Together with members of your group and students in other sections, you’ll be reading I Am Malala over the next several weeks. Although you're not required to take notes while you read, it would be wise to keep track of important events and characters for your own clarification. You are, however, expected to participate regularly and thoughtfully in an online discussion of seven essential questions.
Here's how it works:
Divide your book into two roughly equal halves. You need to have read and blogged about your book by the due dates below.
- There are two kinds of posts in this discussion: responses and comments.
- Post at least SIX responses altogether: at least THREE for the 1st half of reading and at least THREE for the 2nd half.
- You must respond to at least five essential questions over the course of your reading.
- You may respond to only two questions more than once.
- One of your six responses can be a "free response" post.
- Post at at least TEN comments altogether: at least FIVE for the 1st half of reading and at least FIVE for the 2nd half.
- Post your first three responses to the book and five comments by TUESDAY, MARCH 15.
- Post your final three responses to the book and five comments by THURSDAY, MARCH 31.
- How do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
- Where do the characters find sources of inspiration in their lives?
- How are the characters affected by events/changes in society?
- How is the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect characters’ lives?
- How does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling (or wearing a head scarf) in other countries?
- How do the characters’ personal stories expand your understanding of the societies in which they live?
- Should there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world? Why or why not?
Assessment: To earn maximum credit, post thoughtful responses that are at least a short paragraph in length—and carefully proofread! Do not misspell characters' or authors’ names! Also, be sure to include specific references to the text (either details or short quotations).
Where do the characters find sources of inspiration in their lives?
ReplyDeleteIn her life, Malala finds most of her inspiration from her father, Ziauddin. Now Malala's father is a very remarkable man. Despite having a stutter, he was able to win many awards for reciting speeches. He also tried very hard in school. After graduating from school he wanted to go to college at Jehanzeb, but could not afford to live there. Therefore, he had to live with someone else while he attended college. It took awhile to find someone who would take him in, and while he waited he never gave up hope. His biggest accomplishment was his creation of Khushal School. He faced many difficulties while creating the school; there were few students and officials were asking for bribes. He also lost friends who helped him run the school. First there was Naeem and then there was Hidayatullah. Despite these hardships, Ziauddin never gave up hope for his school. He also cares for all people in the world, as well as for the environment. His hard work inspires Malala in everything she does, from always being honest to showing kindness to everyone she meet to all of the hard work she does in school. Ziauddin is not only a man that Malala should be inspired by, but someone that we all can be inspired by.
I agree, Ziauddin is a truly remarkable man. The fact that he was willing to give up friends for his dream really illustrates the level of his dedication.
DeleteI agree completely I like how you worded this, Ziauddin is a very inspirational man and being his daughter has only given her more of a light into his beliefs which helped her become who she is today.
DeleteI agree with this, I also think that his passion with education inspired her to pursue women's education as much as she does. Growing up surrounded by school really changed her mindset about the importance of schooling.
DeleteI agree with this fully. Malala's father was indeed a huge influence in her life and he was a great role model for her.
DeleteHow do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
ReplyDeleteFor Malala, the only way for her to assert her individuality is by giving interviews that spoke out against the oppressive ways of the Taliban. When she was only eleven, she began to go on the radio with her father and say how the Taliban were attacking her people. She also went on TV to speak out. She would fight for many rights, but specifically the right for her and all women to be given an education. Another way she spoke out was with her online diary. With the help of the BBC, Malala wrote about all of the atrocities that she was living under. To protect her identity she used the pseudonym Gul Makai. While doing this she showed her immense bravery. Do not forget that she was only eleven at the time. She was not anonymous was conducting the radio and TV interviews. Therefore the Taliban could have her out and killed her at anytime. Yet she did not care. She had learned through her father the importance of defending others, and she would do just that, even if it cost her her life.
How are the characters affected by events/changes in society?
When the Taliban invaded Swat, they got rid of anything they deemed Western and haram. They destroyed CDs and DVDs. They banned colorful clothing and dancing. They required men to grow their beards long and women to be covered in public. But the prohibition that affected Malala the most was the one on women's schools. The Taliban believed that women's duties were at home and education was therefore pointless. They stopped women from going to school and even destroyed the schools. While Ziauddin tried to keep his school open it was eventually forced to close in January 2009. This was heartbreaking to Malala, who believed that education was the most important resource that someone could have. The school did reopen eventually, yet Malala was soon forced away again. This time it was because her family and everyone in Swat was forced to leave when the Pakistani government began operations in liberating it from the Taliban. Malala and her family left Swat to live with relatives, unsure if they would ever see their home again.
Malala is inspirational in many ways. I don't know very many eleven year-olds who would stand up for others, especially in such a public way and under the threat of death.
DeleteI agree with what you said in your first post however I do think there are more ways Malala asserts individuality, with subtle things like wearing a colorful dress when that was not something women should be doing,
DeleteYes, it is crazy to imagine being only eleven and speaking out against one of the most brutal and repressive organizations in the world. It definitely took a lot of bravery.
DeleteI agree that everyone was definitely affected by the Taliban, and I like how you connected not just Malala, but her father to the trouble that the schools are encountering.
DeleteHow are characters affected by events/changes in society?
ReplyDeleteWhile may changes occurred within the area's society such as the constant rises of coups and overthrowing of governments, the most important change or event to note is the Taliban moving into the Swat Valley. While many of Mingora's people were religious and upheld Islam's morals, the Taliban took Islam to a new level. Besdies affecting women, the Taliban banned things such as ownership DVD's and CD's, TV's, even going as far as to pay compensation to shop owners that willingly closed their shops as they though it would please God. Multiple other things were banned such as any music that wasn't encouraged by the Taliban. Then the Taliban even took away the valley's polio vaccine on fears that it was "an American plot to make women infertile...", of course this most likely only lead to more people getting polio. In direct correlation to women, the Taliban encouraged girls dropping out of school, women to follow the "rules" of Islam and stay home and only go outside in the vent of an emergency. The most absurd thing to think of is the support by people of the Swat, even women, who would take away their own liberities in order to please their God.
How does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling in other countries?
America is a very split country when it comes to how they view the veiling of women. Many people see it as demeaning to women in the sense that they are being forced to wear the hijab or other forms of head coverings. On the other end people just see it as part of the religion such as how Judaism encourages men to wear a kippah or yamaka. Yet it is important to realize the extent of how far this goes. In America, a comparatively free and open nation, Muslim women often wear a head scarf as a sign of their Muslim faith, however at the same time, they are not encouraged by the American society to wear it. The women are given almost complete choice over what they wear, to a similar extent as men. Of course within places such as Pakistan, wearing the head scarf is highly encouraged by the society as nearly everyone is some form of Muslim. Yet the veiling of women often goes further than just a head scarf. Women are often encouraged to completely drape themselves and are given very little to any power in terms of politics, social order, or just simple respect.
