Response Prep

Ahmad Turiaki

Professor Dania Adra

English 203

26 October 2015

“The Brand Malala”: Western Exploitation of a Schoolgirl

Regarding the social perspective, Grayson states the fact that Malala is trying to raise

awareness for gender justice, whereas the media and companies are exploiting her, treating

her as a product for promoting the US war against terror: “There are double standards on

how terrorism is reported. Taliban terrorism is used to propel the “good west versus bad

east” narrative in the media.” (593). However, Malala isn’t aware of the fact that she is

being used by her mentors, and she’s genuinely trying to help other women achieve this

gender justice.

Regarding the emotional perspective, the author’s tone is angry and sarcastic at the

fact that Malala has gotten that special treatment just so that she could be exploited and

used as a brand for the big companies, where she refers to her as: “brand Malala” (596),

while many other war and torture victims are ignored and left aside. Additionally, she

mentions how UK feels to meet gender justice: “What press usually fail to mention however

is how Britain and its allies are failing miserably on “gender justice” back home.” (594).

Her angry tone is clearly shown at the last two paragraphs (598) where she criticizes the

Injustice and suppression of other women who are trying to claim their own rights.

Regarding the rhetorical perspective, her text is argumentative, which tackles

the manipulative and corruptive side of malala’s story, where she is being used as a pawn

in a bigger game. The blog uses simple and easy to read text which targets the general

audience. Additionally, she uses rhetorical questions as: “How many men do you see

studying gender to work with women for greater equality” (594), to make the readers

think and realise the degree of the issue there.

Regarding the logical perspective, Grayson provides evidence on how far Malala’s

exploitation went: “One wonders why then, given that both Ziauddin and the BBC are so

quick to warn of the dangers of the Taliban, they would put a child in the line of fire (albeit

her identity thinly disguised) to write her diary for public consumption.” (595), which

happened just after: “ her father volunteered his daughter to the BBC to document life at

school under the Taliban.” (595) It is surprising too that from all the girls shot there, Malala

was the only one to get all that care and attention, which shows that the whole situation

was planned beforehand by the same people who were giving her all that care. She

mentions too how the government should strive for true gender equality that is being

ignored in the country itself: “Exploitation of women wheather emotionally, physically,

financially is so ingrain inour society and institutions that I am not even sure whether some

men realize their actions.” (594).

Regarding the ethical perspective, Grayson clearly shows how she is against the

hypocritical actions that was happening behind the scenes in order to get dirty profit,

through exploiting and harming a girl who was oblivious to that fact. Finally, she argues

against the fact that US drones killing many innocent people is unheard of: “There are

double standards on how terrorism is reported. Taliban terrorism is used to propel the

“good west versus bad east” narrative in the media whilst US state terrorism is served up as

“collateral damage” and is more likely to get buried along with its victims. All violence must

be condemned.” (593-594)

work cited:

Grayson, Carol Anne. "Brand Malala": Western Exploitation of a schoolgirl". shifting narratives. Ed. Zane S. Sinno, Lina Bioghlu-Karkanawi, Dorota Fleszar, Najla Jarkas, Emma Moughabghab, Jennifer M. Nish, Rima Rantisi, and Abir Ward. Beirut: Center for educational consultation and Research, Educart, 2015. (593-598) Print.