Pakistan’s silent majority who are no longer prepared to tolerate the threats and intimidations of the Pakistan Taliban.” – Gordon Brown, “Malala Spurs School-for-All Vow, Now Deliver”

Following the attack on Malala, there was an enormous public outpouring of support for her, from vigils praying for her recovery to the government observing a moment of silence in her honor. Rallies emerged and protestors carrying signs saying things like “Malala, our prayers are with you” and “Shame on you, Taliban” were prevalent. The National Youth Peace Prize, of which she was the first recipient, was renamed in her honor to the National Malala Peace Prize. Her local school will be renamed from Khushal Public School to Malala Public High School. Furthermore, the United Nations declared November 10 to be Malala Day, saying that. Her friends that were also injured in the attack, Kainat Riaz Ahmed and Shazia Ramzan, are being honored with the Star of Courage, a military award not usually given to civilians.

From one blogger to another, I wish Malala Yousafzai all the best. She is a shining beacon of light for Pakistani girls and for girls all around the world who are not afforded the basic right to an education. Wherever her path takes her, Malala will continue to be a symbol for hope and a pathway for change. As an environmental science major , I know this post is a pretty big departure from my other posts , but if 15 year old can have that amount of influence and have made that much of an impact, maybe I too will have a chance at making an impact one day in my field of conservation and sustainability.

“I convinced my friends and other classmates of the importance of education and told them that our primary education will decide our future. I am thankful not only to the students but also to their parents for honouring my requests and sending their daughters back to school.”

-Malala Yousafzai

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I Am Malala

Table of contents, introduction, religion, freedom, and religious extremism : islam, the talibanand sharia law, the power of education, girl’s rights, analysis of the character, essay 1 : ’malala demonstrates that there is power in unity and persistence.’ discuss..

• Essay 2 : ’Although Malala is an inspirational example to others, she cannot achieve change on her own.’ Discuss.
• Essay 3 : In the memoir ‘I Am Malala’ religious extremism is to blame for the restrictions that are forced upon Malala’s life. Discuss.
• Essay 4 : Discuss the ways that relationship is shown to have a significant impact on Malala and her fight for justice in I am Malala.
• Essay 5 : How does the author of I am Malala explore the role of sacrifice when campaigning for a cause? Discuss.
• Essay 6 : ’The memoir I Am Malala illustrates that it is our moral responsibility to speak up against injustice, regardless of personal risk.’ Discuss.
• Essay 7 : ’I began to see that the pen and the words that come from it can be much more powerful than machine guns, tanks or helicopters.’ How does the memoir I Am Malala demonstrate that words can be more powerful than any other weapon? Discuss.
• Essay 8 : “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” The memoir I Am Malala demonstrates that education is powerful. Discuss.

Brief Historical background

In her memoir ‘I Am Malala’, Malala Yousafzai relays the story of her experiences as a young girl in Pakistan, which lead to her being targeted and shot by the Taliban. Malala, who describes herself as a devout Muslim, talks at length in her memoir about the disconnection between the Taliban and their activities, and the true meaning of Islam. Malala states that she is “proud that our country was created as the world’s first Muslim homeland.” (75) However, she also observes that the people of Pakistan do not agree on what this actually means. Her sense that the true meaning of Islam has been lost or distorted appears frequently in the text. It is especially prominent when Malala reflects upon the impact of religious extremism on both the outside and inside perceptions of what Islam is. She blames the influence of the extremist views enforced on the people of Pakistan by the Taliban as the cause of this distortion. Malala quotes the speech that the founding father of Pakistan, Muhammed Ali Jinnah, gave when Pakistan was created, using his words to express that Pakistan was not created as a safe haven for religious extremism. “You are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed- that has nothing to do with the business of the state.” (75)

ANALYSIS OF THE THEME

Religion and Freedom

Malala is aware early in her life that religion shapes her existence in almost every way. As a Muslim living in an Islamic country, Malala knows that there are religious laws which are imposed upon both men and women. These laws reflect Malala’s Sunni Muslim heritage. As a small child these laws do not seem important, however as she becomes older Malala is more aware of the restrictive and unfair ways in which her religion seeks to control over her as an individual, but also as a female. In Chapter 4 Malala becomes aware that women were obligated to cover their faces whenever they went away from their house, or ‘purdah quarters’. Further, women were not allowed to talk to meet or talk to men who were not their close relatives (54). For Malala this was just another part of her cultural landscape, however, as a young teenager exploring her identity she was determined not to cover her face. She recalls a time when a male relative angrily asked her father “Why isn’t she covered?” Malala’s father’s response was to defend her. “She’s my daughter. Look after your own affairs.” (54) Malala states that “I am very proud to be a Pashtun but sometimes I think our code of conduct has a lot to answer for, particularly where the treatment of women is concerned.” (54) Malala’s growing awareness of the inequality that exists in her society causes her to question her own place in it, and as such she is very privileged to have a father who is determined to protect her freedom. Malala’s father talks to her about the difficulty of life for women in Afghanistan under the Taliban, and of the ways in which the Taliban sought to control and restrict their personal rights and freedoms of women. Malala shudders when her father tells her “…the Taliban had even banned women from laughing out loud or wearing white shoes as white was a ‘colour that belonged to men.’ Women were being locked up and beaten just for wearing nail varnish.” For Malala, freedom is very important, and she has been raised by her father to believe in her own freedom, regardless of their religious traditions. “I read my books…and trusted in my father’s words: ‘Malala is free as a bird.’” (55) Without Malala’s father value of his daughter’s freedom, Malala’s life would have been quite different. He reassures her that “I will protect your freedom, Malala. Carry on with your dreams.” (55) Malala is not forced to confront the idea of a life without her freedom until the Taliban move in to Swat and impose their own brand of Islam upon them. “When I heard the stories of the atrocities in Afghanistan I felt proud to be in Swat. ‘Here a girl can go to school’, I used to say…For me the valley was a sunny place and I couldn’t see the clouds gathering behind the mountains.” (55)

The word Sharia means “a well-trodden path to water,” and therefore represents the path to Allahi. In Islam, Sharia is Islamic law which should not be confused with civil law. This means that it sets out the elements and principles of the Islamic religion based on the teachings in the Quran, dictating what each individual Muslim must perform and abide by in order to reach Allah (God). Sharia law also sets out the patterns that believers must follow in worshipping Allah: prayers, charity, fasting and pilgrimageii. All religions use organising principles to guide and instruct. In this sense Sharia is no different. Within Sharia, there are five tenants that must be preserved: life, learning, family, property and honouriii. There are also five categories to organise the actions of the congregation of Islam: obligatory, recommended, permitted, disliked or forbiddeniv. Malala uses the word haram to describe things that are forbidden by Sharia law. The word halal is used to describe the things that are permitted. Interestingly Sharia law does not state that women should be completely covered from head to toe (including the face). The choice of cover is specific to certain areas in the world and dictated by cultural and political influences rather than stipulated by Sharia law, which requests only modest dress. Sharia law also commands specific punishments for specific crimes.

Unlike the form of Sharia law enforced by the Taliban, women and men are described as equals in original Sharia and are seen as partners in promoting the common goodv. Western politicians and media have interpreted Sharia law as presented by the Taliban to be its true meaning, something that has caused a significant increase in Islamophobia and a general misunderstanding of the principles and intentions of Islam. Many of the extreme reactions to Sharia law around the world stem from a misinterpretation of Islam because of the actions of a

minor few: namely, the Taliban and its supporters.

The Taliban and Religious Extremism

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York, the Taliban eventually comes to Swat Valley. In the memoir I Am Malala, the Taliban arrive in Swat in Chapter 9 when Malala is ten years old, bringing with them their special brand of religious extremism. Malala describes them as “strange-looking men with long straggly hair and beards and camouflage vests over their shalwar kamiz…” (91) The name Taliban describes a movement of religious students (or, talibs ) from the Pashtun areas of Afghanistan. Malala’s father Ziauddin was himself a talib when he was a young man. He received instruction from a senior talib and was only able to eventually see through the religious zeal because of his questioning mind, however this was not the case for many other young men in his situation.

In 1994, five years after the withdrawal of Russia from Afghanistan, the Taliban (which is Pashto for ‘seekers of knowledge’vi) emerged in Afghanistan as a small, clerical movement which sought to provide protection to residents from opportunistic criminals that were capitalizing on the chaos occurring at the timevii. They formed a government in Afghanistan in 1996, ruling as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan until 2001. Over time, the Taliban magnetically attracted other like- minded talibs; generally co-ethnic Pashtuns who had been educated in traditional, Islamic schools or madrassas along the western frontier of Pakistan. The madrassas schooled their students in the tradition of the Deobandi movement, originally created by Indian Muslim scholars who felt that British colonialism in India was corrupting Islamviii. One of the hallmarks of the Taliban was its extreme interpretation and enforcement of Sharia Law, which saw women in Afghanistan and then Pakistan deprived of basic human rights, such as an education. When the Taliban perverts the religious laws of Islam in this way, they do so as a way of exerting power and control over people.

In Chapter Nine the political climate in Pakistan merges with a national disaster in the shape of a severe earthquake to create the perfect entry point for the Taliban to enter the Swat Valley. The earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter Scale and was felt as far away as Delhi and Kabul. Malala notes that “When the TV news began to show the devastation we saw that entire villages had been turned to dust.” (85) The remote location of the Swat Valley, along with the destruction of the roads around meant that officials were not able to enter to give much needed aid. Although the Pakistan army set up a task force to assist, Malala states that the majority of volunteers that made it through to the valley were from Islamic charities or organisations. In Chapter Eight Malala observes, “Earthquake victims praised the activists who had trudged up and down mountains and through shattered valleys carrying medical help to remote regions no one else had bothered with. They helped clear and rebuild destroyed villages as well as leading prayers and burying bodies.” (87/88) This is how the Taliban comes to the Swat Valley, initially presenting themselves as helpful allies, devout but peaceful.

