He Named me Malala: The Portrait of Bravery
By: María Camila Bonilla Camargo 10A
Although it’s already been about two years and half since world-renown Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head and her shoulder by a gunman sent by Islamic terrorist group, the Pakistani Taliban, on her way home, she still continues to have an immense impact, not only in guaranteeing education for women in the Swat Valley, but also in the entirety of the situation of women in the world. Malala’s activism, bravery and grit have marked a moment of historical significance for women and, especially, girls deprived of a basic education. Even though her being shot clearly established the moment when she became one of the greatest teenage figures of this time, Malala has been involved in various activities since she was younger and she actually was well-known in Pakistan and surrounding areas, prior to her shooting. Her story, before and after the shooting, was told in the documentary: “He named me Malala”, and the film does her story justice in every single way.
One of the things Malala pegs as fundamental in her way of thinking and desire for equality in education for women, is her family and, specifically, her dad. Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, grew up watching his father, who was a prominent orator; since then, he says, he was overcome with an intense kind of adoration for words and, thus, he became a poet, an activist and he has created a chain of schools known as the Khushal Public School. Her parents taught her, since she was very young, to believe in the power of her words, in the strength of her will and on the impact of education. This way of thinking engraved itself so strongly in Malala’s mindset, that she started writing a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC Urdu, describing her life under Taliban occupation and control and her opinion on promoting education for girls on the Swat Valley, seeing as, the Taliban had, at times, girls banned from school. Since that moment, she started her journey as a recognized activist and fighter for the right to education for women. Her presence became such a powerful and well-known force, that she started receiving a wide variety of death threats since before she was shot. However, she went on, doing what she did, saying what she thought and fighting for what she believed in, despite being aware of the threats and a possible confrontation with the Taliban. She even said (talking about having envisioned a confrontation with this terrorist group): “I think of it often and imagine the scene clearly. Even if they come to kill me, I will tell them what they are trying to do is wrong, that education is our basic right.”
The day she was shot, on the way home on a bus, marked the beginning of a tough moment for Malala and her family. She was severely injured, she was in a coma for a while and, when she woke up, she was unlike herself; the doctors didn’t even know if she was going to be able to talk again. However, as time passed and Malala recovered almost to a full extent (she still has a difficult time controlling the left side of her face), it became evident that this unexpected, traumatizing event didn’t deter Malala from her purpose, dreams and convictions. Instead, after the shooting and moving to England, she continued to fight for education and the protection of girls actively and, in 2014, she became the youngest person ever to be the recipient of the Nobel Prize. In addition, she has expressed her discontentment and pain regarding Boko Haram’s abduction of Nigerian schoolgirls.
Even though Malala just turned 18 last year and still has the concerns of any normal teenager, she has managed to leave an extent, powerful and unforgettable legacy behind that has surely changed the lives of many. Her determination, perseverance, insistence and bravery have shown the world, in an unprecedented fashion, the power of a young Pakistani girl that has changed patterns, faced death without flinching and fought for a reality that affects girls daily. Malala has managed to shake the world with her character and her name will be one to be remembered for the ages.
10 movies that will make you feel more Empowered as a woman than ever
By: Laura Bríñez Camacho 10A
I´m sure we all love watching movies that make us feel empowered as women and that's exactly why we love seeing them over and over again and we never get tired of them.
Personally, I love movies that have a strong female character in them. They make me feel as I have control over all and that I can do everything I want because I have the power to nail it.
Now, I have the pleasure to show you these 10 top ranked movies that make women and girls feel like they have power and can have their own opinion and feel free to share them without holding back. I know you have seen at least one of these, and if not, I invite you to go right now to your sofa, turn on Netflix and watch one of these incredible movies because for sure you won't get up in a while. After saying this, here are the 10 top most empowered movies for women:
1) A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
This movie was based on the All-American Girls' Professional Baseball League that was founded in 1943, when most of the men of baseball-playing age were far away in Europe and Asia fighting World War II. The amazing part comes, because people made fun of the women who played baseball and thought that women could not play, when they could do exactly the same as men and with heads held high proved them they were all wrong.
2) BRAVE
I know this is an animated movie but it has a great message on the inside. Merida is a princess but, she wants to go her own way because she doesn't like the traditions of being a princess like arranged marriages.
She does not want a man to protect her and to control her. Instead, she wants to make her own path in life and be independent, which I think a lot of women should have as their mindset.
3) SHE'S THE MAN
This movie is not only hilarious, but it shows that women can do things just as well, and sometimes better than a man. Amanda Bynes' character, Viola Hastings has a tomboyish attitude and is very sporty. However, her school's girl’s soccer team gets cut so she asks to be on the boys’ soccer team and the coach refuses in a very sexist manner. So, to prove them all wrong and to do what she really loves, she enrolls in the rival school as her brother, Sebastian.
She's The Man has a great perspective on women and it is also very comical. Plus having Channing Tatum as the second lead character doesn't hurt.
4) THE HUNGER GAMES
This one is a pretty obvious one. Most of us love Katniss! She's the girl on fire for goodness sake!
She is so strong and will stand up for what she knows is right, even if it means risking her own life.
Katniss is definitely someone to look up to.
5) WHIP IT
The main character, Bliss Cavendar, hasn't really found herself until she discovers roller derby. She becomes not only physically strong, but mentally and emotionally strong as well. She learns how to be herself and not what her mother is forcing her to be.
Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis and the other derby girls are tough, fun, and all around bad-asses!
6) MULAN
Another Disney movie, yes, but another really wonderful message. Mulan, is the epitome of girl power.
She is strong and independent and does what she knows is right and is not afraid to be herself. Mulan is not like most Disney princesses, in the best of ways.
She does not need a man to save her, her thoughts don't revolve around love and beauty, and she does not rebel against her parents for her own selfish reasons.
She may have gone against her parents wishes but she did it for her father, her country, and herself.
She is very tough, but still feminine.
7) 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
I never get tired of this movie and I especially never get tired of the main character, Kat Stratford. She is rough, tempestuous, cynical, cruel, opinionated, speaks her mind, and does not care what people think about her.
Though, some people perceive her as a bitch, I really admire her and think it is great that she stands up for her self and doesn't take crap from anyone. She sticks to her morals and values and scoffs at the consumer driven lives that most people live.
In most ways I think a lot of girls should look up to her, but without being rude and bitter.
8) Changeling
A grief-stricken mother takes on the LAPD to her own detriment when it stubbornly tries to pass off an obvious impostor as her missing child, while also refusing to give up hope that she will find him one day. This if for sure one movie that shows what a mother can do for their children, a clear example of a powerful woman.
9) Frozen
When the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna, teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition. However, this movie with a profound message lets us know we don’t need a man to save us. Instead, the power of two sisters is what reigns at the end.
10) The Help
Focused during the Civil Rights movement in 1963 Jackson, Mississippi, The Help is mainly an all female cast that takes different perspectives on racism during that time. Skeeter (Emma Stone) is a journalist that decides to write a book from the point of view of the black maids, exposing the racism they face as they work for white families.
I love all of these movies and most of them are my favorite movies of all time, and it's mostly because of these strong female roles. These movies make me feel stronger as a woman and I hope that they do the same for you.
So please watch them because I highly recommend all of them!