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Garabed Bardakjian                                                                                                        

Dania Adra

English 203

September 27, 2015

“Brand Malala” interpretation

           In her blog the author Carol Anne Grayson dissects the widespread phenomenon of Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 2014 who survived a gunshot to the head in Pakistan. Acknowledging the fact that what she stands to defend (equal education for all) is amazing. However; is saddened by the fact that the West has capitalized on her popularity and initiative and shadowed the fact that they encourage this little girl, yet deprive their own citizens from the exact same Human Rights (such as gender equality). And so Grayson posts “Brand Malala” (Grayson 593).

           Through the Blog, the author stresses on the reality of the happenings in Pakistan, and the realness of the Taliban. To do so, she includes a segment of an interview documented by the BBC with the school principal Selma Naz(Grayson 596):

“We have had threats, there are so many problems. It much more dangerous for us after Malala’s shooting and all the attention that she is getting, the Taliban are very dangerous. They have gone from Swat, but still they have a presence here. It is hidden, but it is here. We all have fear in our hearts.”

           Moreover; Grayson is outraged about the social unbalance and the fact that torture victims who reach the UK are most of the time put in detention centers and given food vouchers with limited access to health care (Grayson 595). Whereas Malala is given the special treatment, flown in to the UK and becomes the recipient of the best medical care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Grayson is however more puzzled about how one decides whether one person is more deserving than the other. Asking whether there were no other girls shot on the same day of the incidence, or whether there is no one in Pakistan as deserving as Malala to receive such an assistance.

           At the same time, Grayson show sympathy towards Malala, here we see the authors’ emotional perspective, where she relentlessly tries to highlight the fact that Malala’s western (mostly UK) “mentors” are only using her as a way to silence those who say that the government does not provide basic Human rights to its people, and showing the world how they encourage a little girl who wishes the exact same rights to be implicated in a country far less developed and cultured then theirs (as if that's possible). To cement her accusation, the author references the words of artist Jonathan Rao to the Independent newspaper. Jonathan who painted the portrait of Malala that hangs in the National Gallery said:

“I guess I was worried that she was probably a pawn in a bigger game and was being unduly influenced by the people around her.”

           The rhetorical perspective of the text is that it is argumentative, this we come across throughout the blog, when the author questions the grounds upon which decisions are made to determine why a country needs protecting and how they will give those civilians their rights. The authors reminds us of the war on Afghanistan and the targeted attacks on Taliban (so done by the US). And through this form of writing the author showcases another form, which is by using sarcasm and irony and with questions such as “I wonder, how many people can name the other girls injured when Malala was shot? What quality of care and support did they receive? Are they represented by PR companies?” (Grayson 596) “I have met many juvenile survivors of torture, outspoken activists on human rights so what makes one person more deserving than another?” (Grayson 595)

           The logical perspective of the story is that, Malala was thrown under the limelight when she was young (before being shot in the head), taking part in a documentary done by the BBC to show life at school under the Taliban (Grayson 595). Therefore as word got out that the same girl was shot by the Taliban for speaking out for education(since the Taliban had forbidden it)  and gender equality , western leaders jumped at the chance to acquire her since it was no surprise that this story had potential to hide their faults. And so arose “Brand Malala”(Grayson 596) with Edelman(the world’s biggest PR company that manages Malala) reserving the rights to Malala the book, Malala the film, Malala the award nominee, Malala the portrait(Grayson 596) and everything and anything related to Malala (Well not everything).

           As an ethical perspective, the author showcases the best of unethical approaches adopted by countries and people, those who applaud Malala yet at the same time deprive her from her dreams and others like her as well. How can Britain and her allies promise gender justice when they are failing miserably on it(Grayson 594). Or Gordon Brown, a supporter of Malala who refuses to address the mass of widows whose husbands were unlawfully killed by the state. How do we expect them to fulfill this girls dreams, dreams of a better and educated world, without discrimination of gender, race, color etc. when they cannot do it for their own people. And so the author states that the government should not hide behind Malala, saying that they are working on change when in reality there are hundreds of women who are deprived from their rights and demanding them relentlessly in court and are not being heard. 

Works Cited:

Grayson, Carol Anne.  “”Brand Malala”: Western Exploitation of a Schoolgirl”.  Shifting narratives.  Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najla Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward.  Mazraa, Beirut:  Center For Educational Consultation and Research, Educart,  2015.  Print.