Disillusioned by the corruption rampant within the Pakistani government, the earthquake of 2005 was a turning point for the people of Swat. Caught in a difficult position, the people of Swat welcomed the Maulana Fazlullah and his people. “People thought he was a good interpreter of the Holy Quran and admired his charisma. They liked his talk of bringing back Islamic law as everyone was frustrated with the Pakistani justice system which had replaced ours when we were merged into the country.” (93) However, these groups used the frustration of the people against them and wasted no time in preaching that the earthquake was “a warning from God…caused by women’s freedom and obscenity.” (88) The people of Swat were warned: “If we did not mend our ways and introduce sharia or Islamic law…more severe punishment would come.” (88) Within six months after the earthquake, Fazlullah was exerting his power over the people of Swat and exploiting their ignorance of the Qur’an (which must be interpreted by a special scholar because it is written in Arabic) with warnings that “if the people didn’t stop, they would again invite the wrath of God.” (92)

Malala and the people of Swat were rapidly engulfed by the regime of the Taliban. In Chapter 10 Malala states “First the Taliban took our music, then our Buddhas, then our history.” (102) Aside from forbidding citizens to listen to foreign music or watch television, the Taliban also destroyed any object or edifice that was not a part of the Islamic culture. This included the precious Buddhist statues and stupas that were over 1000 years old and stemmed from the time of the Kushan kings. The Taliban “believed that any statue or painting was haram , sinful and therefore prohibited.” (102) Malala states “The Taliban became the enemy of fine arts, culture and our history. They destroyed everything old and brought nothing new.” (103) Malala is rightly angry and upset by what she sees as the Taliban’s attempts to control them like “little dolls” (103). What upsets both Malala and her father the most is the fact that nobody speaks out or tries to stop the Taliban. People were either too afraid or in agreement with them. Malala’s father tries to speak against them but is warned not to. “Someone came up to him and whispered, “Don’t speak any more in this way-it’s risky.” (104) Malala is also dejected that the authorities do nothing to intervene. The lives of the people of Swat, already devout Muslims, are negatively changed by the religious extremism enforced by the Taliban.

Another major theme of I Am Malala is her conviction regarding the importance and power of education. Throughout the text Malala makes many references to her love of learning, and also of her father’s passion for education. The two are intertwined as Malala is very influenced by her father and his views. The struggle that they share when Malala is forced to stop going to school and is then shot by the Taliban for being outspoken against them, highlights the way in which father and daughter are connected by their love of learning. Further, the eventual forced closure of Ziauddin’s school, along with the bombing and closure of most of the schools around them, brings into focus the importance of education within society, and what it represents symbolically. Malala and Ziauddin are united in their mission to fight for what is important, not only to them but also for the sake of their country and the other women and girls within it.

From a very early age Malala looked up to her father, Ziauddin, as an example of someone who had worked hard to attain his goals in life. Despite the fact that Ziauddin’s father had wanted him to become a doctor, he desired most to become a teacher. This was a point of conflict in his life because in his early years Ziauddin struggled with a stutter, something that his domineering and brusque father berated him for. “‘Spit it out, son!’ he’d roar whenever my father got stuck in the middle of a sentence.” (21) Despite this, Ziauddin loved words and poetry and was determined to master his stutter and gain his father’s respect. His strength of character is shown in his effort to become a confident orator, something that his father was already well known for. He also demonstrates immense strength of character in the way he overcomes the harshness of his father’s treatment of him and is determined to be a different kind of father to his own children. Regardless of his struggles with his father, as an adult Ziauddin remembers him most for the love of learning that he instilled in him. “ Baba also gave him a deep love of learning and knowledge as well as a keen awareness of people’s rights, which my father has passed on to me.” (30) Although it is Malala’s story, Ziauddin’s character and passionate belief in education is central to the memoir and its message.

Malala directly benefits from her father’s education and beliefs while growing up, as aside from being a well-educated man, Ziauddin also demonstrates a healthy perspective and sense of fairness in his thinking, which is informed by his open- mindedness and belief in the power and importance of knowledge. A good example of this can be found in the chapter where a local mufti tries to close her father’s school. When someone warns Ziauddin that this is happening, he responds with: ‘Just as we say, “Nim hakim khatrai jan” – “Half a doctor is a danger to one’s life,” so, “Nim mullah khatrai iman” – “A mullah who is not fully learned is a danger to faith”,’ he said.” Through his response to the Taliban, and his approach to his own daughter, Ziauddin expresses ideas that are clearly progressive and more balanced than those of the extremists around him. This is interesting as Malala explains that during his teen years, when Russia was stuck in Afghanistan, Ziauddin wanted to become a jihadi. “It was, he says, a kind of brainwashing. He believes he might even have thought of becoming a suicide bomber had there been such a thing in those days.” Despite this, Ziauddin’s natural intelligence and tendency to question things meant that he was able to steer away from this path. Ziauddin’s own views are shaped by the tension he experienced while existing between extremes: secularism and socialism on one side, and militant Islam on the other side. “I guess he ended up somewhere in the middle.”

Malala’s own appreciation and passion for education, while shaped and encouraged by her father, is very much a part of who she innately is. Through her father’s connections and political figures such as Benazir Bhutto, she finds examples of strong and well-educated women who become her role models. Even as a young girl Malala is aware that she must study hard if she wants to fulfil her future dreams of becoming a politician like Benazir Bhutto and help the people of Pakistan. She is competitive with her friends at school and works hard to remain the top student in her class. Her anecdotes about school and her rivalry with Malka e-Noor and her best friend, Moniba for top marks are entertaining as well as revealing of the happiness and joy she felt in this environment. “It was school that kept me going in those dark days.” (112) School is a haven for Malala, somewhere that she is able to dream about her bright future despite the violent attempts of the Taliban to take that away from her and all the other girls in Pakistan. “Our school was a haven from the horrors outside.” (114) Malala’s love of learning and love of her school life forms a large aspect of her belief in the power of her education to make a difference in her life, and Ziauddin uses the example of Nazi Germany to encourage her to use her knowledge of history to speak out against what was happening. “I knew he was right. If people were silent nothing would change.” (117)

Malala’s self-worth as an individual is innately connected to her worth as a young, intelligent woman who, among many other things, wants to fulfil her academic potential. This is something that cannot be split up or compartmentalised and is also something that makes her outspokenness so threatening to the Taliban. At the end of her memoir, Malala again asserts that in her culture, education is the basic right of every girl and boy. “Islam says every girl and every boy should go to school. In the Quran it is written, God wants us to have knowledge.” (263) Although Malala’s passion for education was ignited by her father, by the end of her memoir it is clear that she has found her own voice, along with her life-long vocation. “I don’t want to be thought of as ‘the girl who was shot by the Taliban’ but ‘the girl who fought for education.’ This is the cause to which I want to devote my life.” (261) By the end of her story it is clear that despite the trauma of her near-death experience, or maybe even because of it, Malala’s belief in the power of education and a child’s right to receive it grows stronger and extends further than her own country to encompass the whole world. When Malala deliver’s her speech to the United Nations in New York on her sixteenth birthday, her message powerfully reflects the strength of this belief. “I wore one of Benazir Bhutto’s white shawls…and I called on the world leaders to provide free education ‘Let us pick our books and our pens,’ I said. ‘They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.’” (262)

Girl’s rights, or the rights of girls and women within a society, is a central theme of the text. It overlaps with the theme ‘The Power of Education’ because Malala as a girl cannot separate the two issues, and because the Taliban tries to stop her and all other girls in Pakistan from attending school. Consequently, it also intersects with the theme ‘Religion, Freedom, and Religious Extremism: Islam, the Taliban and Sharia Law’ because of the Taliban’s extreme religious agenda. Malala’s story represents one of the most discussed human rights issues of the 21st Century: that of a girl’s and a woman’s right to be treated as equal to a boy or a man. While many would say that girls and boys or men and women around the world in the 21st Century enjoy equal rights the truth is that this is not the case.

Women and girls in the 21st Century are still fighting for their basic human rights in many countries around the globe. In Pakistan alone, women and girls still face alarming conditions. Aside from the Taliban’s attempts in Swat, Pakistan, to ban girls like Malala from getting an education, women and girls in Pakistan also suffered and still suffer from the injustice of honour killings, arranged child marriages, illiteracy and confinement to the family home under the Sharia law of purdah (conduct and seclusion from the world for the purpose of modesty). Malala was very fortunate to have a father like Ziauddin. He treated her with balance, respect and equality, encouraging her to reach her full intellectual potential through her education. Sadly, this is not the case with most women in Pakistan, as under Sharia law a female’s entire life is controlled by her male relatives. Examples of this can be found in the

text where Malala’s friends are pulled out of school by their fathers or brothers once they reach puberty (the age girls enter the state of purdah ), and under direct

pressure from the Taliban. Malala’s own mother never went to school. “My mother started school when she was six and stopped the same term.” (32) She is illiterate, having considered education as something she would not need as a wife and mother. She later tries to learn to read and write and is at her first lesson when Malala is shot. Malala reflects upon how her mother felt that there was no point in getting an education. “There seemed no point in going to school just to end up cooking, cleaning and bringing up children.” (32) Unfortunately, Malala’s mother is one of many in this position in Pakistan, and in many under developed countries around the world today.

Malala’s own story of being shot because she believed she had the right to receive an education is not only generally tied to the issue of women’s and girl’s rights, it is specifically tied to the rights of women and girls in Islamic countries ruled by Sharia law. Ziauddin talks to her about the women in Afghanistan, and of how their rights under the Taliban are affected. “He said that the Taliban had even banned women from laughing out loud or wearing white shoes as white was ‘a colour that belonged to men.’ Women were being locked up and beaten just for wearing nail varnish. I shivered when he told me such things.” (55) Malala is aware that when the Taliban took over Afghanistan a year before she was born, they burnt down girl’s schools. Their sinister agenda was aimed at restricting women in their everyday life to the point where they no longer had the ability to make any choices for themselves. Malala is blunt in her assessment of this. “We felt like the Taliban saw us as little dolls to control, telling us what to do and how to dress. I thought if God wanted us to be like that He wouldn’t have made us all different.” (103) When the girls of the Red Mosque madrasa begin terrorising the streets of Islamabad, Malala makes note of the Taliban’s hypocrisy. “When it suits the Taliban, women can be vocal and visible.” (105)

For Malala, a young girl brimming with ambition and potential, the opportunity to broadcast the struggles of girls in Pakistan under the Taliban to the rest of the world is something that very quickly becomes her mission. She becomes aware when she gives an interview on television with a group of girls in her school that she has the ability to speak out where so many girls in Pakistan did not. “Afterwards I thought, ‘The media needs interviews. They want to interview a small girl, but the girls are scared, and even if they’re not, their parents won’t allow it. I have a father who isn’t scared, who stands by me. He said, ‘You are a child and it’s your right to speak.’ ” (117) Malala refuses to be defined by the Taliban and has the courage and the ability to speak out. Her story is as much about her rights as a girl as it is a story about the power of education, the impact of religious extremism, and of her courage

as an individual.