Should there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world?
Overall people in general should not have to face boundaries in order to succeed when other people do not have to be faced with those challenges just because they are not the same sex, or skin color, or age, or religion, or any other variable in one's life. It is best for a society in national and global terms, to be able to include people from all walks of life, especially those who have fought for their right to represent themselves in society. However, to what extent does gender equality really count as equality? Are we talking about similar political rights such as voting, running for office, divorce rights, crime and punishment, or are we going down to the essence of society, things are our images of men versus women in general? Should a boy be encouraged by society to play with trucks while girls are taught to play with dolls? Should boys play sports while girls gossip? Where does equality end and nature begin? Recently the first women in U.S. Army history graduated from the prestigious Army Ranger school. These women had to perform to the lengths that men did. But as we know, and I don't mean to be sexist in any way, men are for the most part given the biological upper hand in terms of physical abilities. How can we expect women to ever be on the same level as men in terms of things like this when biology highly discourages it from happening? The line is very hard to draw where "equality" becomes possible to impossible.
I think that the reason that American's view wearing a hijab is bad is because of how it is forced upon women in the Middle East. In America we have a freedom of choice not present there and therefore forcing someone to wear something that covers so much of the body seems very wrong.
DeleteI have to disagree with you of the believe that women are restricted biologically. It is very possible for a women to be as strong as a man. The problem is the society we live in. In our society it is believed that women are weaker than men and therefore women rarely try to be strong. What we need to do is realize that women can be just as strong as men, despite biological differences.
DeleteRegarding your first paragraph, I wonder how much of an affect the loss of CD's, DVD's and TV's had on the people of Swat. No doubt it did affect them but I wonder how much of an influence those devices had on those people because if you think about if that happened in the U.S. how it could turn peoples lives upside down but in Swat there's a lot more poverty so I wonder if it would have the same impact on them.
DeleteI agree with Eola in the sense that, maybe the CD's and DVD's weren't the worst that could have happened to the people. I mean i do understand that that is a form or entertainment and how they can receive the news, but I can't help wonder if the Taliban could have done worse.
DeleteOf course the loss of the actual DVDs and CDs weren't the biggest loss of property to the people. Like you say if that happened in the U.S people would go insane. My main point of using it as an example was to show the restrictions of what the people could here or listen to. They didn't want the ideas or themes of the western world, or just themes that they didn't agree with, to be spread to the people. It's just a small example of how far they were willing to go in order to uphold and enforce their ideas of modesty.
DeleteAlex don't get me wrong I've seen and know very fit women that embody the opposite of that stereotype. I'm just saying that because of biological factors like testosterone, men are given a slight upper hand, of course to a certain extent. Women can be as strong as men, it's just much harder for a women to get to some of those levels of physical strength or speed. I also highly support women having combat roles, I'm just pointing out how they can be given the lower hand.
DeleteHow do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
ReplyDeleteCharacters assert themselves in very strong, shocking ways in this repressed Pakistan. The strongest example I feel is Malala’s father. He already stands out in Pakistan due to his very dark skin that has gotten him made fun of and treated differently by his teachers, and his perseverance to start his own school only makes him stand out more. He has spent almost his entire life trying to create education for all children although it is frowned upon by many. He borrowed, bargained, and fought for his school to be started. In the process of this he even pushed away his friends trying to fulfill his dream. Through all of his strife he created a name for himself, and even though he isn’t an Imam or a wealthy member of Pakistan, people look up to him, and respect his thoughts and listen to what he has to say.
Malala's father is a very unique person in Pakistan. Not many men are as supportive of women's rights to go to school and he is very brave to do that especially after the Taliban invade Swat.
DeleteI agree her father is an extremely inspiring person. He had to start with less respect than most people did because of the color of his skin, and then fought for the unfavorable opinion but still gained respect and people that looked up to him which I find very moving.
DeleteI was absolutely blown away by Malala's father. The way he overcame his stutter when he was a child and then as soon as he had an education he began to fight for everyone's right to an education is so inspirational.
DeleteI also agree that Malala's father is one of the people that shows their individuality the most. He has gone against his odds, and conquered things that most people wouldn't in his circumstances. Even with his speech disability he entered a speaking contest to show his dad his determination and drive. Also he knows that there aren't many people who believe women should get an education, and if he supported it there would be people who thought bad of him, but he believed in it so much he went for it even though his reputation could be at risk.
DeleteIt's interesting to see how far Malala's father is willing to go in order to educate all children and people in general. Early on he was willing to put himself and the rest of his family under very hard conditions, which also could've resulted in his first child being stillborn. However it's very inspiring to see how much his efforts had paid off, and hopefully his efforts, along with the efforts of other people fighting for universal education, will pay off in the near future.
DeleteMalala's father is a great example of this simply because he stands up for what he believes in and he really doesn't let anyone get in his head. He got over his speech disability and stood up for girls education. Sounds quite assertive to me.
DeleteWhere do the characters find sources of inspiration in their lives?
ReplyDeleteCharacters like Malala’s mother find their inspiration in God, but that isn’t where everyone finds their inspirations. Malala has found inspiration in her family. In her father she is inspired by his perseverance with his dreams, and she just loves and respects him. In her mother she is inspired by the strength that a woman can show. And in their religion although it is said that women cannot be strong, I think that Malala knows this to be untrue at first from her mother. Another inspiration to Malala I feel is her paternal grandfather. He is an outstanding public speaker and he is very smart and wise. Malala pays a lot of attention to her surroundings, so I think that she really takes into account everything that is said or has been said to her.
Yes, it's been really interesting to see where characters find their inspirations. I agree that Malala has been extremely self aware since a young age.
DeleteAdding on to your paternal grandfather comment I feel like he has had a big impact that entire family. He helped Ziauddin with his public speaking giving him confidence and the ability to stand up for his beliefs which was passed down to a third generation to Malala. I think that entire line of the family is inspirational.
DeleteI find that each character we are reading about finds inspiration in their own things, which I enjoy because in their lifestyle, it is very common to see people lose their individuality and fit in with the mold that was shaped for them. Malala is a very independent and optimistic girl, who knows what she believes in and will look at the world she lives in from different views.
DeleteHow Malala’s father continuously gives her hope starting from a very young age.
