Malala Yousafzai Belonging
“Conflicts can strengthen our understanding of where we belong”
Conflict is the true test of an individual’s internal strength and understanding as encountering such obstacles can evoke an individual to reassess their values, morals, beliefs’ and therefore, alter their identity and sense of belonging. In an ideal Utopian society where everyone is equally valued, respected and their desires are fulfilled there would be no place for conflict; but the reality is, this “better world” is completely unachievable, especially given the inherent nature of human beings, and that “every dystopia is masked by a utopia” (Mackenzie Draman). Having acknowledged the imminent, throughout history, literary and cinematic sources have shown us time and time again …show more content…
Yousafzai, a daring advocate for girls’ education, faced a conflict unparallel to any other; strong hostility from her own nation eventuating into being shot in the head at point-blank range by the intolerant Taliban. Her hardships and miraculous recovery shaped her identity, from an ordinary student with an alias (Gul Makai) to a symbol endorsing women’s rights worldwide, which in turn, strengthened her understanding of her purpose in this life and where she belonged. Sometimes to achieve our goals, we may have to do something contradictory. Malala fought for peace, a notion that is commonplace in history, as shown through many wars and court battles which are still prevalent today.
However, to ascertain that conflicts are beneficial to everyone would be a naïve statement with little or no substantiating evidence. Robert Bresson’s “Mouchette” (1967) tells the depressing story of one of the most searing portraits of human desperation ever encapsulated on film. Mouchette is the empathetic drama of a wretched young French outcast, who, rejected from all circles of society, is subjected to several trying tribulations – including ostracism from family and peers, sexual exploitation, and the death of her mother – and ultimately “elevates” her soul by taking her own
Conflict is the true test of an individual’s internal strength and understanding as encountering such obstacles can evoke an individual to reassess their values, morals, beliefs’ and therefore, alter their identity and sense of belonging. In an ideal Utopian society where everyone is equally valued, respected and their desires are fulfilled there would be no place for conflict; but the reality is, this “better world” is completely unachievable, especially given the inherent nature of human beings, and that “every dystopia is masked by a utopia” (Mackenzie Draman). Having acknowledged the imminent, throughout history, literary and cinematic sources have shown us time and time again …show more content…
Yousafzai, a daring advocate for girls’ education, faced a conflict unparallel to any other; strong hostility from her own nation eventuating into being shot in the head at point-blank range by the intolerant Taliban. Her hardships and miraculous recovery shaped her identity, from an ordinary student with an alias (Gul Makai) to a symbol endorsing women’s rights worldwide, which in turn, strengthened her understanding of her purpose in this life and where she belonged. Sometimes to achieve our goals, we may have to do something contradictory. Malala fought for peace, a notion that is commonplace in history, as shown through many wars and court battles which are still prevalent today.
However, to ascertain that conflicts are beneficial to everyone would be a naïve statement with little or no substantiating evidence. Robert Bresson’s “Mouchette” (1967) tells the depressing story of one of the most searing portraits of human desperation ever encapsulated on film. Mouchette is the empathetic drama of a wretched young French outcast, who, rejected from all circles of society, is subjected to several trying tribulations – including ostracism from family and peers, sexual exploitation, and the death of her mother – and ultimately “elevates” her soul by taking her own