Only a week into her first semester
and Malala Yousafzai has already been wrongfully criticised. Earlier this week,
an alleged new photo of the 20 year-old activist, wearing a bomber jacket,
jeans, boots and a scarf, surfaced the Internet, causing uproar among many.
Malala Yousafzai, is a women’s
education activist, who as a child narrowly escaped death after being shot by
the Taliban in 2012, in response to her brave and outspoken campaigns for women’s
right to an education. Despite her critical condition and the long road to
recovery ahead of her, she did not abandon her efforts in the fight for
equality in education.
Source: metro.co.uk |
After completing her studies in Birmingham, she went on to accept a place studying at Oxford University and has recently started her degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Though most students will be sporting this attire as they begin the next year of their education, many were baffled at how Malala could be so daring to wear jeans, dubbing her “shameless” and a “disgrace”.
Whilst it is
yet to be confirmed that this picture is actually Malala Yousafzai, people have
not held back their accusations and have proceeded to dismiss the activist in
the most degrading ways. Because, sadly, isn’t that just the natural way to
respond to any woman who refuses to conform in today’s world?
Here are a
few comments made towards the photo:
For a
second, let’s just assume that it is Malala in the picture and she’s wearing a
pair of skinny jeans. Who cares? Have you never chosen to wear something a
little more modern over a traditional outfit? Do you think Pakistani or Indian women
in school only ever wear sarees? Are men restricted to their traditional
clothes every day?
BBC
presenter Anita Anand came to Malala’s defence, telling the Daily Mail:
“Malala can
wear whatever she likes as far as I am concerned.
“The baying
criticism is coming from the most regressive quarters, and I doubt she could do
anything to please them.
“I sincerely
hope she never tries. She is a heroine and a role model.”
Once again, I
ask why it is that we choose to focus on the meaningless appearance of someone,
rather than what they stand for. Malala Yousafzai has kick started an incredible
movement, inspiring young girls to fight for what they believe in and provoking
the conversations that really do need to be had. This is the first time she has
been pictured not wearing her traditional clothes. So bloody what? She’s still fighting
for her cause, and is continuing to succeed.
It must also
be noted that the majority of comments shaming Malala have been made by men.
This just goes to show that the fight for true equality of the sexes is still
ongoing. Women are still, by some, thought of as inferior to men and as theirs
to dictate, in what they say, how they act and, now, what they wear.
Malala may
not realise this, but she has sparked conversation this week and has carried us
a step further towards respect and equality.
Thank you for reading!
Aman