Code Switch Why Malala Yousafzai is a hero in the West but not back home
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Oct 1, 2025 Maria Karimji, a Karachi-based freelance reporter, and Sana Meher, a Pakistani journalist and author, dive into the complex perceptions surrounding Malala Yousafzai. They explore why Malala is celebrated in the West but faces skepticism in Pakistan, linking it to distrust of foreign influences. The duo discusses the Malala test as a measure of social attitudes, highlights the backlash against her advocacy, and examines how societal pressures uniquely affect women activists in Pakistan. Their insights shed light on the intricate dynamics of fame, activism, and local versus global narratives.
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Different National Frames Shape Malala's Image
- Malala is revered in the West but much more contested in Pakistan due to different national memories and politics.
- Pakistani skepticism links her fame to Western influence and provokes questions about representation and agency.
Western Partnerships Fuel Local Suspicion
- Collaborations with Western figures like Hillary Clinton amplify Pakistani doubts because of painful memories of U.S. policy.
- That association transforms admiration into suspicion and prompts re-evaluation of Malala's agency.
Classroom Test Reveals Local Memory Gap
- Maria assigned Malala's UN speech in class and students tore her apart instead of celebrating it.
- Their discussion revealed many Pakistanis know Malala only from being shot and moving to the UK, not her early activism.