Both Malala and her father Ziauddin show incredible courage in the way they are prepared to speak out against the Taliban regardless of the danger. Ziauddin is Malala’s role model for many things, but he is especially inspiring in the way he encourages her to find the courage she needs to defend her right to go to school. In the memoir, the majority of did as they were told by the Taliban out of fear for their own safety. “It seemed that people had decided the Taliban were here to stay and they had better get along with them. ‘When you are in the Taliban you have 100 percent life security,’ people would say.” (125) Ziauddin, however, refuses to be intimidated. Despite the fact that he receives threats for speaking out against the Taliban, he does not waiver in his courage. He uses the example of Nazi Germany to illustrate to Malala the grievous outcome when people are too afraid to speak out against what is wrong. “He hated the fact that most people would not speak up. In his pocket he kept a poem written by Martin Niemoller, who had lived in Nazi Germany…I knew he was right. If people were silent nothing would change.” (116/117) Ziauddin demonstrates the kind of moral courage that is rarely seen in difficult and life-threatening situations, and Malala is inspired by him. “My father said we common people were like chaff caught between the two stones of a water mill. But he still wasn’t afraid. He said we should continue to speak out.” (128)

Malala is determined to do what she can to protect her right to an education. Following her father’s lead, she uses an opportunity to give a group interview on television about girls dropping out of school due to militancy to speak out against what was happening in Swat. She is aware that as she gets older, the friends that she once did group interviews with are no longer permitted to do so by their fathers and brothers because they had reached the age where they were required to observe purdah. Malala is able to see that she is in the position to use her voice where her friends are not, and she leans on her devout faith in order to find the strength to be courageous. “In my heart was the belief that God would protect me. If I am speaking for my rights, for the rights of girls, I am not doing anything wrong. It’s my duty to do so. God wants to see how we behave in such situations. There is a

saying in the Quran, ‘The falsehood has to go and the truth will prevail.’” (117)

Both Malala and Ziauddin did everything they could to speak out against the increasingly violence tactics embarked upon by the Taliban in order to stop girls from going to school. As schools were targeted with more frequency, Ziauddin gave media interviews to renounce what was happening, all the while speaking out about the value and importance of girls. “Once he spoke at a big gathering and held up an audience member’s baby girl and said, ‘This girl is our future. Do we want her to be ignorant?’ The crowd agreed that they would sacrifice themselves before giving up their daughters’ education.” (119) At the end of 2008 the Taliban decreed that girls must stop going to school in January 2009, and Malala comes to realise the true value of education. “We hadn’t realised how important education was until the Taliban tried to stop us. Going to school, reading and doing our homework wasn’t just a way of passing time. It was our future.” (121/122)

Although those around her lose heart, Malala shows that she is determined to fight through her fear just as her father would. As the situation in Swat grows worse, Malala finds new ways to bring her story to the world. One of these opportunities is given to her through a friend of Ziauddin’s. Abdul Hai Kakur, a BBC correspondent comes to Ziauddin looking for a female teacher or schoolgirl to write a diary about life under the Taliban. Malala overhears them talking and offers herself as the writer. “Why not me? I wanted people to know what was happening.” (129) The parallels are drawn between Malala’s life and the life of Anne Frank, the 13-year-old Jewish girl who had hidden from the Nazi’s in World War Two and who kept a diary which survived and was published years after her death in a concentration camp. The sense of secrecy, danger and authentic experience, present in both, is expressed in their youthful words, and in the impact of their stories. The popularity of Malala’s diary entries demonstrates to her the power she holds in her own hands. “The BBC even made a recording of it using another girl’s voice, and I began to see that the pen and the words that come from it can be much more powerful than machine guns, tanks or helicopters. We were learning how to struggle. And we were learning how powerful we are when we speak.” (131) The violence inflicted upon the people of Swat during the Taliban occupation was brutal, and Malala regularly speaks about how this affected her. When a suicide bombing occurs in a nearby high school in Mingora, killing more than 55 people, 10 of whom were relatives of Malala’s friend Moniba, Malala asks her father if he is finally scared. “‘At night our fear is strong, Jani,’ he told me, ‘but in the morning, in the light, we find our courage again.’ And this is true for my family. We were scared, but our fear was not as strong as our courage.” This courage, which enables Malala and her family to confront the danger of speaking out against the tyranny of the Taliban, stemmed from their strong belief in the idea that it was their responsibility to do so. Regardless of the danger, Ziauddin and Malala both feel passionately about standing up not only for their own rights, but also for the rights of those around them. Ziauddin receives many death threats, but it is not until later when Malala’s life is also threatened that her father responds with fear, taking the threat seriously. Even when he is suggests to Malala that they should stop campaigning she displays courage, reminding him of the reasons why they must continue. “‘How can we do that?’ I replied. ‘You were the one who said if we believe in something greater than our lives, then our voices will only multiply even if we are dead. We can’t disown our campaign!’” Regardless of the threat to her own life, Malala shows the strength and courage to continue campaigning against the Taliban.

Malala Yousafzai Malala is the central figure of the memoir. She is named after a Pashtun poet named Malalai of Maiwand, a great heroine of the Pashtun culture who Malala describes as being their very own Joan of Arc. However, Malala’s grandfather tells her that her name means ‘grief-stricken’ and is considered unlucky. The memoir is told through Malala’s eyes, using her voice, and spans across her childhood and into her teenage years. Malala grows up in Pakistan, surrounded by her family and friends. As a member of the tribal Pashtun culture, Malala’s heritage is one of great pride and close kinship as well as poverty and archaic customs. As a Muslim, Malala is raised with a strong sense of religious and spiritual purpose. However, she is also very influenced by her educated father who teaches her to think for herself and to believe in her right to be educated. This is in strong contrast to the general population where girls are controlled and restricted by their male relatives and must observe the rule of purdah at the age of puberty. Malala was only 10 when the Taliban comes to Swat Valley and was 15 when an assassination attempt was made on her life for being outspoken against them. Malala survived the shooting, but was airlifted to Birmingham, England, where she remained with her family. In October 2017 she became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 for her efforts in standing up to the Taliban and for and raising awareness of girl’s rights in Pakistan.

Ziauddin Yousafzai Ziauddin is Malala’s father, and one of the most positive influences in her life. Ziauddin’s father wanted him to become a doctor, which is the most respected profession in Pakistan. However, Ziauddin had a passion for education and wanted to become a teacher and one day open his own school. He realises his dream, although he is not the greatest business man, and things are not always financially easy for his family. Ziauddin had a stutter as a child and is bullied by his own father who was a respected teacher and orator. Ziauddin learns to give speeches in public in order to impress his father and overcome his speech impediment. Unlike many men in Pakistan and the Pashtun culture, Ziauddin values the opinions of his wife, Tor Pekai and is thrilled to have a daughter. He raises Malala to be courageous and to speak out when things are not right, and he supports her fight against the Taliban and their ban on girl’s education. Ziauddin’s values and ideals are a beacon of light in her memoir, and illustrate the importance of having positive role models to look up to.

Tor Pekai Yousafzai Tor Pekai is Malala’s mother. She is described by Malala as a devoutly religious, practical and hard-working woman who loves her family and community. As a Pashtun Muslim woman, Tor Pekai strictly observes the religious law of purdah, or modesty. This means remaining secluded in the home unless accompanied outside by a male relative and staying covered from head to foot. Tor Pekai did not receive a formal education, although Malala states that she was unusal for her village as her father and brothers encouraged her to go to school. Tor Pekai was illiterate for most of Malala’s childhood, however Malala describes her as a strong and intelligent person. Tor Pekai has a very close relationship with her husband, Ziauddin who seeks her opinion on most matters, another thing that Malala describes as unusual in the Pashtun culture. At the time that Malala was shot by the Taliban, Tor Pekai was taking her first literacy class.

Khushal Yousafzai Khushal, named after a famous Afghan poet, is Malala’s younger brother. Khushal and Malala fight like all siblings, and Malala makes frequent, dryly humorous references to their sibling rivalry. When they are both older, Khushal goes away to boarding school in another town. He complains about having to go to school when Malala is faced with not being able to go because of the ban the Taliban place on girl’s education, causing Malala to become angry with him. • Atal Yousafzai Atal is the youngest of the three children, and another brother for Malala. He is also called Atal the Squirrel, because of his agility in jumping and climbing. As the youngest child he is 7 years younger than Malala, the eldest child. Atal is seen to be more interested in games than anything else.

Rohul Amin Rohul Amin is Malala’s Grandfather and Ziauddin’s father. He is described as a brilliant orater, teacher and scholar, but also a difficult and impatient father. He bullies his son Ziauddin for having a stutter when he is a child and makes Ziauddin determined not to be like him when he has children of his own. Despite this, Ziauddin appreciates the fact that Rohul has given him a love of learning and sees that his influence has not been all bad.

Moniba Moniba is Malala’s best friend in Mingora, and they go to school together. Moniba traditionally comes second to Malala in their exam standing, and she regularly quarrels with Malala about her friendships with other girls. Moniba shares a passion for learning and politics with Moniba.

Malka e-Noor When Malka e-Noor comes to Malala’s school, she quickly overtakes Malala as the top student. Because Malala has held the number one position for so long she is shocked and becomes very competitive, striving to win back her position as the best student in the school. Eventually, Malala and Malka also become friends.

Hidayatullah Hidayatullah is the college friend with whom Ziauddin sets up his school. After much stress the friends part ways and Ziauddin keeps the school. • Malauna Fazlullah Malauna Fazlullah is the leader of the Taliban in Pakistan. He married Maulana Sufi Mohammad’s daughter and became his successor when the latter was imprisoned after a round up of militant leaders. Fazlullah sets up an illegal radio station to begin transmitting the ideas of the Taliban, initially prefaced as the ideas of Islamic reform. HE is initially considered by the people of Swat to be wise and devout, however his mask soon slips, and his true agenda is revealed. They gain a foothold in Swat during the aftermath of a terrible earthquake as they are among the only organisations who come to deliver aid and assistance. One of the ways they put pressure on the people to support them was by telling them that natural disasters were punishment from God for not adhering to their strict interpretation of Sharia law. Fazlullah is responsible for ordering the assassination attempt on Malala, as well as the many violent deaths via suicide bombings and beheadings that occurred leading up to it.

Benazir Bhutto Benazir Bhutto was born into a wealthy family, and her father was elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1973. She became the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan, as well as the first democratically elected female leader in a Muslim country in 1988, and her political career endured many dramas and scandals. She was assassinated in 2007. Benazir Bhutto is one of Malala’s role models.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah Mohammed Ali Jinnah was the first Prime Minister of the newly created Islamic state of Pakistan, which split off from India in 1947. Jinnah is one of Malala’s role models, and she talks about his original hope for Pakistan that it be a place where people of all religions could be free. Jinnah’s ideological example has a strong influence for Malala, and she reflects on it frequently when talking about Pakistan and its corruption and strife.