ReplyDeleteAll throughout Malala’s life her father has told her that she is different. When she was born, although Malala’s mother thought he would be disappointed, he fell in love with her. He often would sing this song to her: “O Malalai of Maiwand / Rise once more to make Pashtuns understand the song of honor / Your poetic words turn worlds around / I beg you, rise again.” This struck out to me because it is a very strong song with a lot of meaning that Malala would be important one day. He would also tell her things when she was young like, “Malala will be free as a bird,” or one time when a woman asked him why Malala was not covered he said, “She’s my daughter. Look after your own affairs.” All of the hope that he gave her I think gave her the strength to speak out as she does against girls not being educated. I really enjoy reading about how her father says all of those things and it makes me feel relieved that there are people who would see past someone being a girl and see into what amazing things they could become.
I also enjoyed reading about Malala's father Ziauddin. It was nice to read about a Muslim man who cares about women and people's rights among all of the atrocities of the Taliban. It reminds you that not all Islamic men are sexist.
DeleteIt's nice to see someone put so much faith into their child. With all the horrible things going on around them it would be pleasant to have a constant reminder of what you are able to achieve. I like how from the beginning he knew that she was going to be special and accomplish great things.
DeleteZiauddin seems to stick out as a father, from reading this book you get the idea that if you, as a child, aren't ideal then you will most likely be shunned or not cared of in the way a boy might be. Malala's father is his own person and doesn't let other people decide what he should do with his daughter and how he should feel towards her. This is one way that Ziauddin shows his own strength, that is then seen in Malala herself.
DeleteHow do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
ReplyDeleteMalala has an incredible ability to remain unique in a world where everyone is expected to be the same. Once the Taliban took hold of Swat, they demanded ridiculous thing such as all women wearing burqas and rarely leaving the house, and men must have beards of a very precise length. For example, Malala and her friends would tattoo their hands with henna drawings of chemical formulae and calculus instead of the usual flowers and butterflies. Malala’s brightness and strength not only inspires others, but propels her forward in the world. She also uses her speeches as an outlet to stand out and speak up for what she believes in, something that is extremely difficult especially in such a repressive society. Ziauddin and Malala are similar in many ways. I think that Malala learned to speak out and stand up for what is right from her father, who is an amazing public speaker who has overcome so much. He also uses his power in the community to stand up not only for his school but for education in general, something that not many others are willing to do.
I also noticed the similarities between Ziauddin and Malala, just like the say "like father, like daughter." They both fight for the same things and fight for them in the same ways by rebelling against the norm. I found it cool how they changed the tattoos to express themselves in a way that most people usually wouldn't.
DeleteI also took notice to the similarities between Malala and her father. Malala has shown many times that she will stand for what she believes is right, which I believe she learned from her father. It is very surprising that someone so young can be so powerful in the way she chooses to live her life. She is very determined and knows if she sets goals or rules for herself she will follow behind them and try her best to make sure she is a daughter to be proud of. Even if other kids are doing things that may not be right, she knows that if it will put her family to shame she will do her very best to withhold herself from participating.
DeleteI think that Malala's individuality comes the most from just how she carries herself through life. While others were submitting to the taliban she was making her own path with the small amount of girls that also went to school. Apart from Malala we can see this with her mother as well. Her mother wouldn't comply with what the taliban insisted upon and would often run her own errands and I think that she did a good job of asserting her individuality and independence through this.
DeleteI like your wording with this, there are many similarities between the two people which I noticed as well which helped her become who she is today. All with help of her father who was different than most Pakistan men.
DeleteWhere do the characters find sources of inspiration in their lives?
ReplyDeleteWhen you read books the characters usually look up to one or two people who completely inspire them, but for Malala I think she is more inspired by life itself rather than just one aspect of it. Everyone she was with she looked up to in a certain way. There was her father who she aspires to be like every day by making a change, which started off with her making that first speech. Malala also looks up to Moniba as a "big sister." Moniba "sets down rules that I try to follow" (77) showing that Malala values her opinion. Moniba was one of Malala's biggest competition in class which pushed Malala to exceed even farther so that she could stay top in her class. Malala seeks inspiration wherever she looks because she's optimistic trying to fix everything around her and being a leader in herself. There's a certain inspiration to rebel against the oppression that everyone, especially the women are forced under. It gives Malala a drive to succeed in everything that she does.
It was interesting to see that although Malala and Moniba compete, Malala still looks up to Moniba instead of envying her. I agree with your comment about Malala being inspired by life itself, I hadn't thought of it that way before but it makes a lot of sense. So far she always seems to be able to find inspiration even in the most deplorable conditions.
DeleteI definitely agree with you when you say that Malala looks up to her father. Throughout a big portion of the book she takes time off of her own life story in order to tell the life story of her father. Of course I'm sure that the fact that her father was given more chances has to do with this. Although I highly agree with what you say that Malala finds inspiration in the environment around her. She sees that girls are given less opportunities and acts on it and it's no wonder that she has made waves doing her best to change that.
DeleteI very much agree that Malala is inspired by several aspects of life, and I too think that this is what makes her such a great leader to women's rights in the world. Also, I think that her being inspired and really just taking in different things from a various number of people in the world causes her to be an even larger inspiration to the world around her.
DeleteShould there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI believe there should be one standard for gender equality everywhere around the world. No matter where you live the value of human life is the same so why should it be any different between men and women? There shouldn't be any limits as to how you are treated as an individual other than how you want to be treated. I don't think there's ever going to be one single standard as to how men and women are treated but I think there should at least be a consistency across the globe. People in general should not be oppressed and everywhere you look you see more about oppression against women although it is still a problem with men. Specifically education is very restricted to girls and it isn't for boys, that's why we all automatically assume that women have it worse off. If you would want unequal gender equality what would be restricting you from discriminating other people too. Gender equality is just as important as equality through race or religion. If we let one "group" dominate or just have more rights than everyone else they would have the potential to get whatever they wanted which isn't an equal opportunity at life for everyone. If you look at it from a smaller scale take two siblings, and let's say the parents favors the older one. They could get more chances to succeed in their childhood while the younger one doesn't get the same opportunities for the same things. It's not equitable. Both genders should have the same rights and be given the same opportunities as they deserve throughout their lives.
I very much agree with you on this. The difference between male and female is very little physically. Yet as a society we believe that men are superior to women. This is wrong and both men and women should be seen as equal in every category.
DeleteI love how you think this. My only problem with it is that like what Alex said there can't really ever be one set of gender equality. Not only with the physicality differences, but with the difference in people everywhere. Religion changes a lot and in a lot of cases changes the gender equality standards for some people. I do hope that everyone wishes for international gender equality one day.
