The Struggles of Malala Yousafzai in Fighting for the Freedom of Education

How did you feel about getting an education as a child? When you were young, did ever tell your parents or friends how much you hated school? On the one hand, conventional wisdom has it that education is a right of all people; consequently, children tend to grow up loathing school. American children tend to believe that their greatest danger comes from their own parents, who may punish them for any wrongdoings, or fear of the invisible monsters of their own imagination. On the other hand, the reality is that education is not a freedom granted to everyone. While most children despise school, there are children who are not given the opportunity of getting an education.

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani girl who values the importance of education; as a result, she also finds enjoyment in going to school. Unfortunately, Malala would one day come to know the monsters of humanity in the form of a group called the Taliban. The Taliban is an Islamic group that gained popularity in the area of Pakistan in which Malala attended school. Using fear and persuasion, the Taliban where able to stop all girls from attending school. After being deprived of an education Malala, instead of abandoning her aspirations, decided to stand up for what she believed in. Malala resisted an enemy feared worldwide with only her words; in doing so she continues to fight for the freedom of education.

Although Malala Yousafzai is best known for her campaign on women's education, her virtue and perseverance from adversity demonstrated to the world that an education is the strongest of all weapons.

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When it comes to the topic of social development most of us will readily agree that children are the key to future development. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of how they should be raised. Whereas some are convinced that an education is the key to a child's ability to influence society, others maintain that religious and traditional beliefs are more beneficial. Malala was raised in a small village in Pakistan called Swat, and both her parents had formal education (Yousafzai 55).

Malala's father not only was a teacher, but he was also the owner of a school. Malala explains her intimate relationship with her father's school, by insisting that she “had the run of the school as my playground" (Yousafzai 86). Furthermore, Malala's parents strove to provide her with the best education they could, and as a result Malala was placed in advanced classes at a very young age (Yousafzai 86). By the age of seven Malala was the top her class of sixty-nine students; in addition, Malala would go against popular views of her peers to help support the needy children of her village receive an education (Malala 88).

On the one hand Malala looked to preserve many aspects of her home village: Swat. According to Malala, "I did not realize I was living in paradise"(A Conversation With Pakistani Education Advocate Malala Yousafzai), which vividly shows her true convictions towards how strongly she loved her village, and she observes the potential not only within herself, her village, but ultimately her country. On the other hand Malala disagreed with certain aspects found within her culture. Malala asserted that the treatment of women was unjust, as they deserved the same rights as men. This inequality drove Malala to become an advocate of universal education, especially for girls (Bokava).

A number of education activists have recently suggested that the key to lasting peace is in the education of girls worldwide (Bokava). Consequently, it is often said that "restrictions to education has life-long and intergenerational effects, and is the pillar on which girls' and women's vulnerability and marginalization rests”(Cesare 2).

I agree that educational restraints have adverse affects on the development of societies, and cause the further perpetuation of turmoil, and my knowledge of Malala's upbringing and contributions to society help to confirm my opinion. Those unfamiliar with the ideology of the Pashtun people may be interested to know that it basically boils down to strict beliefs in religion and the submission of women. While Malala was raised in a society in favor of men, her parents were able to place her in a positive learning environment at a young age.

Malala's freedom to "run the school as her playground" shows that her parents were able to give her freedom in a society that lacked women's rights; furthermore, her asylum of freedom found within school allowed her to flourish and become the top of her class. As a result, Malala proves that there is no difference between sexes. My own view is that Malala's love for her country is in fact directly related to her educated upbringing. As a result of Malala's education and consequently her love for her country, Malala strives to help those who need it, and she devotes herself to bettering her country.

In conclusion, then, as I suggested earlier, defenders of strictly religious childhood upbringings cannot have it both ways. Their assertion that religious based beliefs will benefit their future society by their claim that women are inferior to men and thus not allowed to receive an education. Furthermore this will only perpetuate ignorance among the people causing a domino affect of social downfall, as opposed to perpetuating education and freedom, which in turn sparks a fire of pride throughout the people, and creates a need to better not only themselves but also their society.

Malala Yousafzai's name comes from the story of a girl named “Malalai" who was killed in battle, but her words and bravery inspired the men to turn the tides of the battle (Malala 15). Ironically, Malala and many others believe that words are more powerful than weapons. In a meeting with President Obama, Malala pleads to him "that instead of sending guns and tanks and soldiers to Afghanistan, why don't you send books and pens and teachers? And I told him that this is the best way to fight terrorism" (A Conversation With Pakistani Education Advocate Malala Yousafzai). Malala's point is that she believes educated individuals are the only ones who are able to take the power away from the Taliban.

However, she believes that sending weapons and troops to Afghanistan will only further perpetuate the rule of the Taliban. Consequently, even though Malala does not say so, she apparently assumes that words and education are stronger and more beneficial to a country in distress than anything else. While they rarely admit this, a majority of education activists often take for granted that their lives are not in grave danger. Malala acknowledges that in speaking out against the barbarous Taliban, she is putting her life in danger. Common sense seems to dictate that one should never go against an opposing force that has the means to kill you, especially if you are unarmed.

On the one hand, the Taliban use persuasion of the masses to control the population; in addition, the Taliban use their weapons and power to intimidate the people in order to maintain their reign of terror, and it is said that one Taliban member could intimidate a whole village (Malala 119). On the other hand, Malala uses her education and proficiency in public speaking to convey her message and sway the populace. Malala does not beg for the Taliban to spare her life; in fact, by demonstrating her unconditional want for peace she begs the Taliban to, "shoot me, but first listen to me. What you are doing is wrong. I'm not against you personally, I just want every girl to go to school" (Malala 7).

