#iammalala

[conchabae]

I Am Malala: Book Review

It is hard to find the proper words to rightfully encompass Malala Yousafzai’s autobiography, I am Malala, yet the words resilience, hope and kindness ring the truest.

Malala Yousafzai’s story is so important in giving a more complex inside look of how her family, her faith, Pashtun culture and experiences in Pakistan have shaped her into the education activist and global force that she is. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of anecdotes and background descriptions Malala provided of her family and especially of her father and role model Ziauddin Yousafzai. Malala’s description of her family members brought to life their humanity and influence on her, but also emphasized the Pashtun love for family and community. 

In the western hemisphere, we do not see enough middle-eastern people represented in a positive light, we do not often get to see their intellectuals, community leaders or activists. Malala’s individual story is extraordinary, but so are the millions of girls like her (that do not get their stories published) and her in-depth descriptions of her family, her people and the public’s concerns, everyday trauma and reality in Pakistan are eye-opening and empathy inducing, in a way that it should be required reading for every child globally. Which is another reason why the book deserves its international attention and according to the Nielsen Book Research in 2016, I am Malala has sold approximately 2 million copies world wide and counting. 

  Photo by Michael Prince: Malala Yousafzai at the Forbes Philanthropy Summit.

Malala Yousafzai also gives humanistic insight to how Islam has shaped her values and the Koran scriptures that have empowered her to be benevolent, to give to those who have lesser than, and to value education and knowledge. As an Atheist who has lived in somewhat secular but Christian-dominated lands all my life, it is refreshing and beautiful to read Malala’s descriptions and acknowledgement of her faith influencing her everyday life, providing her comfort and strength. It gives a strong contrast to western media’s tendency to tie heavy devotion to Islam, to extremism and terrorisms, which does not represent all Muslims. While many many be drawn to read this book to learn about the amazing Malala, she also uses this medium to deconstruct harmful stereotypes and notions about the various identities she has, that actually contribute to her greatness, according to Malala. Throughout her youth, Malala does not only condemn the Taliban, but she gives voice to her community who have been looted, beaten, murdered or terrorized by the Taliban and who been victimized because of a lack of political leadership to fully stop the terrorist group. 

One of the major themes in the biography is women’s rights in Pakistan and the importance of education. Malala gives important insights into the social expectations of Pashtun Muslim girls (being traditionally encouraged to domesticate, provide for husband as homemakers). Yet there is some complexity in the Pashtun tribe, as they also view Malakai, a young woman who bravely helped the Pashtuns victoriously fight off the British Empire, as their greatest hero. Coincidently, Malakai, is whom Malala is named after, and a great source of inspiration to her belief in securing women’s equality and equal autonomy to men. Because of her support and encouragement from her father, an academic and educator, Malala has confidence in her abilities and wants to increase the amount of girls and women who have access to education. Before Malala even reached her teens, she understood something really important about the Taliban, that they were just men taking out their anger and fear out on women, using violence and intimidation on all people to enforce their ideology. As the book progresses, we gain insight on how Malala’s life is impacted by the Taliban as her family is forced to uproot themselves for safety from civil war. We also get an insight on how her well-being and everyday life is impacted by several Taliban decisions enforced, sa. women having to wear a burqa and be accompanied by a male chaperone, not being allowed to attend school, fewer rights than men in court and law, and more. Malala’s story has so much trauma and Pakistani women have so many obstacles to face: for example, she accounts her fear of getting acid thrown in her face for disobeying the burqa rule, and experiences death threats as she raises funds to fund girls’ education.

 “I would do everything in my power to educate girls just like her. This is the war I was going to fight.”