DeleteHow do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
ReplyDeleteMalala's principal unintentionally represses Malala while trying to keep her and her peers safe by telling them "D[o not wear colorful clothes]" (156) and Malala completely expresses her individuality when she wrote "'I was getting ready for school one day and was about to put on my uniform when I remembered the advice of our principal, so that day I decided to wear my favorite pink dress" (156). This explicitly shows Malala's nature of not letting others scare her and prevent her from living how she wants to. At eleven years old she speaks out and acts out against the people that are instilling fear in her entire community even in the smallest ways. She won't cover her face as society tells her to and even when she gets the judging looks from others on the streets she's able to brush it off and keep walking with utmost confidence. Malala also had her father to show her how to be confident and stick with your opinion. Ziauddin strongly believes that girls have the right to an education and when he had teachers disagreeing with him about females getting an education he wasn't afraid to fire them which is probably where Malala gets her confidence from. Ziauddin is in an entirely opposite mindset of most of society in the fact that he believes that girls should get an education but even though he gets threats and other schools are being bombed he sticks to what he believes and doesn't let the terror that society is implanting in everyone affect him. This shows his individuality because of the unique courage it takes to stand up against an entire group that is physically more powerful than you.
Ziauddin is such a strong figure, in such repressive societies there must be people who aren't afraid to stand up for what is right. I agree with you that Malala gets her confidence and ability to stand up for her rights from her father.
DeleteYes, Malala's father exemplifies the virtue of "having the courage of one's convictions"—an anomaly, especially in such a repressive society. He gave Malala a platform on which to stand.
DeleteHow do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
ReplyDeleteI think that the two people who show their individuality the most is Malala and her father, Ziauddin. Malala is a very mart girl for her age, she knows that her rights aren't great. She thinks that she can help the girls in Swat. There was one specific part of the book that stayed with me. When she was getting ready for school, and she remembered that the people around her tell her not to stick out, and not to wear colorful clothes, then she chooses to wear her best pink dress. Malala isn't afraid of standing up to the people in charge, she doesn't show any sign of weakness. Malala has learned to be proud of who she is and where she comes from from her father. Ziauddin has become such an important man in Swat. He has stood up for women and their right to be educated and knows that he doesn't want to disappoint his family and friends, but he won't back down if it is diminishing the rights of his people. He is unique and won't let anyone scare him, which is where Malala got that mindset. He holds true to his beliefs and will do what he thinks is right even times get tough
I agree, both of these characters are very influential. Each finds ways to show who they really are, and push the boundaries on what is acceptable in Swat.
DeleteWhere do the characters find sources of inspiration in their lives?
ReplyDeleteMalala seems to find most of her inspiration in her father. He has overcome so many obstacles and preserved to achieve the goals he set for himself. By overcoming his stutter, succeeding in school, attending a college he couldn't afford, building a school when nobody thought he could. His strength has rubbed off on Malala, and she has become a girl who doesn't let an obstacle put her down. Malala has learned everything from her father, she admires him and what he stands for. This has pushed Malala to become someone who can make her family and herself proud. She has taken the road that is leading her to success. She doesn't let greed or ideals force her to be just like everyone else. She follows her heart and chooses to be different. She stands up for others, and people's rights, just like her father had.
I agree, Malala looks up to her father. He is a great role model for her and he had a great influence of her desire to stand up for her rights.
DeleteShould there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world?
ReplyDeleteZiauddin says many times that “Malala will be free as a bird”(26), and I believe he is the one who opened the cage to allow Malala to be free. In many ways I think that Ziauddin himself is a feminist. Not many men in Pakistan are willing or care enough to stand up for women’s rights to the extent that he has. For example, he fired teachers who chose to help the Taliban, and continually encourages his own daughter to follow her heart. In terms of gender equality, I definitely wish that there could be a single standard for it globally. But how much can we really control? How far are we willing to go to enforce this said standard? Economically, there should be rules about pay equality between men and women, and equal opportunities as much as possible. Can we really enforce social norms though? Can we make rules about how women are accepted into society? I’m not sure. I think that in order to change the way that women are incorporated and accepted in society will take everyone to stand up and say that we need a change. Equality is going to take more than just women coming together, there have to be men involved too. A great example of this is again Malala’s father, Ziauddin. In place where men have a greater influence, even when just one man stands up for women, it makes a really big difference.
I really like this answer of yours, I like how you related to more then just the book you talked about the whole world and all women not just Islamic women. I agree 100% with everything you said.
DeleteI agree with your statement. I think in order to get gender equality throughout the world, it will need to take everyone around the world to stand up and give both genders equal opportunity.
DeleteHow are the characters affected by events/changes in society?
ReplyDeleteThere have been many events in Malala's life that has forced them to change their way of living and the way they approach things. the Taliban took away a lot of the rights of the people of Swat. This includes the banning of CD's and DVD"s because that's what God wants. Another thing is the Taliban took away the valley's polio vaccine believing that it was plot from America that would make the women infertile. But this really just took away the ability to save people from polio. They also made rules that dancing was not allowed and colorful clothing was not okay to wear. They also stated that women needed to be covered all the time and escorted by men every time they go out. And these men had to have a beard a certain length. They took away so much from the people because God wanted it.
I like how you related everything back to their religious belief that their God wants them to behave a certain way.
DeleteIt is terrible how groups like the Taliban can twist around religion to convince people to do what they want to do. It is really what happens though.
DeleteHow is the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect characters’ lives?
ReplyDeleteWomen in Pakistan are thought of as much lesser than men. Everything about the way that women are treated in Pakistan reflects this. In Islam, veiling is optional. Yet the Taliban are painting this picture of ignorance and control. The Taliban preach that women should stay in the house most of the time, always wear a burqa outside the house and have a male escort. Their main jobs are to care for children, cook, clean, and serve the husband. Men of course, are allowed slightly more freedoms. Although they must have a beard of a very precise length along with a few other restrictions, they can go to school (preferably a religious one) and have ultimate political power. Malala has always been very observant of this: “I wondered how free a daughter could ever be”(26). But she is living proof that a daughter can be so free, possibly even more so than the men and boys she grew up with in Pakistan. Malala’s father is very similar to her in the way that he does not always abide by gender roles, and has allowed her to be free. Ziauddin is proof that the only way to fight ignorance is with knowledge. Eventually these attitudes caused Malala to be shot in the head by the Taliban.
Why is the education of women so much more threatening to the Taliban than the education of men?
DeleteHow is the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect characters’ lives?
ReplyDeleteIn the Islamic belief the wearing of a veil or head covering is a choice that the women get to make, though many do choose to practice it it is not forced. However in Pakistan women are not treated as equals, they are submissive only thought to be good for housework and raising children. To force the women to cover themselves and wear burqas when leaving the house with a male escort takes a way from their humanity. It makes them lesser giving men more power and control which is what the Taliban needs. Malala realized all this and questioned it which caused the Taliban to dislike her and want her gone from the picture. While you have the men on the other hand wearing and doing whatever they see fit, they can do what they want learn what they want–with in reason of Islamic beliefs–in their lives.
