Life Of Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai got shot for fighting for what she believed in. Equality. When making any disruption within society, comes consequences. Around the world, many take equal rights, education, and having the right to freely speak out for granted. In the Valley, however, it is the opposite. Malala tries to gain publicity for making her world more equal by making speeches about what she believes in and fights for: equal education, equality for women, and speaking out for others.
Moreover, education is taken for granted in many places, but is the opposite in the valley. Children, especially girls are restricted from going to school. One example of such an event is when the Taliban made a statement that girls may not go to school. “I had started
taking the bus because my mother was scared of me walking on my own. We had been getting threats all year”(Yousafzai 9). The Taliban made a clear message, but some knew what was right and continued their education, such as Malala. Even though her family received death threats, they knew how important education is. It is clear that she disobeyed the Taliban when she continues to go to her school, realizing just how important it is. On the other hand, disobeying such a powerful group may lead to serious consequences, people are killed for disobeying the law. Her father agrees with her and makes changes in the way the women dress, making sure they were disguised. Those who still attended school were forced to protect their identity. “Royal-blue salwar kamiz with a white dupatta, or headscarf, and we were advised to keep our heavies covered coming in and out of school”(Yousafzai 64). Malala and her peers were forced to wear scarves, to protect their identity. Without their headscarves, they might be attacked, but the ones who continued on knew that education would lead the world ahead of them. This resulting action gave Malala the right of education, but she was a model student, crying every time she did not come first in an exam. Despite this downfall, she continues on, inspiring many to not give up education, as, without it, the world would continue to be more unequal.
Furthermore, women are treated differently in the valley.
Around the world, many would argue that women have just as many rights as men, they can vote, play sports, and can participate in all the jobs. In the valley, things are different. Women such as Malala’s mother, Tor Pekai Yousafzai are restricted. For example, men who share their troubles with women are seen as weak. “Most Pashtun men never do this, as sharing problems with women is seen as weak”(Yousafzai 22). Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai knows that there is no such thing as a different mind among men and women, that both are equal. He knows that women can provide just as much help as men and even different views on topics and situations. This is illustrated by the fact that in the valley, doctors don’t bother explaining things to illiterate women. “In our country few doctors bother explaining anything to an illiterate women”(Yousafzai 266). While men were educated that they knew how to write read, the story is opposite for the women. It is evident of why millions of women are illiterate. Furthermore, both parents were shocked by the cooperation by Fiona, as in the valley it was very rare to see one perform such a kind gesture. However, worldwide this is a normal gesture. Furthermore, Fiona knows that telling exactly what is happening is a right, that one would be concerned if their loved ones were in a stranger’s hands. In fact, without explaining things that happen to your loved ones, it would be unfair in many of the regions around the world. In the valley, it is the exact opposite. In other regions around the world, it would seem unusual, but it is a reality in the
valley.
Above all, Malala continues to emphasize what she does best, speaking up for others. Girls do not have a choice in what is in their right, especially the right to education. “His sisters -my aunts- did not go to school at all, just like millions of girls in my country”(Yousafzai 41). Millions of girls in her country were refused education. Thus, making millions of women illiterate. Malala knows this fact and persuades her peers that education is one of the most important things they have a right to, that it was abused. Furthermore, Malala’s father knows that this is true, and tries to make a statement that Malala will not forget, to make a statement, one needs to speak up. “With half of your leaders tell lies and the other half is negotiating with the Taliban, there is nowhere to go, one has to speak out”(Yousafzai 109). To add on, her father knows that Malala has the voice of the people, that she can make the difference, that she can save her people. The valley would become corrupt if no one spoke out, letting the Taliban continue what they are doing. If one fights back, they can make a difference, it is rare to see such courage in people in tough times such as this. In addition, speaking out is a right that everyone has, but some have the courage to protest others, to try to make a change in the world. All in all, speaking out for others may seem unnecessary in many places around the globe, but in the Valley, where many are manipulated by the Taliban, it is as important as ever.
In the case of Malala, she made a crucial difference, to help her people realize the rights they have. The rights to learning, equality among people, and most importantly of all, a voice. A voice that can one day be heard throughout the world, a voice that may produce the most influential words in the world. If Malala never used her voice, millions more would have become victims of the Taliban, but she did. She made a miracle recovery with the help of her people, praying for her and helping her to recover. She continues to believe in what she thinks is right and made her voice heard. Furthermore, without her, millions more would have become victims of the Taliban, but she helped prevent that. In essence, Malala made her point clear among people around the world, but the statement begs, would anyone else have done the same, to speak their mind into believing what they think is right?