{"id":1,"date":"2016-09-15T19:04:38","date_gmt":"2016-09-15T19:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/andrewwilson\/?p=1"},"modified":"2016-09-19T11:36:27","modified_gmt":"2016-09-19T18:36:27","slug":"hello-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/andrewwilson\/2016\/09\/15\/hello-world\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I am Malala’ and the reception of the memoir"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The story of Malala Yousafzai is one of inspiration and heroism. A young girl targeted by the Taliban after advocating for women’s education (Yousafzai \u2013 Lamb 5). In an effort to silence her voice they would in turn only strengthen her resolve and influence as an activist.<\/p>\n

Malala Yousafzai was born in the Swat Valley, a region within the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Yousafzai \u2013 Lamb 5). It is a beautiful mountainous land filled with \u201chigh-snow-topped peaks, green waving fields and fresh blue rivers\u201d according to Malala Yousafzia. Once a semi-autonomous region under the control of the British, the Swat Valley has had a long and rich history (Yousafzai \u2013 Lamb 5). This history and way of life however became threatened once the Taliban began gaining traction in the region early in the 21st<\/sup> century (Paracha).<\/p>\n

This wave of religious conservatism began the shift of values of the valley, things such as women\u2019s education and even dancing were outlawed in the region (Yousafzai \u2013 Lamb 5). In 2012 these tensions came to head when Malala was attacked by Taliban members on her way to her school, leaving her critically wounded with a gunshot wound to her head (Yousafzai \u2013 Lamb 5). This incident would prevent Malala from returning home to her native Pakistan due to threats from the Taliban. She instead would go on to advocate for women\u2019s rights from abroad, during this time she would publish her critically acclaimed memoir \u2018I am Malala\u2019 <\/em>(Yousafzai \u2013 Lamb 5).<\/p>\n

The reception of the memoir has been one of mixed emotions however. In the West her story has been praised for its bravery and poignant message, opening up a world that many have never read about or had access too (Zubek). Her message of \u2018pens and books instead of guns and violence\u2019 has captured the minds of many and lead to further advocacy of education for all (Zubek). Yousafzai was even co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her “struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education” (Malala). Back in Pakistan however the reception was very different entirely. Her book was banned one month after its publication across the entirety of Pakistan\u2019s private school system and it is non existent on bookshelves across the country (Zubek). Publicly Malala Yousafzai is seen as not truly representing the people of Pakistan and as a puppet for Western nations, although privately to many she is seen as a person to be admired and a hero to school children across the nation (Zubek). This begs the question of who the target audience of \u2018I am Malala\u2019<\/em>\u00a0 truly was and if it was received how she’d initially hoped or intended<\/strong>. On one hand presenting her homeland in a negative light was bound to polarize herself from those opposing her, on the other hand to do so would be sure receive support from those who would agree with her message and campaign for global education.<\/p>\n

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Additional Links\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Swat Valley<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"swat-valley\"<\/p>\n

www.encyclopk.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

A picture of the Swat valley, often regarded as the ‘Switzerland of the east’ (Yousafzai \u2013 Lamb 5).<\/p>\n

Malala Yousafzais’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech<\/strong><\/p>\n