I agree with a lot of this, but I think that it isn't so much as a cultural thing with the women having to be submissive than it is the Taliban and other groups twisting the Islam religion. Also, isn't it that wearing burqas and veils can sometimes be what women of the Islam religion want? I'm not saying that this is all cases, but sometimes veiling can be just apart of someone's religion.
DeleteHow does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling in other countries?
ReplyDeleteHere in the United States we are founded on being a free state, for example religious women can wear any coverings they see fit for what THEY believe, not what her husband or father believes. Here in the States a Muslim women can wear a Hijab if she wants to and if she doesn't want to our government will not force her into one. There are however many women and men who think women who wear religious coverings are being let down and being forced to confine to a belief system even though it's their choice. But we don't see it that way because we don't share their beliefs. I do think the majority of our country sees the treatment of women in other countries and frowns upon it, I believe as a nation we see that those women should have the equal rights to go out wearing what she wants to do whatever she would like.
I think that there are a lot of misconceptions about Islam in America, we should be celebrating women who choose to veil just as much as the ones who choose not to.
DeleteShould there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world?
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the world should see women as equal, there is a quote that says: "It's a mans world" and sadly that in some cases is true. Every place in the world has double standards for different genders which I believe isn't right. Everyone should be treated equally no matter if they're male or female. The issue with that is we cannot very often change peoples' minds about things like gender equality. Malala's dad says “Malala will be free as a bird”(26) and I do hope that is true and that all women can be free birds but right now that simply isn't the case. I do strongly believe all women and men should be treated as equals no matter what their religious belief is, we're all human and deserve the same basic human rights.
I agree that everyone deserves basic human rights but I also believe it should extend further than that. Everyone should have the same rights for mostly everything going on in their lives not just the necessities.
DeleteHow does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling (or wearing a head scarf) in other countries?
ReplyDeleteIn the United States we do not have many restrictions on women. This was not always how it was, but today men and women have basic equal rights. We are taught about how America is such a great place to live in and how much we are lucky to live here. So when we hear about restrictions such as veiling, we view it as very negative. This is not only because of the fact that it is forced on women, although it is one component. It is something much bigger. Since 9/11 the U.S population has not been the best when it comes to being nice towards Muslims. We (particularly Republicans) have been very discriminatory towards the followers of Islam. In order to discriminate against a particular group, there has to be a sign that differentiates them from everyone else. In the case of Muslims the most obvious sign is veiling. Because of this fact, we have grown up thinking that veils are bad. It also doesn't help that terrorist force this upon women. In order to spread hatred towards the terrorists the government (again particularly Republicans) spreads propaganda against all beliefs of the terrorists. This includes veiling. This does not take into consideration that many Muslim women use veils because of their faith. This includes Malala's mother. It is not just the fact that it is forced upon women that U.S citizens hate veiling. It is also in part due to a (Republican) government mission to spread anti-Muslim beliefs.
How do the characters’ personal stories expand your understanding of the societies in which they live?
ReplyDeleteIn America, we tend to have a negative view towards the Middle Eastern countries after 9/11. With all of the terrorist, dictators, and poverty over there, the area seems like a big hellhole. Personally I did not feel this extreme. Yet I still believed that there was a lot of oppression going on in Pakistan. We always hear about the negative events, and not the positive ones. One of these events was that they had a female prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. It was surprising because I hear about all of the oppression towards women over there, I never thought that quite recently a women led the country. Another pleasant surprise was Ziauddin. Malala's father was a really great person to read about. In an area known for oppressive ideas, it is nice to read about Ziauddin and his colleagues. They quite actively support women's rights at a time when that could have led to them being attacked by the Taliban. From what the media seems to say, you would think that all Muslim men are against women's rights. It was so nice to read about a group of men who show so much dedication towards such a risky topic. Of course there was the experience of Malala herself. Before reading the book, I never knew how active she was. I knew that she had spoken out against the Taliban and spoke for women's right to education, but I never knew how much she actually spoke. She sort of became a symbol in Pakistan before she was shot. The Taliban is such a terrifying group you would think that opposers would hide. Yet Malala spoke against them on TV and radio. She won the Pakistan Peace Prize. This made her a prime target for the Taliban. Yet she did not care. This really opened my eyes to the bravery of the people there. So many people expressed their beliefs against oppressive groups that I never knew about. It very enlightening that not all Middle Easterners are oppressive terrorist
It was nice to read about Ziauddin and it gives hope knowing that there are men like him who are out supporting women in Pakistan. It showed that not all men in the Middle East are trying to restrict rights but some are actually trying to expand them.
DeleteHow is the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect characters’ lives?
ReplyDeleteThere is no covering the fact that in Pakistan women and there rights aren't as important as the males. They aren't treated like they should be and are taught to believe that they need a man to be there for them for everything. The Taliban are going against the already set rules for Islam. Veiling is optional for the women, but it is being forced on them by the Taliban. Along with that they are told to wear a burqa whenever they are in public, also the Taliban is controlling almost everything the women do. They are strongly advocating that the women stay at home for most of the time and every time they do go out they need to have a male escort that is related to them in some way. Another way the Taliban is discriminating against the women by taking away their freedom is setting jobs for the women. They aren't allowed to go for different jobs like the men, they stay home, clean the house, care for the children and guests and prepare food for the family. Of course there are dress restriction for males as well, however they aren't as strict as the ones for females.
I completely agree, women's rights are not valued in Pakistan. I wonder why women are thought of by the Taliban this way even though these "rules" for females are not stated in the Quran
DeleteHow does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling in other countries?
ReplyDeleteHere in the US women are as free as the men. There isn't anything forced on the people here. We are a free country. The women are allowed to dress how they want, be with who they want, go where they want, and go for jobs they want. Men aren't in charge of women, they are equals. So it is strange for us to see in Pakistan the women being controlled by the men, just like it would be strange for the women in Pakistan to see women being able to control their own lives. Is the US, if a women wants to wear a hijab to support their religion, but if they don't than they shouldn't need to. I believe that the people here don't understand or support the beliefs on how to treat women there is okay, but the same can be said the other way around. We don't understand because we haven't lived or experienced it.
It can be hard to understand a different culture when most of us in the U.S have never experienced that type of discrimination you see in Pakistan, I don't know if we'll ever understand it without actually living it.
DeleteI agree with this. On one hand I don't think that the women in places like Pakistan are treated correctly, but at the same time culture is something that's taught from generation to generation. To think that a western idea could change a whole culture within a even decades is hard to fathom.
DeleteI agree with what Katherine said, we really never truly understand something until we have lived through it. Especially something as serious as being forced to follow the strict rules set towards women in Pakistan.
