“Seduced, Killed and Blamed”: Malala Yousafzai’s Struggle Against the Taliban
Written by Kristy Dolson.
As the new semester approaches, I find myself thinking about Malala Yousafzai. In our home countries and in South Korea, we take it for granted that everyone has the right to a full education. But in many countries this is not the case. In her autobiography I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, she uses the unique story of her country and her life to spread awareness about the ongoing fight for equal education and justice around the globe.
Malala came of age in Pakistan during a time of political upheaval, when the country swung between military rule and elected officials. Not only that, but religious terrorists were gaining power throughout the country and demanding Islamic law be instated by the government. It was in this politically charged and oppressive climate that Malala’s optimistic father opened a school. He was constantly under threat by a government that demanded bribes and terrorists that forbade girls from being educated. As a result, Malala became an advocate for education and freedom from terror from an early age. This brought her awards and international acclaim, but it also made her a target for the Taliban. Their failed assassination attempt only served to solidify her position as an international advocate and amplify her message of universal education.
The autobiography was a collaborative effort between Malala Yousafzai and award-winning war correspondent Christina Lamb. The detail used to describe historical events and cultural traditions is stunning and the book, told in the first person, was beautifully crafted. It begins with a prologue detailing the moment that changed Malala’s life. Then the story backtracks to when Malala was born, and the five parts that follow recount her life and the concurrent history of her country as she grew and developed into the young woman who would eventually be tracked down and shot in the back of her school bus. The epilogue concludes the narrative, along with a short note on the “Malala Fund.” I hope to donate to this fund in the near future.
While Malala’s story deals with life under authoritarian rule, she reveals how ordinary people can find the courage to resist despite constant fear of violence. In the Swat Valley where Malala grew up, a man rose to become an influential person by broadcasting his strict Islamic beliefs over a radio. He condemned many things as un-Islamic and gathered a large following. Neither the military, nor the government did anything to stop him. There are charismatic figures seeking to restrict or harm others in every country. Malala’s story highlights how important it is to speak out against religious extremism and policies meant to restrict or harm others.
Published in 2013, there have been gains made for equal education in defiance of political and religious extremism. But there have been setbacks as well. We take our many freedoms for granted, but we must remember that it is not enough to rely on miracles. Let Malala’s story be a reminder that we must use our voices to speak up and speak out against oppression and violence aimed at children.
The Author
Kristy Dolson lived in South Korea for five years before taking a year off to travel, read, and spend time with her family in Canada and Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Education and now lives in Yeosu, where she splits her time between teaching at the new Jeollanamdo International Education Institute and reading as much as she can.