Madam Maryam Madam Maryam is the principal of the Khushal school and another role model for Malala. She is the person who goes with Malala to hospital because her mother cannot go. She is very kind and caring and Malala describes her as a second

Dr Fiona Reynolds Dr Fiona Reynolds is a British doctor specialising in intensive care for children. She was in Pakistan advising the army on how to set up the first liver transplant program when Malala is shot. She and fellow doctor Javid Kayani travel to Peshawar to report back to General Kayani before they leave Pakistan, who then asks them to see Malala. She is instrumental in saving Malala’s life from a post- surgery infection, and Malala is eventually transferred to Birmingham Childrens Hospital where Dr. Reynolds is a staff member.

Dr Javid Kayani Dr Kayani is travelling in Pakistan with Dr Reynolds. He is an emergency care consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the UK. He is asked by General Kayani to consult on Malala’s case, however as Dr Reynolds was a specialist in children’s intensive care he recommends that he talk to her first.

Colonel Junaid Colonel Junaid is the young army surgeon who performs life-saving surgery on Malala.

Ataullah Khan The Taliban soldier who claims responsibility on behalf of the Taliban for shooting Malala.

Usman Bai Jan Usman Bai Jan is the driver of the school bus that Malala is on when she is shot.

Kainat Riaz and Shazia The other girls shot and injured in the attack. Both girls survive.

P6. “I was the only girl with my face not covered.”

P9.’When I was born, people in our village commiserated with my mother and nobody congratulated my father.’ (start of chapter 1)

P11. “my father told the story of malalai to anyone who came to our house.”

P17. ‘My mother is very pious and prays five times a day’ … ‘she disproves of dancing because she says God would not like it’

P20. ‘Malala will be free as a bird.’

P24. ‘No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.’

P33. ’Ziauddin believed schooling should be available for all, rich and poor, boys and girls’.

P57. “I felt a terrible sinking feeling in my stomach.” P58. “since that day I have never lied or stolen.”

P66. ’Though my mother was not educated, she was the practical one in the family, the doer while my father was the talker. She was always helping people.’

P72. “Rubbish-dump children” “we should help” & “God, give me strength and courage and make me perfect because I want to make this world perfect”

P91. “The Quran teaches us sabar—patience—but often it feels that we have forgotten the word and think Islam means women sitting at home in purdah or wearing burqas while men do jihad.”

P92. “[Fazlullah] warned people to stop listening to music, watching movies and dancing. Sinful acts like these had caused the earthquake, Fazlullah thundered, and if people didn’t stop they would again invite the wrath of God.”

P95. “Pashtun women are very powerful and strong”. Malala

P100. “Ziauddin, you have charisma, you can speak up and organise against them. Hidayatullah.”

P103. “My father said people had been seduced by Fazlullah.” Malala P117. “I have a father who isn’t scared, who stands by me.” Malala.

P117. “If one man, Fazlullah can destroy everything, why can’t one girl change it? I wondered.” Malala.

P117. “If people were silent nothing would change.” Ziauddin.

P117. “In My hearts was the belief that God would protect me…” Malala

P122. (Malala) “We don’t have any option. We are dependent on these mullahs to learn the Quran,” he said. “But you just use him to learn the literal meanings of the words; don’t follow his explanations and interpretations. Only learn what God says. His words are divine messages, which you are free to interpret.”

P128. “Sometimes I was very afraid but I said nothing, and it didn’t mean I would stop going to school.” Malala.

P131. “ I began to see that the pen and words that come from it can be much more powerful than machine guns, tanks or helicopters.” Malala

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Malala Yousafzai on How Everyone Can Inspire Change

In this View From The Top podcast episode, the activist shares her vision of uplifting girls through education.

December 10, 2021

“My story is not an exceptional story. It could have been the story of any girl if their fathers and brothers had allowed them to speak out.”

In this View From The Top interview, activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai shares her mission to ensure that all 130 million girls who are not in school can have access to education.

“My goal is to meet these girls, but also uplift their story so leaders listen to them rather than me. And this is my goal in every meeting… to say, ‘Let’s listen to these activists. They have something to say to you. You have been ignoring their voices, so hear from them and they will tell you what the issues are in this country for girls and women.’”

Listen & Subscribe

Stanford GSB’s View From The Top is the dean’s premier speaker series. It launched in 1978 and is supported in part by the F. Kirk Brennan Speaker Series Fund.

During student-led interviews and before a live audience, leaders from around the world share insights on effective leadership, their personal core values, and lessons learned throughout their career.

Full Transcript

Malala Yousafzai: My story is not an exceptional story. It could have been the story of any girl if their fathers and brothers had allowed them to speak out. Many were stopped by their family members. Many were stopped by men in the society.

Rustom Birdie: Welcome to View From The Top, the podcast. That was Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize winner and cofounder of the Malala Fund. Malala visited Stanford Graduate School of Business as part of View From the Top, a speaker series where students, like me, sit down to interview leaders from around the world. I’m Rustom Birdie, an MBA student of the class of 2022. This year I had the pleasure of interviewing Malala here on campus. Malala shared with us how she stays motivated in the fight for girls‘ education, how girls around the world continue to inspire her, and how each of us have an important role to play in realizing the changes we want to see in our future.

You’re listening to View From The Top, the podcast.

Rustom Birdie: Okay, As-salamu alaykum, Malala.

Malala Yousafzai : Wa alaykum salam. Thank you.

Rustom Birdie: Clearly, Stanford GSB is very excited to have you here today. Before we start, want to just say a personal thank you, Malala. As a fellow Pakistani, a brother to two sisters, a son to a mother back in Karachi, I’m humbled and filled with gratitude to share the stage with you today.

Malala Yousafzai: Thank you so much, and I’m also honored to be here. Thank you so much to everyone for your presence, and I’m so excited to have this conversation.

Rustom Birdie: Great. There are a lot of important topics we have to cover today. We don’t have too much time. I want to start with one which is very important to the both of us — that’s cricket.

Malala Yousafzai: Yes, yes.

Rustom Birdie: Have you been following the World Cup in the last week?

Malala Yousafzai: Yes, I always follow cricket, and I even, like, I would watch any league, any match that is to do with cricket. And I watch matches as well that are five days long. But T20 is the shortest in the international ones, and Pakistan is doing really well this time. It started with India, then we beat them, then New Zealand — again, we won. And today, it was Afghanistan, we won again. I think in the last two overs, a lot of people had given up, and they thought Pakistan was going to lose, but I had full faith that Pakistan was going to win today, and my intuition is never wrong.

Rustom Birdie: Wow, there you go. Great.

So, let’s perhaps start with Pakistan. Before you were even 10 years old back in Swat, you were a loud advocate in your community for girls‘ education and girls being in school. That’s not I would say typical of a 10 year old girl in Pakistan. What made you do that at that early age?

Malala Yousafzai: I think people oftentimes hear about my story, and they are surprised that I was speaking out for my right to education at age 10, 11. And it is an unusual story, but also, this was the case because what I was experiencing was unusual for girls. And that was because at that time, the Pakistani Taliban had entered Swat Valley in 2007. They started spreading this ideology of establishing this so-called like Islamic State, and they wanted to bring in their own so-called sharia system. And they wanted to like, Pakistan was already an Islamic country, so how do you make another Islamic country in an Islamic country?

But then along with that, they also had this narrative against women. And they carry a very patriarchal mindset. As soon as they entered, they banned women from going to markets, they banned women from having any profession, from going to work. They would not allow them to go outside their houses without wearing a full shuttlecock burqa, and you had to have a custodian with you. It could even be like your little brother.

And I remember my mom or me or any woman going outside to see a doctor or somebody, and they would have these little boys with them. And I’d always question, how is this little boy going to protect me? They can’t. Instead, I’m protecting them.

But at that time, they also announced a ban on girls‘ education. And I could not go to school. My friends could not go to school. So, I had no choice but to speak out for my right to go to school.

Rustom Birdie: And I want to touch on the role your father played, Ziauddin. You’ve spoken about him previously. How much of an influence was he in that upbringing at that early age, especially when it comes to education?

Malala Yousafzai: I’m really proud of my dad. He is a proud feminist, and he saw that his own five sisters could not get their education. And they, you know, did not have access to a future that he had. And he knew that his life was different because he was a boy, nothing else. Gender played a role in deciding the destinies of the siblings. And he was really passionate about bringing equality into society, so he decided that when he has his own children, he would ensure they’re not discriminated based on their gender.

And you know, he has always loved me, and he has been a proud dad. He has encouraged me to believe in myself. And I always tell people that my story is not an exceptional story. It could have been the story of any girl if their fathers and brothers had allowed them to speak out. Many were stopped by their family members. Many were stopped by men in the society.

What’s different in my story is that my father did not stop me. And that’s what he says when you ask him, what did you do for your daughter? He says, don’t ask me what I did, but ask me what I did not do, and I did not clip her wings.

It’s a message to women and girls all around the world that they don’t need any sort of superpower or anything special to go ahead in their life. There are so many barriers in front of them that makes it more difficult for them to go ahead. So, we need to fight against those barriers, the glass ceiling, the iron bars in their way. And men have a role to play in that.

So for me, my dad has always been supportive, and I have always been this sort of, I like giving advice. So, I’m always there telling my dad how things should be and what we should do. You know, when you’re a kid, that’s your thing and that’s how you talk to your family members. So, I have carried it on since then. But he always listens. He’s a great dad.

Rustom Birdie: Great. And just on your father, I read somewhere that he also named you Malala — it’s a beautiful name. Can you tell us more about the story behind your name?

Malala Yousafzai: So, Malala means grief-stricken basically in Pashto, but the name has a more historical meaning as well. And it was a name of this Afghan heroine, Malala of Maiwand. And she came from this Maiwand area in Afghanistan. And her story goes like this, that there was the Second Anglo-Afghan War, and the Afghan soldiers were losing that battle and they were leaving the battlefield when this young woman went to the mountaintop and she raised her boys and told the soldiers that if you do not die on this battlefield today, you will live your life in shame forever. And her voice was so powerful that all the soldiers returned, and they fought that war, and they won.

I think it has meaning, it has more meaning in our culture. And she is probably the only Pashtun hero that we have who’s known by her own name. And so, my father was just really proud of her, and he wanted to name me after somebody who was known by her own name.

Rustom Birdie: Right. And I think that’s beautiful just based off the life you’ve lived so far, how it mirrors Malala and that story.

Let’s perhaps just move on, fast-forward a few years. You’re 17 years old now — this is late 2012, early 2013, after the Taliban attack. You’re recovering, the months are rolling by. You’re in a different country, you’re in the UK. Take us back to that time. And it’s a time of helplessness, of despair. You’ve gone through such a lot. How did you think about what you wanted to do next in your life? And just put us in that position, and how did you think about that?

Malala Yousafzai: So, when I was in the hospital, I had no idea that I was receiving so much support from around the world. I was not seeing any television, any mobile phone, and I was going under all the healthcare and treatment. And then one day, this staff member at the hospital brought this basket of cards and letters. And I was opening those cards and reading messages from people from all over the world — a letter from a five year old girl to a letter from an 80 year old person in the US or in Japan. And I was completely amazed and surprised that people had heard my story and they were sending their prayers, and they were sending me even like gifts, like from shampoo to scarves to shoes to anything you could possibly think of.