DeleteShould there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI do think that there should be one standard for gender equality around the world because there isn't anything that makes one gender better or more important than the other. Males and females should be treated the same no matter what. A women or man shouldn't be treated worse if you happen to live in a certain place. In Pakistan you won't see many men supporting the rights of women, but specifically in the book Ziauddin is a major advocate for getting women equal rights in men. I think this should be supported all around the globe. No one should feel less important or worthless.
I agree with this and if there was one standard for equality then there wouldn't have to be a question of anyone's worth because there would be an international belief. The issue would be of course to actually get everyone to follow those beliefs.
DeleteI agree with this. It really makes no sense why some men feel so superior to women. It is really hard for people like Ziauddin to be listened to when there are so many sexists in Pakistan.
DeleteHow do characters find sources of inspiration in their lives?
ReplyDeleteIn the case of people like Malala and her family that fight for things like universal education, a clean environment, etc. I believe that much of the inspiration simply comes from the idea of a great good. Giving a sense of equality between genders and overall simply contributing to the greater good. For Malala a big source of inspiration would be her father. As the founder of the Khushal School System, and one of the few people that truly spoke for a girl's right to an education, there was pressure on Malala to perform. However afterwards Malala began to speak out as well and that not only inspired her to continue being educated but was also a source of inspiration to put herself in such a dangerous and touchy situation.
I agree. I think she was also inspired by his ability to overcome the stutter he grew up with. That really was the thing that gave her the courage to start speaking out.
DeleteI agree, I think Malala also finds great inspiration in God, she is always thanking him for giving her strength to help others and live her dream, fighting for education.
DeleteI agree, this shows that it is extremely important to have an inspirational figure growing up because her father really did inspire her to do everything that she did.
DeleteHow does the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect character's lives?
ReplyDeleteA big piece of answering this question would be is the veiling part of a religion or part of the specific area's society. Of course it is possible to make a link between certain areas and a specific religion, however, it is important to recognize the difference. There are people of all different types of religion and cultures all around the world, each having their own feelings to veiling. In the specific case of Pakistan, women are expected to stay under some type of veiling in order to uphold purdah. While to a certain extent modesty is preach in a large fraction of religion, this society is really what encourages this type of behavior. Yet at the same time, this argument can go either way. What about cultures that encourage women to show off their bodies, and not only that but if they do, then there is usually certain images to aim for. The modern day U.S. could be a good example with a large percentage of songs being about a woman having a big butt. Someone from a culture similar to that of Pakistan could look at our pop culture and fashion and say "What a male oriented society, forcing its women to craft their bodies like that." but a person from a western culture could look at a Pakistani-like culture and say "What a male oriented society, forcing its women to cover themselves." On either end there is expectations, both affecting a woman's life, arguably most of the time not for the best. In Pakistani culture, women are forced sometimes to cover their bodies in order to "follow" Muslim ideas, and will sometimes be harshly punished for not doing so. In some Western cultures, women are expected to show off their bodies to a limit, and in many cases they will undergo surgeries to look younger or more voluptuous or even go as far as to starve themselves just to obtain a "skinny" look.
How do the character's personal stories expand your understanding of the societies in which they live?
On one hand in a western mind, it could say that it is a simplistic society that is run in a patriarch type fashion in which women have very few rights because people believe that their religion tells them to do so. That is to a very large extent, true. The women are repressed. They often do not receive a proper education, they re expected to be veiled, and it is not uncommon to see girls married off as soon as they hit puberty. On the other hand, a deeper and more detailed approach could be taken, in the end history is a reflection of a society. Within Pakistan there has been a constant sense of conflict. First starting with India after English rule was diminished in the area. This gave rise to a corrupt government that with the army acted more of a bully than anything else to it's people. The government itself had collapsed and then brought itself back up several times before the country has even turned 100 years old. Religion plays a huge part within the area. Many government officials are deeply invested in religion, some even could be recognized as radical. Religion after all had been a base for conflict and violence within the area since arguably the beginning of time. Within Pakistan, poverty flourishes. Many people relied on their families for economic support their whole lives, especially considering men are the main contributors in financial means. In terms of family life, as a result of a sometimes radical government and a number of radical militias, women are often given the job of getting married, upholding purdah, and having children. Beyond that, women are given very little rights that have not had to have been fought for. This is the outside view that the book gives off without actually being able to experience the society first hand. So it is very possible that these observations could be far from true, however its hard to tell if that opportunity could ever really resent itself.
Should there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThis is a question that should not need to be answered, because the answer is painstakingly obvious. There defiantly be one standard for gender equality. Unfortunately we have not achieved because people, well, suck. Now in first-world countries, we have pretty good gender equality. It is not perfect because we very often objective women in movies and ads and there is still a wage gap, but compared to other nations it is decent. In places such as Middle East women dream of the freedom women have here. Like many societies in the past, women over there are viewed as weaker than men. Their only job is to make babies (preferably male) and take care of the house. They do not get education and must always be covered in public and be with a man. So why do many cultures view women as weak? Is it because of testosterone that men have always felt superior to women? This is probably true, and does make for a good argument as to why men are "stronger" than women. Now people who argue this are sexist and an embarrassment to the human race. Are we really judging the how sexes should be treated just because of some hormones that nowadays can be artificially created? Of course not! Humans are an intelligent species. So why is it that we can not just have gender equality throughout the world? How hard is it to just have men and women get the same rights and privileges? And I am not just talking about the getting the right to vote or be able to drive. I am talking about how, besides from physical difference, there should be not difference between men and women. Unfortunately, this is a long way off. Not because it would take a long time to implement these changes. It is because some men are afraid of losing their power over "their" women. These sexist pigs' only joy in life is that they know they can control someone. Well we as a society need to tell them to stop being the monstrous, vile, bastards that they are, so that we can solve one of the most emabarasing problems that we still have in the world
I agree with what you said. You seem to feel very strongly about this which is good not enough people do. I never really understood (I still don't) why people always have to fight to be superior we can't all be happy we must always be fighting to make a point and be the bigger better person.
DeleteShould there be one standard for gender equality throughout the world? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI think that in a perfect world there would be one standard of gender equality throughout the world. Of course that is a very far fetched idea to be able to have everyone in the world agree. People today all have their ow viewpoint that they believe to be correct and even in just America alone there are way too many opinions to count. I would love for there to be one standard for general equality because then everyone could just be seen as equals. No more being put down for not being a male, and no more unequal pay in jobs, or even not being able to leave your home without a male relative to accompany you.
I think so too, it'd be really nice if everyone could agree about gender equality, but sadly that just isn't the reality.
DeleteIt is sad that there probably won't be gender equality or at least not soon. I like how you compared equality problems we have in America to those in the book because we do experience inequality just not to the same degree.