Malala was very lucky to have grown up in the loving and supportive household she did, and her father’s academic career and ownership of a school definitely helped influence her passion for education and love of learning. There are moments in her story where circumstance and luck are intertwined and moments perhaps Malala would view as fate from the great creator himself. Malala started anonymously blogging for the BBC about her experience in Pakistan as a young girl, which became her first big momentum as an activist, garnering attention and praise from her community but also a global audience. The writing gig was in fact created by a BBC worker who was friends with Ziauddin Yousafzai, who mentioned it in passing to Malala, and Malala pitched herself to be the correspondent. The ultimate chance of luck occurred during the assassination attempt of Malala, where the bullet just grazed her brain and eye but didn't lead to a fatal shot. This book was sensationalized in global media upon release because of this traumatic incident with the Taliban and it was the most emphasized moment of her life story in global news. However, I really appreciate how Malala’s story is not solely defined by nor ends at this traumatic event. Malala  story continues, as does her ambition with the Malala fund, and it currently has funded millions of children’s education, furthering her life mission. 

 One of my favorite excerpts and quotes from the book is: “I saw a young girl selling oranges, she was scratching marks on a scrap of paper with her nail, to account for the oranges she had sold, as she could not read or write. I took a photo of her and vowed, I would do everything in my power to educate girls just like her. This is the war I was going to fight.”

According to the CEO of the Malala Fund, Farah Mohamed, if all girls went to school for 12 years, developing economies could add $92 billion per year to their economies. We also know from extensive research that education for women not only decreases their likelihood of marrying young, teen pregnancy, likelihood of contracting STDs - which increases women’s and public health and women’s opportunities, it also leads to increased innovation in society, especially in  environmentalism and entrepreneurship. In an article for Quartz: “Girls’ education is the best investment we can make to grow the world’s economies”, Mohamed states that 76% of men currently participate in the global labor market, yet only 46% of women do. In many nations, women face several challenges and life-threatening risks that deter them from being able to pursue education. If we ensure equal opportunity, there will be less gender inequality in all levels of society, as women can secure economic autonomy, increased political influence and legal rights. If we give women access to free education and safety while doing so, we invest in double the amount of great minds, innovators, revolutionaries and visionaries. The world arguably would have less war if women had equal opportunity to men, as they would be in spaces for decision making as well as further social progress and societal development. In a world where all children have access to quality education, we would unlearn many evils, limit the amount of authoritarian regimes and groups and our world would bloom from its transformation.

[mmandarinaa]

Për të gjitha vajzat qe janë përballur me padrejtësinë dhe që i kanë bërë të heshtin.

Së bashku do të na degjojnë.

[bohotribeart]

Here’s my painting of Malala Yousafzai , a young female education activist - who survived getting shot! I have been painting women that inspire me and Malala is definitely one of them. If you don’t know about her then you should , she’s an incredible inspiration • • • #malalayousafzai #artofinstagram #portrait #portraitart #portraiture #canvasart #canvasartwork #canvasartworkforsale #malala #malalaart #malalayousafzaiquotes #inspirationalquotes #inspirationalwomen #inspiration #acrylicartwork #yousafzai #instaartwork #instaportrait #iammalala #woman #womensempowerment #education #educationforall #feminist #feministart #feminism #artofinstagram #portraitpainting #portraitpaintings (at England) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt9Cj9-AeaP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=21ieoukfdfef

[girlinnovators]

I am Malala

If I could describe this book in one word it would be realness.I chose that word because her life story puts into perspective how much we take granted for living in such an advanced, modern world. I grew up with none of the barriers that Malala had, and yet reading her book I kept on pinching myself thinking this was and is actually her life. A quote that I wouldn’t say is my favorite but struck out to me the most was a quote from her father saying before the incident, “she was my daughter, but now I am her father”. I thought it was extremely powerful in the sense that her dad who brought her up the way she is, recognized this growth that her presence and impact has had on the world.  

Islam is a strong topic through the book and Malala’s life. Portrayed by the western media we know Islam and it’s link to extremism, groups like in Pakistan that infiltrate their ideology through the means of religion. That means manipulating people into believing what they want you to believe and leaving behind your moral compass and initial love for your religion. That is not the case for Malala, who’s name, in fact is the religious female warrior Malalai. Throughout her upbringing she is embraced by her religion, her name signifies her tie and devotion to her religion. You would think that after seeing first hand the terrors that a religion based extremism agenda has on true believers she would be discourage or doubtfull in the gods she believes in… but for Malala that is simply not the case.