I was completely amazed, and then the staff member told me this is just one box. There are like so many boxes there with us. You have received thousands and thousands of cards from people all over the world. And that’s when I realized that I can speak out for girls globally.

The Taliban tried to silence me, but they made a huge mistake, because I am in a position where I can not only speak about my right to education, and for girls in Swat Valley, but I can speak out for girls globally. And since then, it has been my mission to ensure that all 130 million girls who are out of school can have access to education.

Rustom Birdie: That’s beautiful. So that’s the mission, the 130 free, safe, quality education for girls around the world. How did you come up with the idea of a fund or a foundation? You know, who helped you, who guided you at that early age? Take us, walk us through that process of why the fund was the best vehicle to achieve that mission.

Malala Yousafzai: So I’ll be honest, when I started this foundation, I wasn’t really sure how these things worked. I was I think 16 years old. I was also studying. I was a bit behind in my studies because I had missed a few years because of my treatment, so I had to do my homework and I had to be in school, and then I had to do these events because I was invited to different places. And then I started a foundation as well called Malala Fund.

And initially when I was asked what do I want to focus on, I said on girls‘ education, I want all girls to be in school, that’s what I want to work for. But then they said no, you have to be a bit more specific. Do you want to work in this country or that country, and do you want to build schools or do you want — like, so many questions. I was like no, I want to do everything. I want all girls to be in school. I can’t pick.

So, this has been the mission for us since then, that we fight for all girls who are out of school. And we currently work in more than eight countries, including Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil, Indian, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and our mission is to ensure that we work with local activists and we support local-led projects that address the issues and values that girls face in their [path] to education. So, it could be from training female teachers to changing legislations to addressing social norms and engaging the local communities.

And the work has been remarkable when you work with local activists, because they identify the problems, but they also identify solutions to those problems.

Rustom Birdie: That’s great. You mentioned earlier studying, and you graduated from Oxford last year in the summer. But you’ve been an activist well before that. Before Oxford, back in Swat, and since the attack as well. What did you get from that classroom education? I believe you were at BPE at Oxford. How did the classroom education over those three years change your view on how to approach this problem, and just your approach and advocacy and activism compared to what you knew before?

Malala Yousafzai: I’ll be honest, when I was studying at university at Oxford, education was still important to me, but it was not a priority, because they tell you that you will learn a lot from your textbooks and from your lectures, but you also learn a lot from meeting people and socializing with people. And I will be honest, I met incredible people there, I made amazing friends, and I’m friends with them now forever. And I also got the opportunity to engage and interact with incredible professors and these amazing intellectual people whose books I’ll be reading for my essays. So, it’s just great to have that opportunity.

And then, Oxford is just so beautiful, so you spend a lot of time in the beautiful gardens and libraries there, and you spend amazing time with your friends. And then you go through essay crises, and then you are awake the whole night just to finish your essay that you left to the last date. It’s your fault, and every week you’re depressed, why did you do this to yourself again, but it happens. And then, you don’t regret having all those incredible experiences, so you’re like fair enough. And then you submit your essay and go back to sleep at 8:00 AM in the morning.

Rustom Birdie: I’m sure there are many people who can relate to that experience. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. I want to go back to the fund’s mission, 130 million girls you want to get back into school, K-12. This last few months and the last year has been difficult for that mission on a number of different reasons.

Perhaps let’s go back to August of this year, the Taliban recapture Afghanistan. How did you receive that news, how did it sit with you, what was your initial reaction, having already lived through that nine years previously?

Malala Yousafzai: No one expected the Taliban to take over Afghanistan, no one. And I remember just like two weeks before the Taliban took over Kabul, I had a call with all the activists that we were supporting in Afghanistan, our education champions there. And some of them still had hope that Afghanistan can never fall into the hands of the Taliban. And so, just like everyone else, the whole world was shocked, I was shocked as well, to see that the Taliban were now in the whole country and they were ruling over people.

And I think it’s again a gloomy time for women and girls there, and we already see the impact of that. Women have lost opportunity to walk freely to their job places, many of them have not returned to their workplace. And girls at this time are not sure if they can go back to schools or not. The Taliban announced I think 43 days ago that boys can return to schools, but they did not give any clear statement on whether girls can return to their schools or not.

So, we started then a petition together with Afghan activists. It’s on avaaz.org, and we’re asking the Taliban to immediately let girls be in schools. We’re also G20 leaders and the Muslim countries to take a bold stand for this. They must protect the rights of girls, and they must protect the right to education for girls. Afghanistan right now is the only country in the world where girls are not allowed to be in school.

Rustom Birdie: And just on that issue, Malala, sometimes it’s difficult for us to visualize the 130 million girls who are not in school. We’re in Stanford, in California, dare I say very much a bubble compared to the issues we’re all seeing on the front lines. Can you help us understand why is this not just a women’s or girls‘ issue but an issue for everyone, and this is not something that countries in another part of the world need to worry about, but this is truly a global issue for everyone around the world?

Malala Yousafzai: I think firstly we need to remember that the Taliban government in Afghanistan right now is a forceful government. It’s not by the choice of the people of Afghanistan. They had no say in this. The Taliban have captured those cities by force. Even though they claim they have not fired their guns, but they still were holding guns on their shoulders, and they still had this [unintelligible] on their shoulders. So, they are using power, they are using their military power to suppress people, to force people to accept them.

But also, they’re denying people their basic human rights, and they’re not very clear about that. They are giving very vague statements on protecting the human rights of people.

So I think this is the time that all the world leaders who speak about protecting humanity and who speak about standing up for human rights, that they stand up for the rights of the people of Afghanistan. And it’s really important for them to protect the rights of women and girls, to protect the rights of minorities especially, but also ensure that all the humanitarian assistance and aid is provided to people there.

We know that the presence of the Taliban has impacted the lives of people, but there’s also other issues like COVID and severe drought as well. Those issues cannot be denied either. Like, it’s going to a state of famine as well. And these are issues that must be considered. So, this is what our advocacy and our activism is asking, for leaders to act soon.

Rustom Birdie: You mentioned advocacy, activism. Typically those are, that’s work done by the government, by the nonprofit section, by foundations and so on. A lot of us here will graduate from Stanford GSB and enter the business community and the private sector potentially. What is the role of businesses and the private sector in partnering in various ways in solving this problem?

Malala Yousafzai: I think this is a question and this is a challenge, and I don’t have answers to all of these questions. But I will say that everybody has a role to play in ensuring support to those who do not have a voice right now, who do not have the support they need. A lot of people right now in Afghanistan need safety, and there have been many organizations, including businesses, who have helped in the evacuation of so many people

So, I think the top priority is to ensure the people in Afghanistan, especially the activists who are under threat from the Taliban, that they receive safety and protection. We did that for our activists in Afghanistan and for other families, and a lot of other organizations and government officials have done that for many families there. So, that is essential.

But along with that, we also need to explore other ways in which we can use our expertise and resources to make education more accessible for children in Afghanistan. And I think this is something where business community can help. How can we use the technology we have to ensure that education is given to girls in Afghanistan in other ways rather than formal schooling?

And along with that, I think still humanitarian assistance and support is needed, and businesses have the opportunity to support the work that is happening there for the safety and protection of people, for ensuring they’re given their basic needs.

Again, there are so many ways in which people can help, but it also requires collective effort to think through this, and also engage the people of Afghanistan in these conversations.

Rustom Birdie: You mentioned technology. I believe you recently had a partnership announced with Apple, based here in Silicon Valley. Tell us more about what’s the vision behind that partnership with Apple?

Malala Yousafzai: So with Apple, Malala Fund has been working over the past many years, and Apple has supported our projects. So it was also covering the work we’re doing in Afghanistan, and then other countries like Nigeria, India, Pakistan. And we run this activist program which is called Malala Fund Education Activists, and we have I think more than 50 activists in all of those countries right now. And they are working on addressing the problems that girls face in their local communities.

For instance, when COVID started, our activists in Nigeria conducted research straightaway, and they were looking at the impact of COVID-19 on girls‘ education. And they realized that girls miss out on their education because they don’t have access to digital tools. They are also more likely to be forced into marriages when they’re stuck in their houses. And they also could be supporting their families financially or in the household chores.

And so then, our activists, they started doing lessons through radios, so they would ensure that even if the girls cannot attend their schools because of COVID, they’re still learning their lessons through radio. And that is the best form of technology in those areas. Other technological devices and tools may not work. That is just one example of how they are ensuring their children do not miss out on education and they keep on learning. So Apple has, they are one of our biggest supporters, and it’s great to work with them.

Rustom Birdie: That’s an example of your time commitments, your priorities, partnering with Apple. And you’re obviously, you travel around the world, do a bunch of speeches, you’re meeting students. You’re also at the grassroots level visiting refugee camps and schools and so on. As you think about your personal time, where do you feel your own time is best used in that fight getting the 130 million girls back into school? What’s most important for your time?

Malala Yousafzai: I think I’m always there when my voice is needed. And I was very fortunate that I got the opportunity to visit countries and to join girls who needed their voices to be heard. I have been to Nigeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and I have met incredible girls who are fighting for their right to safety and education. And many of these girls have faced displacement, and they have seen wars and conflicts in their hometown, and they are living in refugee camps or informal settlements. But they have not given up on their dreams.

Oftentimes, I’m expected to inspire them, but it’s the other way around. They inspire me and everyone else who are joining us. And I remember there was one girl I met — her name was [Najulah] in Iraq. And she was a [Yazidi] girl, and her family decided that she should get married. She was only 14 years old, and she was in her wedding dress, and on that day she decided she does not want to be forced into marriage, she does not want to miss out on her education. So, she took off her high heels and she ran away to protect herself from that.

And then, later on when she came back, she tried to convince her father and her family to allow her to be in school, and she started going back to school. But then, when ISIS came into her hometown, they had to evacuate again, and now when I met her, she was in this informal settlement. But she was still passionate about learning and getting her education. And I saw that she was carrying a dictionary with herself. And I asked her, I said, why do you carry a dictionary with you? She said, I want to learn a few words every day.

So, this is the passion that girls carry for education and learning, and despite all the difficulties they face, from walking long distances and not having all the resources like books and teachers, they still are committed to receiving their education.

And it was, Najulah’s incredible. Then she also came to the US, and she spoke at the UN platform, and she shared her story. So, my goal is to meet these girls, but also uplift their story so leaders listen to them rather than me. And this is my goal in every meeting that I go to, is that the activists and girls are with me. And I introduce myself, but I’m like, let’s listen to Najulah, let’s listen to these activists. They have something to say to you. You have been ignoring their voices, so hear from them and they will tell you what the issues are in this country for girls and women.