DeleteI agree with this. I think that in a perfect world we wouldn't look at a person as a male or a female first, but an individual. In my opinion a truly perfect and equal world, we wouldn't see a difference between a man and a woman because there is no gender specific thoughts or stereotypes.
DeleteIn a perfect world, men and women would be seen as complete equals. Unfortunately people like controlling others, and a good way to do this is sexism. As long as there are people like this there can not be gender equality.
DeleteHow are the characters affected by events/changes in society?
ReplyDeleteMalala describes her homeland as a paradise. She views it as her own wonderland, and even after she is shot and is living in the UK, Swat will forever be her favorite place. So of course, when the Taliban took control of the town, it had some serious effects on Malala. She could no longer go to school without being afraid, and bombs and shootings were now common around her town. “This was the fear that filled our daily lives. Any small disturbance or noise could be a bomb or gunfire.”(164) Malala is resilient, and remained strong through anything that was thrown at her and her family, but I do think it took a small toll on her. She had to grow up extremely quickly, especially when she had to leave her home and beloved books. In tough times Malala relied on her family and God very heavily. Malala’s entire family is extremely resilient as a whole, perhaps their closeness comes partly from extremely hard times. Even though she has been through so much, Malala never lost herself: “My world has changed but I have not.”(313)
I agree when you say that Malala had to grow up very quickly. I feel like she was always a mature person because to be eleven and standing up for what you believe in you have to be incredibly mature and brave especially in the circumstances that Malala was in.
DeleteI think that in a way Malala fought for what she believed in so hard because she saw hope in her homeland. I believe that despite the once peaceful and beautiful valley having been turned into a war zone, Malala thought that she could change things for the best. As a result like you said, she needed to grow up extremely fast and face things that many of us could barely fathom. So while it's horrible so many people were killed and affected, glimmers of resilience such as Malala exist.
DeleteThere have been so many hardships in Malala's life. From being forced from her home to being shot, Malala had dealt with more things in a couple years than most people do in their whole lives. But despite this she has only come out more stronger.
DeleteHow does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling (or wearing a head scarf) in other countries?
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S, there are so many misconceptions regarding Islam, and those misconceptions lead to ignorance. Since 9/11, there is a lot of hatred towards Muslims solely because of the acts of just a few extremists. Many of us view veiling as a symbol of muslim oppression, and in some cases it is. When the Taliban and other militant groups force women and girls to wear burqas anytime they lease the house, that is oppression. But veiling can be and is so much more than oppressive. To some women, veiling is a great way to show respect and devotion to one’s religion. Some women feel empowered when they wear a veil, and some women do not. It all depends on preference, and that is exactly what veiling is and should be: a choice. We have this idea in the U.S that all women who wear a head scarf are being oppressed by their religion, but the ones who choose to do so should be just as celebrated and respected in this country as the women who choose not to. This is possibly because around the world we see so many women and girls whose rights have been stripped from them by islamist extremists, and we just assume that everyone wearing a veil is being forced to. This is not the case at all, and I think we need to stop paying attention to the stereotypes.
I think you worded this perfectly. While the Taliban are strict with their dress requirements, it's important to realize that some of these women do this because they are proud and representative of their religion. I think we see veiling as a way of repression, which in many cases it is, however at the same time it could be argued that veiling exists because Muslims have a respect for the woman's body and recognize the amazing things that it's capable of such as creating a human out of a few cells and feeding that child for sometimes up to years.
DeleteI really like how you said this. I agree that American's now are so stubborn to open their eyes to a belief that isn't their bias that they're losing focus on the truth about this religion.
DeleteI agree with you completely, stereotyping is created so many misconceptions, we don't know the entire truth behind everything, we create ideas about their religion and choices and stick with them. In a way we are making it worse, yeah the way women are treated there is horrible, but they do have a choice to follow their religion and culture. People need to try to look at this situation from all angles before we start speaking about it.
DeleteHow do the characters’s personal stories expand your understanding of the societies in which they live?
ReplyDeleteThroughout the memoir, Malala goes into great detail about the inspiration of her father, Ziauddin. I think in particular Malala’s story of her father and his school is the most inspirational to me. Ziauddin gave up everything he had to achieve his dream of owning a school, for both boys and girls. There were points when Ziauddin had no money, gave up friends, everything just so his school could be successful. In the end, he had to leave everything behind to move to the UK, but his dream is still alive: “We will be like preachers of education.”(221) His story really portrayed to me what it actually means to struggle, something I had to completely rethink after reading this memoir. Malala’s mother’s story was also inspirational. We have this ideology that people who are uneducated and can’t read should be thought of as lesser. Malala’s mother dropped out of school as a young child and still can’t read or speak English. But I think she is the opposite of uneducated. So much of Malala’s strength and wisdom comes from her mother. In many ways I think that Malala’s mother is far more educated than some who go through traditional schooling. She has so much kindness, strength and wisdom that simply cannot be taught through school alone.
I think the quote "We will be like preachers of education" ties everything together in the book. Ziauddin recognizes that he and Malala are in it together, the comparison to a preacher pulls their religion into it and education is the common factor that they've been fighting for all along.
DeleteIn relation to you mentioning Malala's mother, I think she embodies the idea that education does not mean intelligence. Malala's mother had her own ideas and often made her own decisions regardless of what the Taliban were enforcing. She may not have been able to read, but she is a devote Muslim and at the same time does not abide by the social norms.
DeleteI agree because Malala would not be who she is today if not for her parents. For one thing they actually like and listen to each others' thoughts, which is hard to find in Pakistan. I do like how you said that her mother is the opposite of uneducated. She has such a passion to learn that I think she inspired Malala to get education to all girls.
DeleteHow do the characters’ personal stories expand your understanding of the societies in which they live?
ReplyDeleteBefore I read the book I understood that there was oppression against women in the Middle East but I didn't realize the extent it was going to. I didn't know that even if you were supporting women or advocating for them that people would be against you too. The propaganda that happens was surprising too. When Malala got shot people were still saying that it never happened and that the entire thing was being faked. I was in disbelief when I read that because it seemed as if there was so much proof that it actually happened but people were still so unwilling to see that. I also saw the support that Malala had from some people including her father. This helped open my eyes that there are still good people in womens lives' and that it's not just all negativity. Malala's story showed me how horrible the people around her were but at the same time how everyone in a community can still come together which makes two very diverse parts of the society.
I totally agree with your observation. It was indeed eye-opening to realize all of this. And yeah, it is very good that people like Malala's dad out there to help support women in oppressive nations.
DeleteI feel the same way. We all know the basics of how different the lives of women are in Pakistan and those countries but until you really get a first hand look at it it doesn't really resinate with you and stick like it does after reading this book.