While Malala's point is that she does not mean to undermine anyone's opinion, she wants what is morally right. I whole-heartedly admire Malala's persistence for social justice in light of multiple death threats made by the Taliban; furthermore, I support Malala's efforts in conquering the Taliban by any means possible. Having spent time in Afghanistan, I have seen first hand the atrocities committed by the Taliban. I agree that many problems faced in the Pashtun countries, of Afghanistan and Pakistan, stem from the sexual inequalities and lack of educational systems.

Just as Malala, I went to this foreign country with no disdain in my heart, but unlike her, I was unable to maintain this feeling for them after my life had been threatened. Furthermore, I only perpetuated violence, for which upon returning years later I saw no change within their society. While it is true that allowing girls to get an education may not immediately solve the problem of Taliban, it will begin to address this problem. My own view as to why the Taliban fear Malala and continue to threaten her life is in fact because Taliban know that education is power; consequently, the more power held by the populace means the less power held by the Taliban.

Furthermore I have seen the disparity of the children who do not have schools to go to, and I have seen the wonderment in a little girl's eyes as we treated her with respect, something she has most likely never experienced in her life. Unlike asking a child in America if they like going to school, for which they will say they do not, I have asked the children of Afghanistan what they wanted most, for which they would usually reply by saying that they wanted to go to school. While not getting caught up in politics, I told myself that the reason I was in Afghanistan was to help terminate the Taliban rule, and to provide a hope for a better life for the children who were only victims of circumstance; meanwhile, Malala sought to stomp out the Taliban from Pakistan and provide equal opportunities for all to an education.

On the one hand, I went to battle with a machinegun and left having only perpetuated the current state of disarray. On the other hand, Malala went to battle with only her words, for which her bravery was almost the cause of her death. Furthermore, the failed assassination of Malala, carried out by the Taliban, demonstrates how her words and actions carried with them more damage than the Taliban's bullets. Malala's ability to accomplish such a daunting task using nothing but her words not only inspires me, but gives me hope for the future. Her outstanding courage in the face of evil is a quality that I can only aspire to attain.

Due to Pakistan's large youth population, 63 percent of their total population, they have the ability to either be an asset or a threat to their own country (Jawaid 108). At the moment Taliban are able to be influential in part because of the high illiteracy rate among the youth population; in fact, the Taliban feed off this. After the Taliban's attack on Malala, the youth's of Pakistan decided to rebel against their evil rulers by organizing street protests, praying and making signs (Jawaid109). The girls of Pakistan proclaimed, “ Malala is our sister, and if terrorists think they can silence us, they are wrong. We will only speak louder" (Jawaid 109).

In other words the effort to silence Malala and her harmful words in fact did the opposite. Ultimately, surviving the assassination attempt is what gained Malala not only worldwide recognition but gave her tremendous support towards her cause. Consequently, Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10, 2014, for "her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education" (Bokava). Accordingly, the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Malala sent a powerful message about the value of education for global peace. Besides being globally known for her struggles of equal education, her ability to overcome great odds and survive is what allowed the world to see her courage and commitment (Bokava).

Although, it is true that the assassination attempt catapulted her into the world's eye, and almost directly resulted in her becoming the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala has not strayed from her cause; furthermore, she argues that she is "not asking for any support for myself. Whether I'm shot or not, it does not matter. I want support for my cause of education, for my cause of peace"(A Conversation With Pakistani Education Advocate Malala Yousafzai).

This is a true testament, in my opinion, to Malala's intentions as to why she is fighting for her cause. While some would find comfort in the newly awarded fame and attention, Malala rejects all attention being focused on her, whether it is pity or not, instead she rather redirects all the attention that is being put on her to drive her movement for education of all.

Along with her ability to avoid the distraction of fame and glamor, Malala once again puts her cause first, and again worries less about her life and more about her campaign. Malala emphasizes that, "I will continue my campaign, and I'm going back to Pakistan as soon as possible... I'm going to serve Pakistan. And I'm going to work for education of every child" (A Conversation With Pakistani Education Advocate Malala Yousafzai).

I agree with Malala's actions as she is using the momentum of her movement to further her cause, while her selflessness is a virtue we should all seek to achieve. Malala at first glance appears to be just another teenager, but on closer inspection one realizes her achievements have reverberated throughout the world. Thus proving that age does not matter; furthermore, a person should be judged on their virtues and achievements rather than how long they have been alive because some individuals can live a whole life and accomplish nothing. While others accomplish astounding leaps of success in a short period of their life.

Although the issue of equal education for all seems trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today's concern over global terrorism. In fact, Malala's fight against the Taliban has been the most effective, and it follows then that we should reassess the way in which we are trying to deal with terrorism on a global scale.

Malala is a great example of a social justice figure, largely due to the virtues she displays. Malala not only exhibits passion for her beliefs, her overwhelming determination and selflessness are qualities that all should strive to be like. Malala's motivation is for everyone to have the ability to receive an education, especially for under privileged girls. She also exposes the importance of education by showing how it impacts more than just the literacy rate among the populace.

Malala not only demonstrates through her words, but is also an example herself, of how education cannot only help prevent but also eradicate terrorism. Her struggle for education in Pakistan has gained global attention, as she over came all odds, including death, to prove to the world that words are stronger than bullets. I look forward to see her advancements not only within Pakistan, but the impact she has made on future generations throughout the world.

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