Rustom Birdie: That’s beautiful. Hearing the stories themselves is a lot more powerful than advocates and so on and so forth. Previously you’ve also mentioned potentially interest in politics. Is that still on the roadmap? What kind of — now that you’re done with Oxford, what’s next?

Malala Yousafzai: No, not yet. No interest in politics. I think, when I said that I wanted to be the Prime Minister of Pakistan, at that time I was 12 or 13 years old, and I was really disappointed with the role of our political leaders, because what was happening in Swat was just taking so long. And for me, it was just absurd that no one would take any action. And as days went by and I thought, like, girls in Swat Valley cannot go to school. There is a conflict, our schools are bombed, we hear firing every night, we are having sleepless nights, and we are under threat. And no one does anything, and it happens for two years.

So at that time, I said okay, I asked [you guys], you didn’t do anything, so I’ll one day become the Prime Minister and I’ll fix it. But then, you know, I was really fortunate that I have so much experience and I have met so many amazing and incredible people, and I have been able to visit so many projects. I know that the world is a bit more complex.

But, you can bring change in many ways. You don’t have to be a politician to be a change-maker. You can bring change in any role you take in your society, from becoming a doctor, engineer, businessperson, to a politician or to a human rights activist. All of these opportunities gives us some ways in which we can contribute to the change we want to see in the world. So, I hope to continue my activism and ensure we see that day when all girls can go to school.

Rustom Birdie: And on the topic of change in many ways, there’s this wave of young activists in the last few years, and it’s very refreshing to see the younger generation standing up and having their voices heard. Different activists, advocates have different styles in how they engage with the issues they’re tackling, the community. How would you describe your style, where does that come from, what brings that out in you?

Malala Yousafzai: I think for me, there are a few rules that I follow in my advocacy. One is that my voice and my words should reflect me, and who I am, and what my values are. So, and then along with that, it’s also important for me that whatever I say is the truth. So, as long as you are speaking the truth, and as long as you are yourself, that should be your form of advocacy.

But I also think we are all in different positions and in different places. And some of us want to work from the inside, some of us want to work from the outside. And I think we all have a role to play, and we are all helping each other.

So, I do not underestimate or undermine the activism that other people are taking in different forms. I think it’s incredibly powerful. And you know, all the activists should just realize they’re all on the same side. They’re all on the same side, and they must support each other because that helps them in achieving their goal. They have a lot more in common, and they must not lose focus on the issues they want to address and the change they want to bring. So in the education field or in other fields when there’s activism happening, I appreciate the role of every person in there.

Rustom Birdie: And speaking about different types of activism and different causes and so on, the Malala Fund in your vision is for girls‘ education, but there are so many other issues, injustices reported in the media, some not even mentioned in the media, happening all around the world. Given your voice, your platform, Malala, how do you think about when to speak up and when not to?

Malala Yousafzai: There are some issues that have impacted me, and that have been part of my story, and I think I should be speaking out about those issues. And that issue includes girls‘ education, I speak out for girls‘ right to education all over the world.

But then I also speak out about what is happening in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, because we had also been part of that long, decades-long terrorism that the people have faced there, whether it’s the Pakistani Taliban or Afghan Taliban, they all carry the same ideology and the same acts, and we all have been their victims. So, I speak out about that as well. And I speak out about the issues that impact girls‘ education.

But there are other issues as well in which it connects to girls‘ education and my mission, but sometimes I’m not the best person to speak out for that. There are so many other people who have expertise in that, and I ensure that the platform is theirs and I support them. So, there are many things which I do not speak out about, because I just want to ensure that my voice is for girls‘ education, and that is understood, that this is my mission and this is what I will use my voice for.

Rustom Birdie: You’re traveling around the world, you used to be a student as well, you’re juggling a lot of different things, we see you on TV and in the news very often. How do you think about world/life balance, and just personal health? Is work and life, is there even a blur, or is there a balance there?

Malala Yousafzai: I would say it was very difficult when I was in school, because I used to have homework every day, and I had to attend my classes from like 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM in the UK. So, it was quite challenging. And I remember one time, I had a flight to Norway to attend some event, and I think it was over the weekend or something, but I was arriving the next morning, in the morning time. So I was like, I can’t miss my school day, so I took my school uniform with me. And then on the way back, I went straight to my school, changed into my uniform, and I was like, I can’t go home. I would miss my classes.

So, it was challenging, but it was important for me that I focus on my education, but also I give time to my activism for the education of all girls all around the world. But I had to focus on my education because if you [unintelligible] for education and don’t focus on yours, you are I think missing the point. Yeah.

Rustom Birdie: Great. Are there any just day-to-day activities, mindfulness, is there anything you do on a daily basis that helps you stay committed to that work/life balance you mentioned?

Malala Yousafzai: I really like staying in touch with my friends and talking to them. I like spending time with people. It could be our family friends and my own school friends or university friends. And I like playing games as well. At one time it was Among Us, if anyone played it. But then I think we are all done with that, right? We have moved on.

After that, I like playing cricket with my brothers, and badminton. And I watch TV shows as well. I have seen Squid Game. The first episode literally shocked me, and I was like, what is happening? But then after that, I think you get used to it. That was good. And then, in the middle I had to stop. I was like okay, I need to switch to something else, so I went to Ted Lasso, and he made me laugh and realize life is more positive and easy. Yeah.

Rustom Birdie: Got it. I want to move onto just perhaps criticisms that you face. It’s shocking to me personally, but given the work you’re doing, the work you’ve done, and what you’ve been through, there’s no shortage of pushback. Why do you think, where does that come from, where does it [butt] out from, that criticism?

Malala Yousafzai: I think firstly it depends what the criticism is, and if you clarify and explain that. But if somebody says that I should do this and not that, and I haven’t done enough of this or that, sometimes I have to remind people, I am not a government. I don’t have trillions of dollars, and I don’t have a central bank. I am not that person, but my goal is to use my voice and the resources I have to convince governments to invest in education, in women, and ensure that the resources are allocated into the right areas that benefits our society, that empowers women and girls.

But I think then there are also things like, but my focus is always that I am working for girls around the world and the right to education, so I feel like I’m only answerable to myself and the people I have made commitment to, to ensure that we make a better world. Other than that, people can say anything, right?

And I think also, on social media you see comments and things like that, and you will see 20 positive ones and just one negative one, and then all our focus is on the negative one. We dismiss all the positive ones. But I think it’s important to remember that sometimes the social media world does not actually represent the real world that we live in. And I will say that so far I have not seen anyone in person who has been hateful to me, who has said anything negative. They have always been supportive, and even if they have been critical, they have done it in a very polite way. So, I don’t worry too much about that.

Rustom Birdie: That’s great. Specifically maybe lasering in on Pakistan, you visited since the attack. The pandemic has obviously made that more difficult. What is your long-term ambition with Pakistan and what you want to see there and the role you want to play there?

Malala Yousafzai: I hope I can go to Pakistan more often. And I was planning to go already, but then the pandemic made things a bit more difficult. I have, we have been working in Pakistan since we started Malala Fund. Our first project started from Pakistan, and that was to announce this project, which was the education of 40 girls who were in domestic child labor, so to give them education. And they’re still learning, they’re still continuing their education. They’re in higher grades now.

And since then, we have now done even more and bigger projects since then. We have started a school in the hometown of my parents, Shangla. And Shangla is considered to be one of the most deprived areas in Pakistan. It’s a mountainous area, and this is the first school there, first school for girls there, where girls can complete their secondary education. And every year, we get hundreds and thousands of applications, and we can only pick a few students.

But what you realize is that when quality education is available, when the state of the art school is available, and when parents feel safe for their children to go to school, then the social norms and all that stigma that’s been associated with education for girls changes really quickly. And we see so many families sending their daughters to school. And so, the positive change has already been seen.

And along with that, we do our advocacy through the Champions Project. And in Pakistan we have many champions and activists there who we are supporting in their work for girls‘ secondary education.

Rustom Birdie: That’s great. What do you miss most about living in Pakistan?

Malala Yousafzai: I miss my home. I miss Swat Valley and Shangla. Those are very beautiful places. And I miss my time with my friends. Yeah, and the food as well, of course. I live in the UK, so I always miss the food.

Rustom Birdie: Got it. So just before we move onto the audience questions, the mission and the vision, Malala, that you’ve taken on is vast. It’s 130 million girls. We hope it happens as fast as possible, but it’ll take multiple years and it’s a fairly long-term vision. How do you stay motivated on a day-to-day basis? In a business sense, you can win a deal and see tangible success on a regular basis. This is more long-term. How do you stay motivated on a daily basis?

Malala Yousafzai: I think that inaction has worse consequences. Things remain as they are. So, keeping your work going is important. So, staying active is important for me. And I believe that the work that we have done and the work that people in the past have done for women’s rights and girls‘ education, and the work that all the organizations and everyone is doing, has brought us to this stage and has helped us see progress.

So, this work needs to continue and we need to accelerate it and we need to make it better, and we will see progress. What’s worse and what I think is dangerous is us all giving up. We should not give up, we should not stop this work. So we have to carry on.

Rustom Birdie: Inaction as complicity, yes. The theme for our View from the Top Speaker Series is Beyond Expectations. And we like to ask all our speakers, Malala, what motivates you as a 24 year old girl from Swat, Pakistan, to grow beyond the expectations of a girl from Pakistan?

Malala Yousafzai: I am very ambitious, and I was like that in my childhood as well. And I would always question society and the world, and why it could not be better than it is. Why do we see inequality with our own eyes and don’t do anything about it? Why do we see that so many people live in extreme poverty? Why can’t we change that? that millions of girls are out of school, and nobody does anything about that?

But then on the other end, I also remain ambitious that we can change that, we can see that change in our own life. And so, this is something that I have taken with me from my childhood, is that you have to remain ambitious, and you have to be a bit more optimistic. So, I remain optimistic and ambitious in my goals to see all girls in school in my lifetime.

Rustom Birdie: In Shangla.

Great, let’s open it up to audience questions. I believe we have one right over there.

[Taliha]: Hi Malala, my name is Taliha, I’m an MBA1 here. As a fellow Pakistani woman, it is incredibly inspiring to see you here. Thank you so much for coming here.

My question is, as someone who has personally navigated the challenges of a patriarchal society, I know there are millions of girls and women back home who personally face restrictions, whether it’s access to education, whether it’s professional opportunities, or even simply to have an independent opinion of themselves. On a more personal basis, what is your advice to them in terms of keeping hope alive for a more freer future? What was the thing for you that allowed you to continue staying so resilient in your difficult times?