DeleteIt is shocking to me that people who go to the extend of trying to cover up what is actually happening in Pakistan. There was so much evidence that what happened to Malala was true, but people were willing to do everything they can to convince the public it was fake.
DeleteHow are the characters affected by events/changes in society?
ReplyDeleteEverything that happened in Malala's life obviously affected her because society is so against women. I think one of the biggest changes was when her education was taken away. I think this just drove her more to make the change that girls should get an education. She had a passion for education for a young age and when that was taken away she "felt so sad" (164). If you think about something you couldn't go without or even something that you just cared a lot about and it was taken from you then you would do everything in your power to get it back. When the school was taken from Malala she wanted to get it back, she wanted to learn and eventually she got her education back and the last thing she wanted was to lose it again which probably creative even more of a motive to strive for the education.
I agree, when Malala had no more education opportunities it really seemed to show that she wanted to make a change. It made her want to stand up and do what was right for her people.
DeleteI agree because throughout her entire life Malala's passion for education was strong even when she was being taught at schools she wanted more, so when it was taken away the passion just grew and grew. Do you think that if her education was never taken away she would still be who she is today? Would she have done everything that she has to get women their education?
DeleteI agree as well, it makes you think about your education and what we take for granite and how different her life would be if she was in our shoes.
DeleteMalala felt that education was one the most important rights for someone to have. Therefore when she had it taken away from her she was devastated. Yet this only made her a more passionate advocate for women's rights.
DeleteMalala has shown individuality in many ways, this book really highlights the struggles these people go through everyday, and it shows how much easier it is for us to have those opportunities that they dream of.
DeleteHow is the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect characters’ lives?
ReplyDeleteWhen you make someone cover their faces you take away part of their humanity. In an everyday life when you are embarrassed of something, no matter what it is you attempt to cover it up. In Pakistan women are required to wear burqas and men are supposed to have a beard up to a certain length and this is required by the Taliban. Both of these things cover your face but women to a bigger extent than men. This is almost as to dehumanize everyone and take away their individuality. When you take away someones ability to express themselves through what they wear and how they portray themselves you're taking away a part of them. It reflects on the culture saying that they don't want you to know what their people are actually like and that they're all the same person. This affects people's lives because they feel as if they don't have right to express themselves. Malala doesn't conform to what the Taliban says and doesn't wear the burqa and continues to speak out for girls education. I feel if she had complied and worn the burqa she wouldn't have been able to convey her belief as well or to the same effect. In general veiling takes away everyones unique personalities and morphs everyone into a specific person not a community of people
I like how you worded this I also like how you incorporated men and how they are restricted not just the women because in our society so many people only focus on the restriction of women not the men as well.
DeleteI do think that a lot of people over look that men are affected by this too, even though most cases form around women. I completely agree in that forcing people to dress a certain way dehumanizes them and takes away part of who they are. I can say that I strongly think people should have a say in how they express themselves, anything they do can mean something, the way someone dresses shouldn't be decided for them
DeleteHow is the practice of veiling (or restrictions on dress in general) reflective of cultural attitudes toward gender roles? How do these attitudes affect characters’ lives?
ReplyDeleteThe practice of veiling can make it seem as if the female gender is very inferior to males. Being forced to cover your face or your entire body because only your husband and/or family should be able to see your face is treating women’s bodies as an object instead of just being a regular human being. I think that this affects characters’ lives because they would think that they can’t do what men can because they are forced to hide what they really look like. However this can also affect the men, in one passage Ziauddin was approached one of Malala’s male cousins who was exclaiming how Malala was not covered and how at this point in her life she was too old to not have her face covered. He discreetly responded with, “She’s my daughter. Look after your own affairs.” I think that this really shows how not only the women could feel that the practice of veiling can be humiliating. Furthermore, at one point in the book Malala was saying how in other places in the middle east women were forced to wear niqabs, which cover a woman’s whole body except for her eyes, she referred to wearing these as being locked in an oven because niqabs tended to only be black, so women could only show their eyes and they were baking in the sun on a daily basis.
How does our cultural background shape our perception of women and the practice of veiling (or wearing a head scarf) in other countries?
ReplyDeleteI think that in our cultural background we are brought up with the thought that we can really wear whatever we want and there are almost no restrictions. When we learn about how in other places of the world women have to wear burqas or niqabs, we feel bad for those women, and wonder why they're being punished in this way. I don’t think that we always take into account that wearing burqas is a part of their religion and they may very well want to wear them. With our upbringing we think that our clothing should be unique for each person and seeing the practice of veiling in other countries can confuse us because really when a woman wears covering from her head to her toes with only her eyes showing it is hard to see the person beneath the veil. All in all, I think that our country views veiling as more of a punishment than an act of being closer to God.
I agree completely, it's almost like a culture shock for us to see someone doing something so demanding for a religious belief.
DeleteI agree with you, we don't really know their religion and culture, and we immediately think that what they do may not be fair or could be pushed onto them when really they choose to do it. Of course there are cases where the women are forced to do things, but to some extent they do have a choice on what they do.
DeleteHow do the characters' personal stories expand your understanding of the societies in which they live?
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this book I knew there were serious differences in Pakistan then in the USA. Culturally, socially, economically, religiously etc.. This book however, was an eye opener and a culture shock in a sense. You get to hear first hand how a girl who was my age is treated and how she lived life having to conform to all these rules. I do believe now I have more of an understanding of how difficult it really is. I knew before it was difficult based off of what I heard on TV or saw on facebook but now I experienced a first hand point of view on how hard it was. It really opened my eyes to see how different their world is compared to mine.
The old proverb "You never know what you have until it's gone" really fits well here. The people in Pakistan wished they only had the problems we have here, rather than the oppression they deal with.
DeleteHow are the characters affected by events/changes in society?
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest change that affected Malala was getting her education taken away. Many times she mentioned school being her favorite thing, she was hungry for knowledge about anything and then it was taken away from her. It was scary, schools were banned she could no longer go to the one place she wanted most. This however didn't keep her down this gave her a fire in her belly to change the way the education system in her world worked. She took matters into her own hands and fought for the right to be able to learn, because that is all she wanted. Malala just wanted to learn.
How do the characters assert their individuality within a repressive society?
ReplyDeleteIn Malala's case she at one point wore colorful clothing. She was warned to dress dull so she went against it and wore bright colors. Malala wasn't afraid and that's what made her stand out as a strong individual. She wouldn't let herself fade into the background because she had so much she wanted to do and so much she wanted to learn. Her father, Ziauddin also stood out because he was a male who fought very strongly for educational rights. He wanted his daughter to be able to learn and so many other women too. He didn't want to conform and dismiss women. So he raised a daughter to be like him, standing up for what is right and breaking to mold of society to be their own person.