Something so clear from her book is what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger- there is no doubt that this phrase relates to Malala. Just like that proverb from the Qur’an along the lines of if you kill one person you kill a society, think about how this attempt and failure to kill Malala just mad her stronger, now her community and friends must feel stronger too.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. Initially I thought it would solely be about her mission and would be very statistical in regards to the lack of access girls have to education. That being a key theme in the book, I was very intrigued by the depiction of her life, her country and her perspective growing up. It wasn’t until the last third of the book in which she discusses her attempted assentation.

Readers around the world can take the smallest amount of wisdom or inspiration from any part of this book. First, you can appreciate your home and your living conditions. I could not imagine leaving your front door open to openly accept those in need and supply them with living necessities. I see that as saint-like charity work, but this was their life, and their normal. Second you have to appreciate (at least I can) the amazing education opportunities I have had, waking up in the morning- tired and thinking maybe you can skip class is completely absurd. Compare this to Malala who was a young, middle school girl that never knew her fate or likelihood of making it to school safely. These are two simple examples of thing we take for granted and could not imagine our ‘normal’ to look like. You can clearly see how Malala’s religion, her beliefs and her pasion of education for all is engraved so deeply within herself. 

[diegoisham]

I present to you... “Mandalala” 😜😂

[bookedeverynight]

And it’s Monday. Again. It’s a beautiful sunny day in Sydney today and I’m wearing a new outfit so the day is starting well, fingers crossed it stays that way. This week Obsidio is released and so fingers crossed my copy comes in the post this week. I ordered the special box from @theyachronicles and I’m super keen to see what’s inside. . . . Day 12: #authorappreciationmarch #Ownvoices Here are just a few diverse, own voices reads. THUG is amazing and the Yearbook Committee has a bunch of characters you can identity with. I’m yet to read I am Malala, but know it will be good. . . . #bookstagram #bookstagramfeature #bibliophile #bookphotos #iammalala #loveozya #thug #bookchallenge #reading #youngadult #angiethomas #bookshelves #bookish #booklovers

[jenmariewilde-blog]

Malala Yousafzai turned 21 yesterday! Wishing a belated happy birthday to this incredible activist, bestselling author, Oxford student & Nobel Peace Prize winner. Thank you for raising your voice & continuing to use it to change the world. . . #malalayousafzai #malala #iammalala #feminist #feminism #feministart #themalalafund #artofinstagram #instaart #activist #activism

[marlonicole]

I walked in on her reading this last night 🤗😍🤓. It happens to be the first week of #ramadan and she knows nothing about the culture. The fact that she thinks #malala is amazing for what she stood for makes me proud. #justturned8 #parenting #myfavoritejob #loveherlife #modernhistory #iammalala #newyorktimesbestseller #reading #knowledgeispower #ifyouknewbetteryouddobetter #shemightneedglasses 🤓 #mygirl #mommyduties #love

[trexboy76]

#malalayousafzai #christinalamb #iammalala #わたしはマララ #나는말랄라다 #trnaslated #金原瑞人 #西田佳子 #Gakken #bookoff #스와트 #파키스탄 #부토 #이슬람 #isi #오사마빈라덴 #지하드 #CIA #911 #mma #gulmakai #idp #edp 큰 #서점 에서는 재고가 없었는데 드디어 #중고 서점에서 발견 大きな#ブックストア では在庫がなかったが、ついに#中古 #書店 で発見 내가 느꼈던 감동을 큰 딸에게 전달하고 싶었다 私感じた#感動 を、長女に伝えたかった 책갈피가 꽂혀진 지점이 조금씩 바뀌고 있음에 흐뭇하다 しおりがさされてたところが少しずつ変わっていくことに#満足 (矢田川) https://www.instagram.com/p/CM3P503AIPd/?igshid=35wu3se8kt45

[kelcesar]