Malala Yousafzai: Thank you for that question. I’ll share one story. When I started speaking out, and my activism, I was only 10 years old. But then as I was growing older, at age 13 and 14, and especially in our society in the north of Pakistan, it could become a taboo for a girl to be on a TV screen and speak out to media publically, not cover her face. And some families may completely oppose that.

And I remember one time, my dad asked my cousin to take me to this press conference area, and my cousin felt extremely uncomfortable, and then he told my dad that Malala should not speak. And my dad told him that this was none of his business. He should not be deciding anything for his daughter, and that everything Malala does should be her own choice.

Today, that same cousin is the biggest supporter of my cause, and he’s actually involved in the work, and he is so passionate about girls‘ education, and he supports me in my work. So initially, you would see this unease among people. You might even hear hateful comments, or you might hear people feeling very uncomfortable to see women in different roles and in different positions, and women having a loud voice, and women being at the table. But with time, they’ll get used to it. And in a few years, before we know it, things have already changed, and things already become customs and new norms.

So, it’s important for us to remain ambitious and committed, and consistency is really important. So, we have to stick to it and ensure that we carry this work on. And hopefully, things do change. We are already seeing so much progress in Pakistan. We have women in the Parliament, and we have women in different jobs and in different sectors. And hopefully it will get better, it will improve. And a lot of women are speaking out about women’s safety at work and in other spaces. And they’re speaking out again harassment and sexual harassment. So, there is this campaign going on for women’s equality in Pakistan, and that gives us hope.

Rustom Birdie: Next question? Here.

[Bruno]: Hi Malala, I’m Bruno, an MBA1 here from Stanford GSB. First of all, I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts, your brave story. Definitely motivated us to make the world a better place.

I’m from a developing country in Latin America, where education is not a right, it’s a privilege, and I feel very privileged to be here at Stanford, as I know many boys and girls didn’t have the opportunity to go to a proper elementary school in my home country — that is Brazil.

So, I’d like to ask you, what are your thoughts about our role as students from top universities like Stanford, Oxford, to minimize the gap between basic education across the countries?

Malala Yousafzai: Thank you for that question. I think you are all the future of this world, you are all the future of your countries, and I would say remain ambitious about your goals and you can bring change in your countries, you can bring change in your communities. And you already might be a role model to so many young kids who may not have thought about themselves completing their school and going to a university and taking a role in society. So, you are already giving hope to so many people, so many women especially here who could be coming from developing countries or from difficult backgrounds, they’re giving hope to so many women and girls.

And when a child sees somebody else in their dress, in their outfit, and when they see somebody who looks like them, they can imagine themselves in that person’s role. So, you are already giving hope to so many.

Rustom Birdie: Another question?

[Hoprey]: Yeah. Hi Malala. So, my name’s Hoprey, I’m an MBA2. And you may not remember this, but we met a long time ago.

Rustom Birdie: Do you remember?

Hoprey: In all fairness, [Restin], the reason she won’t remember is because she’s suffered a very bad infection and she was in ICU after having just been shot in the head. The reason I remember is because I was your doctor at the time. And I’ve followed your journey ever since, the difficulties you’ve had integrating in new cultures, followed you through your new school in [Edgbaston] High, tried to be part of the Malala Fund when I was at McKinsey as well. I thought I was a natural fit.

But I come from a family of strong feminists, and I’ve benefited from that as well. But I have seen a massive conflict in tradition versus progression and culture. And I know we’ve asked a similar question, but now that you’ve lived — you’ve had the Pakistani experience, you’ve had the westernized experience — what do you think you can take from the experiences you’ve had in the western world, and how do we take them back to areas where they could benefit?

Malala Yousafzai: Thank you for that question, and thank you for all your support, and nice to see you again. I think for me, when I started living in the UK, there were so many things that surprised us. We were living in cold weather forever, and we were missing our nice warm summer days in Pakistan.

But other than that, I started studying in a school where we were getting quality education. That was the first time when I realized that education is not just about sciences and math and learning English, but students also learn cooking and sports and textiles, and these are not the subjects that you often see in schools in Pakistan. And it really challenges you to think about education in different ways, in which the goal is not to make somebody a doctor or engineer only, but to ensure that anyone can go to that institution, they can explore their abilities, and they can explore their specialties, and then realize and reach their full potential. So, when I was studying in the UK, I realized that education is not just limited to sciences and math and those subjects.

But then also along with that, there is a good health system, and you are much safer. But, your home is your home, and you miss so many things about your home. When you are with your friends and family, and you are sitting in your dining room with your family friends, and you’re enjoying nice food, and you are surrounded by this beautiful valley and these lush, green hills, you’re happy and you’re still having a joyful time.

So I think for us, even though we were having all those facilities, we would still miss Pakistan all the time. And I have seen this in many places — people consider the west to be the standard of prosperity and development. And I think we need to challenge that a bit, because the pandemic and the recent events have exposed how the systems in many countries are not the ideal systems. They are still not favoring the most marginalized people in society. They are discriminating against people based on their income background, based on their skin color, based on their gender.

So, we need to be a bit more critical of the system that we idolize. And it’s possible for Pakistan and other countries to improve their systems — and this is a challenge for countries all over the world — to improve their systems, to ensure that they provide welfare to all its citizens, and its‘ based on a just and equal system so nobody is left out and nobody is treated unfairly.

Rustom Birdie: Great. Thank you for those questions.

Before we end, Malala, [we’ll have to end] with a lightning round. So, I’ll share a phrase, and just give me your quick thoughts on those. Ready?

Malala Yousafzai: Yes.

Rustom Birdie: Yes, okay, perfect. This one should be easy. Ted Lasso or Squid Games?

Malala Yousafzai: Ted Lasso.

Rustom Birdie: So is that Apple TV over Netflix?

Malala Yousafzai: I mean, I’m partnering with Apple TV, so it has to be Ted Lasso.

Rustom Birdie: That’s the right answer.

Malala Yousafzai: Yes. Yeah, by the way, I started a production company, Extracurricular, just for the context, and we’re partnering with Apple TV+. So yeah, it has to be Ted Lasso.

Rustom Birdie: Favorite Queer Eye actor?

Malala Yousafzai: I don’t have any names. I’m so bad at names. So, you can suggest and I can pick one.

Rustom Birdie: Jonathan Van Nass, but no?

Malala Yousafzai: No. I’m bad at this.

Rustom Birdie: No worries, no worries.

Malala Yousafzai: The only name I usually, like when you talk about actors and actresses, I know all the Bollywood ones, and then I know Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, and that’s it.

Rustom Birdie: Okay, how about this one, a world figure you have not met but want to?

Malala Yousafzai: A world figure I have not met but want to? So, it’s, I, so, okay. It’s not a politician, it’s not a politician, but I really want to meet Vanessa Nakate. She’s a climate activist, and I have been following her journey, and I would want to see her in person.

Rustom Birdie: Great. Favorite social media platform?

Malala Yousafzai: It has to be Instagram. No, I think it’s Twitter, I think it’s Twitter. It’s hard to pick, but it’s between those two. Sometimes it’s Twitter. I mean, when anything happens, you want to go to Twitter, just to see tweets on it. And then, Instagram is also good, but yeah, whenever I’m following cricket, I just go straight to Twitter and see what people have said. It’s very funny.

Rustom Birdie: Same here, yeah. Where do you store your Nobel Peace Prize?

Malala Yousafzai: That’s confidential. You’ll never know.

Rustom Birdie: Confidential, okay. Great. And then last one, favorite Adele song?

Malala Yousafzai: I would say Hello .

Rustom Birdie: Great. Awesome, well, Malala, this has been a lot of fun for me personally, and for you as well, and we appreciate your time.

Malala Yousafzai: Thank you so much, thank you.

Rustom Birdie: Absolutely.

Malala Yousafzai: Thank you. Thank you so much, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, so nice to see you, thank you. Thank you.

Rustom Birdie: You’ve been listening to View From The Top, the podcast, a production of Stanford Graduate School of Business. This interview was conducted by me, Rustom Birdie of the MBA Class of 2022. Lily Sloane composed our theme music and Michael Reilly and Jenny Luna produced this episode. You can find more episodes of this podcast at our website www.gsb.stanford.edu/ . Follow us on social media @stanfordgsb.

For media inquiries, visit the Newsroom .

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Malala’s Powerful Voice

To the Editor:

Malala Yousafzai is one of our best weapons and hopes for education and economic independence for girls, but not just for the reasons outlined in “ Malala’s Fight Continues, ” by Nicholas Kristof (column, Sept. 27).

She is beyond doubt a powerful voice in calling for 12 years of education for all children, but she is also a huge inspiration for girls who already have unrestricted access to schools.

Here in New York City, where all girls are required to get a primary education, young women see Malala as a peer role model, showing them the effect they can have if they stand up for what they believe in and take a leadership role in making a difference.

These girls also benefit from Malala’s powerful voice, making her impact on the world that much greater.

BARBARA MURPHY WARRINGTON

Chief Executive

Girl Scouts of Greater New York

Malala Yousafzai – Pakistani Human Rights Activist Essay

Introduction, articles’ analysis, works cited.

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani human rights activist and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The world learned about the girl after a gunman burst into a school bus and shot the girl in the head, thereby avenging her criticism of the Taliban and neglecting the prohibition to attend school. Although Malala’s life is still in jeopardy, she does not stop advocating for girls’ right to education. The activist has established a charity foundation, opened a school for Syrian female refugees, and regularly holds many events to support her ideas. This essay examines how Malala is portrayed in social media and why this young lady is considered hugely influential nowadays.

To begin with, in the article by Sharon Masige, Malala voiced her opinions on the current situation on female education and also shared her story of becoming an advocate for girls’ rights. Malala stated that “When my right to education was taken away – when my future was taken away from me – I knew that I had to do something” (Masige). Consequently, since her early years, Malala spoke out for the right to educate girls and was even blogging about her experience for BBC. The young activist attributes her motivation to fight for girls’ education rights to her father, Ziauddin, who ran a school for young girls in his country. Thus, the article provides the background of Malala’s success, especially her devotion to deal with such a complex issue as the lack of equal rights for education.

The second article by Isaac Chotiner gave a more in-depth insight into Malala’s life as it includes an interview with the activist icon. The young lady describes how she spends her typical day, deals with negativity, travels with education campaigns, and reinforces women’s rights. Malala also stated that she had no intent to become popular only to “hang out” with the world’s most influential people (Chotiner). As stated by Malala, “I always think about representing the girls who do not have the voice, who do not have the opportunity to go to the stage and speak up for themselves” (Chotiner). Hence, the article mostly concentrates on the activist’s current life and also provides the reason for the girl’s motive to fight for human rights.