"Mas eu disse: 'Educação é educação. Deveríamos aprender tudo e então escolher qual caminho seguir'. Educação não é oriental nem ocidental, é humana." (Malala Yousafzai) Um livro que conta a história de uma menina que luta pela educação não poderia ser menos do que uma aula. Não apenas pela história de Malala, que já é inspiradora por si só, mas pelo conteúdo sociopolítico que aborda. Nesta biografia aprendi mais sobre a questão do talibã, sobre o oriente medio, o Corão e o terrorismo religioso do que nas aulas de história da escola. Sobre os 2 minutinhos dos telejornais não vou nem comentar... Porque uma biografia é isso. Se somos uma soma das nossas próprias vivências, das pessoas que vieram antes de nós e do nosso meio, é Impossível uma biografia de Malala sem todo este contexto. Seria apenas um retrato de vaidade pessoal, como tantos outros que enchem as prateleiras desse gênero nas livrarias. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ EuSouMalala #IAmMalala #MalalaYousafzai #ChristinaLamb #girlpower #books #Livros #clubedolivro #bookclub #RosendeReads #RReads #thot #instabooks #bookstagram #bookstan #literatura #literature #skoob #useamáscara #VacinaSim #forabolsonaro #defendaosus (em Swat Valley) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMargH7rR_4/?igshid=qh59jxfejqmx

[rodwey2004]

The Book Fairy Visits London 📙 ⏮swipe⏭ Also see @rodweyportraits . Visit: rodweyphotography.com . #streetphotography #ibelieveinbookfairies #iammalala #london #2020rankin #itssolondon #thisislondon #uk_shooters #visitlondon #londonguru #london4all #photosofbritain #london_only #onecityldn #beautifuldestinations #awesome_photographers #travellingthroughtheworld #lockdown #londoncityworld #canonphotography #photography #igerslondon #mydarlinglondon #lightroom #londonthecity #photosofengland #londondisclosure #parkbench #alamypotm . 📸: @rodwey2004 @rodweyportraits (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMPhepfgbC9/?igshid=o08313xboi49

[merrative]

In #quoteoftheday, we are featuring a wonderful quote from the book, I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai🔥 This book is a recommended read by Taru on our community at merrative.com as a part of #readeroftheyear contest 🎈 . . We have increased the deadline till 10th Jan! . . . . . Have you read the book? Let us know what you think of it in the comments! . . . Check out the full post here - . . . https://merrative.com/tagged_read_posts/i-am-malala-1609642225270x121787245642383360 . . . Discuss ideas from books, articles you've enjoyed reading with like minded readers at merrative.com! . . . . #merrative #bookstagram #bookquotes #bookquoteoftheday #bibliophile #writingcommunity #bookrecommendations #bookblogger #malalayousafzai #iammalala #womenrights #womenauthors #feminist #feministquotes #feminism #feministart #iamafeminist #womensupportwomen #womenpower (at Karachi, Pakistan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJn86R6gSRb/?igshid=11s71e7smxj3b

[sara-bcoleman]

Another look of my latest piece 🖼 Malala Yousafzai . . . #malalayousafzai @malala #iammalala #inspiration #art #arte #artsy #portrait #painting #color #paint #artist #artistic #artoftheday #artwork #artforsale #freegiveaway #realisticdrawing #realismart #realism #artonwood #plywood #courage #womenrights #educationmatters #education #love #passion https://www.instagram.com/p/CAMK1lRjRj4/?igshid=el8zg8md47m1

[fairtravels]