It might be claimed that both of the articles emphasize the young lady’s inner strength and perseverance to empower young girls. Thus, these articles, where strong character traits and altruistic intentions of Malala are highlighted, affirm her honorary status as an activist idol. Regarding her powerful character, I must strive to be like Malala in terms of lifestyle, as she makes the world better. The girl sets an example to other adolescents, and her image in the media proves that everyone needs to become civically engaged to ensure total safety and freedom in their communities. Furthermore, it could be seen that the analyzed magazine publications adduce the person’s “success” story: she was a normal girl with the noteworthy aspiration to attain education and empower other girls to fight for their rights. These articles also highlight that “going against the rules” is a social norm nowadays, as, for example, in the Middle East, the common standards are outdated and have an urgency to be reformed. The analyzed magazine publications maintain the hegemonic discourse by showing that a person at any age with any national and cultural background can reach success and become a role model. Malala’s portrayal in the media gives evidence that she deserves fame and respect. Henceforth, such articles in the mainstream media evoke readers’ sympathy and adherence to the described public figure.

Malala is undeniably a hero of the 21 st century, who has risked her life and well-being to fight for human rights. These articles demonstrate that ruining stagnant stigmas and social norms (in Arabic culture, for example) with philanthropic and charitable determination might turn an average person into an inspirational leader.

Chotiner, Isaac. “How Close Should an Activist Icon Get to Power? An Interview with Malala Yousafzai.” The New Yorker . 2019, Web.

Masige, Sharon. “How to Change the World: Lessons from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai.” The CEO Magazine . 2018, Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021, June 12). Malala Yousafzai - Pakistani Human Rights Activist. https://ivypanda.com/essays/malala-yousafzai-pakistani-human-rights-activist/

"Malala Yousafzai - Pakistani Human Rights Activist." IvyPanda , 12 June 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/malala-yousafzai-pakistani-human-rights-activist/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Malala Yousafzai - Pakistani Human Rights Activist'. 12 June.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Malala Yousafzai - Pakistani Human Rights Activist." June 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/malala-yousafzai-pakistani-human-rights-activist/.

1. IvyPanda . "Malala Yousafzai - Pakistani Human Rights Activist." June 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/malala-yousafzai-pakistani-human-rights-activist/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Malala Yousafzai - Pakistani Human Rights Activist." June 12, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/malala-yousafzai-pakistani-human-rights-activist/.

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By: eman amjad ali, date: 05/10/2021.

Malala Yousafzai – Outspoken Advocate of Female Rights

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8 Reasons Why Malala Yousafzai Is An Inspiration To Us All

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

On Friday, 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person -- and the first Pakistani -- ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize .

Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for daring to seek an education. Since then, the young woman has been wowing the world with her courage, her passion and her dedication to the fight for children’s education and the rights of girls around the world.

There are many reasons why Malala is an inspiration to us all. Below, we have listed just a few of them:

Malala, we applaud you.

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Malala yousfzai - effective role model.

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            Malala Yousafazai is an amazing role model to people everywhere; her speeches on educational rights for children, and women's rights have influenced millions of people to take a stand against these civil malfeasances. In 2007, Taliban militants began asserting control over the Swat valley, imposing strict religious rules, limiting women's rights and enforcing harsh public punishments, and killings of anyone who stepped out of line. In January 2009, the Taliban militants declared a ban on all education for women. Malala's father ran one of the many schools in the region that educated young girls. While many schools closed down due to the threats and civic killings, Ziauddin resolved himself to continue. He wanted to set an example for his people by standing up for the rights of girls to be educated, even when his kith and kin began to flee. His daughter Malala chose not to give into her presentiment, but to overcome it by setting an example. .              She delivered a moving speech at the United Nations General Assembly July of 2013 speaking out against the transgression against women and children everywhere, stating; "We realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns. The extremists are afraid of books and pens, They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed. Out of the silence came thousands of voices. The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear, and hopelessness died; strength, fervor, and courage were born.". Malala knows the Taliban would still like to extirpate her, but she says she hopes to return to Pakistan one day. "First, I need to empower myself with knowledge, with education. I need to work hard, and when I am powerful, I will go back to Pakistan, inshallah [God willing].".              She used Malala Day as an opportunity to commemorate the thousands of people who have been killed or injured by terrorists and to call for education for the 57 million children around the world who cannot go to school.

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Malala could hear the artillery firing from her house. ... Malala and her father began to get fearful of the Taliban attacking them, due to Malala's outspoken criticism of the Taliban. ... Malala responded by asking her father "How can we do that? ... We cannot disown our campaign " (I am Malala p. 188). ... In response to the claim, Malala stated in her autobiographical novel that "education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human " (I am Malala). ...

• Word Count: 748
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2. The Story of Malala Yousafsai

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3. Comparison of Rosa Parks and Malala Yousafzai

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4. The Inspiration of Role Models

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5. Culture and Independant Beliefs

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6. Girls and a Good Education

In her speech to the United Nations, Malala calls upon the governments of the world, developed nations, and world leaders to help bring education to each part of the world (Malala 2013). ... Malala is a strong believer that the education of women should not be based on their monetary situation (Malala:Symbolizing the right of girls to education 2013). ... The majority of children not in school are females, many of whom are taken out of schools, because they are either forced into childhood marriage, or to abide by discriminatory laws (Malala: Symbolizing the right of girls to education 2013). ...

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It is Vincent, in the end however, that possesses the ability to yearn and aspire, contrasting to those who have been genetically modified, it is these abilities that enable Vincent to become a role model for other invalids who wish to break free of their perceived handicaps. ... Vincent succeeds spectacularly, both in his career and in his personal life and even becomes a role model for others who wish to emancipate themselves from the constraints that their degenerate status places on them. ... It is because of his resolute perseverance that he becomes a role model, "I never did tell you...

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Every child should have a role model while growing up. ... Even grown men and women can have role models to follow and live their life by. A role model is defined as a person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral or social role for another person to emulate. ... Another person I consider a great role model is Benjamin Netanyahu. ... Netanyahu is a role model to me. ...

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9. Role models

What is the true meaning of an athlete and what is the true meaning of a role model? A role model is defined as "a person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral social role for another person to emulate." ... Athletes should only be role models on their perspective playing field. ... Yet, the public at large saw him as a role model. ... No longer can fans look to Bryant to be their role model. ...

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7 Reasons Malala Yousafzai Should Be Your Role Model ...

By Sabrina • 11 Comments • Share

I could list about one thousand reasons Malala Yousafzai should be your role model! As a young woman with a passion for education, I can’t think of a better woman to be my role model. If you struggle to find a suitable influential person within the media, consider these reasons Malala Yousafzai should be your role model and see if you’re not inspired by her!

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Her Passion

In her short life so far, Malala has demonstrated immense passion. From a young age, Malala has been passionate about education equality for girls, so much so that she continued fighting for her cause even after receiving death threats from the Taliban. Not only is the degree of her zeal one of the reasons Malala Yousafzai should be your role model, but so is the topic of her passion. Women’s rights is an issue that generations of women before you have fought for. Today, you may have equal opportunities in your area, but the fight isn’t over; Malala makes it clear that it is your responsibility to bring about change for your fellow girls in oppressed countries.

Her Will to Live

Malala’s body could have easily given up after receiving a bullet to her brain. But she fought on. Her body is that of a survivor, but her body would be nothing without her resilient spirit, which continues supporting her cause long after recovery.

Her Fearlessness

Malala Yousafzai epitomizes fearlessness in all of her actions. Malala knew the potential consequences of fighting for women’s rights in a culture where where women are subservient to men— some of them lawless men, who have no problem killing innocent children. But, with her faith in her cause, fellow women, Allah, and herself, Malala boldly ignored all notions of defeat and fought to the brink of death and then past it. If that isn’t inspirational, what is?

Her Achievements

A hallmark of role models is often their achievements. Malala has now achieved the greatest accomplishment of all by earning the Nobel Peace Prize. She is the youngest recipient of the prize in history, and certainly deserves it! At such a young age, her actions and achievements should motivate you to strive for more than you ever thought possible.

Her Maturity

Adult celebrities in the media often times don’t possess even a fraction of the maturity Malala has shown. While other “role models” have been objectifying women in their music videos, doing drugs, and overall setting a bad example for today’s youth, Malala has made an actual impact on the world. She is still only a teenager, yet she has amazing, adult-like perspective and handles herself in a mature fashion both on and off camera.

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.

Her Leadership

Malala Yousafzai has not only started a movement, but has also successfully led it since recovering from her injury. The fight for gender equality has spread like wildfire, and girls now have a renewed hope of receiving a quality education without corrupt groups, like the Taliban that targeted Malala, impeding their right to knowledge.

Her Humility

Despite Malala’s achievements, admirable attributes, and fame, she remains remarkably humble. On top of every other reason why Malala should be your role model, you should consider the humility and grace with which she greets every situation.

Overall, Malala is a great human being, destined for amazing things. She deserves your attention and admiration, so keep an eye out for what sort of actions she takes as she matures into a young woman (remember, she’s still only 17!) Why do you look up to Malala Yousafzai?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Malala is amazing but she hasn't done much. I know she is only a girl but did did she really derserve that noble prize and all the lovesick respect?

I love Mulala (if thats how you spell her name) but she hasn't been able to do nothing. I hear about her all the time and I love her.But this is her country… If she wanted to be a true hero she should make steps into make houses for young girls who want to be educated, or educate them today. But thats there country and their religion. We cant stop there religion.

First of all there are lot of girl who have u amazing life lesson so why we talk always mala Ln a.the girl who living in there we should focus.not that girl who are safe and living good country .like I am not jealous of her .But we focus those who really need help.whose voice and word never listen .

Amazing girl :)

I'm actually very tired of hearing about this. I'm not jealous nor would I like to be. She is amazing, I mean the girl did something the world told her not to. It's not her but it's the fact that the world is over stating it. I turn my head and it's there, I turn the other way and it's there, and it's not just with this it's with everything. It's like watching the same movie on replay for a lifetime. We understand the point, no need to repeat it 30 million times.

She's amazing!!!!

love this article! very happy that you have made an article about important things aswell:)

Honestly, the way people go on about her, you'd think she'd discovered some amazing panacea. There are girls all over the world who are suffering major injustices on a daily basis. If Malala cares so much for the girls of Pakistan, she should be organising something for them, rather than staying in the relative safety of the UK.

America need to stop messing with other countries and let them do them. They need to focus over here. But with the Mulala situation I love the girl. But she has yet to make a move (again) shit she should make a school.America should help her...

You guys need to understand she's a very young girl she can't put the world on top of her, so stop saying bad stuff about her I wanna see you guys make a difference in this world.

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Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Malala — I Am Malala Rhetorical Analysis

I Am Malala Rhetorical Analysis

• Categories: Malala

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Published: Mar 25, 2024

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