I have this nasty habit of “investing” money on books that I never really get to read. Sometimes I get past the Foreword, or as far the 1st two pages of Chapter 1. Books used to line the steps of our old house. So as a young girl I was an avid reader, finishing books while still inside the bookstore… before even making the purchase. Lost this as I got older. Nowadays I tell myself: "Good books make good home décor." I was in Singapore visiting friends when I first learned about Malala Yousafzai. While on a date in a Kinokuniya with my dear friend Ava, I saw her autobio on display - I Am Malala. Decided: "Purchase a copy once I return to Manila," but later found that this was not yet available in the PH. I have to stop myself from making additional purchases while travelling, because apart from “I will never get to read this anyway” there is also excess luggage to worry about. I asked my brother to get a copy for me when he vacationed in the US with his wife @jssio several months later. 2016. I brought this book along with me on almost every trip I took, or even on weekday and weekend errands since 2016 (to help explain the creases and folds) attempting to finish reading from cover to cover. Yep. This book has travelled the world. And then on 9 April 2020, Holy Thursday, 4 years later, while on #ECQ2020…. I finally finished reading “I Am Malala” This book allowed me to travel across Pakistan, from Swat Mingora, Karachi, Islamabad and Pershawar to Birmingham UK. Learned that Bangladesh was once part of Pakistan, and Pakistan was once part of India. I would not have known otherwise. Who said you can’t travel.while on #EnhancedCommunityQuarantine? #IAmMalala #MalalaYousafzai #NobelPeacePrize #FairReads #BookishFair #Travel #FairTravels #FairLovesTravel #Swat #Mingora #Karachi #Islamabad #Peshawar #Pakistan #FairInPakistan #FairCovid19Thoughts #FairJournal (at Swat, Pakistan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-xDPX6HJQuns1pt76vIWcd5d2jKWm9sflo0Xo0/?igshid=1ock3a47fv5j5

[strandbooks]

Strand wishes a very happy birthday to Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education, author, & the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate 🌻💛 •• #malalayousafzai #malaladay #malalafund #author #activist #bookstagram #iammalala #birthday #readstagram (at Strand Book Store)

[trexboy76]

#malalayousafzai #christinalamb #iammalala #わたしはマララだ#나는말랄라다 #trnaslated #박찬원 #문학동네 #말랄라이 #스와트 #파슈툰 #파키스탄 #부토 #이슬람 #isi #오사마빈라덴 #지하드 #CIA #911 #무샤라프 #mma #gulmakai #idp #edp 21/3/16-20 프롤로그에서 영국 버밍엄에서 새로운 시작을 하게 된 현재, 버스에서 #탈레반 에게 총을 맞았던 순간을 먼저 묘사한 후에 본격적으로 저격당하기 직전까지 말랄라가 해 왔던 활동과 그녀의 치료와 재활 과정을 설명하는 구성으로 되어 있다 プロローグでは、英国バーミンガムで新たなスタートをするようになったた現在、バスで#タリバン に銃に打たれた瞬間を先に描写した後、本格的に狙撃される直前までマララがしてきた活動、彼女の治療やリハビリ過程を説明する構成となっている 말랄라의 시점으로 모든 이야기를 하는데 본인이 태어나기 훨씬 전인 이슬람의 창시부터 파키스탄의 역사와 탈레반의 탄생 및 현재의 세계 정세까지 상당한 통찰력과 분석력을 가지고 설명하고 있어서 특파원 출신의 공동 저자는 어디까지 개입한 건지 궁금하다 マララの時点ですべての話をするのに本人が生まれるはるか前の#イスラム の創始から、#パキスタン の歴史やタリバンの誕生と現在の世界情勢までにかなりの洞察力と分析力を持って説明しているから特派員出身の共著者はどこまで介入 したのか気になる 여성은 #교육 할 필요없다라든지 여성은 때릴 수도 있다라든지 같은 잘못된 사회적 관습적 분위기 속에서도 문맹의 아내를 존중하고 학교를 세워 딸을 포함해 많은 여성을 교육하려 했던 말라라 아버지의 올곧은 저항 정신이 있었기에 말라라에 대한 이야기도 나올 수 있었던 거라는 생각이 들었다 女性は#教育 する必要がないとか、女性は殴ることもできるとかのような誤った社会的・慣習的な雰囲気の中でも文盲の妻を尊重し、学校を建て娘を含めて、多くの女性を教育しようとしていた彼女の父のまっすぐな抵抗精神があったからマララの話も出てくることができただろうという気がした https://www.instagram.com/p/CMnj9Ypgdma/?igshid=kvk5n19ehjce