Line Of Inquiry: What literary strategies does Malala Yousafzai use to address the subject of

gender inequality and education in her address to the UN general assembly?

Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girls education activist and Nobel Laureate, is committed to

promoting equal, comprehensive, and quality education for all girls as a fundamental right.

Yousafzai has been the target of violence from extremist groups such as the Taliban for

advocating for girls' education. In her speech to the United Nations General Assembly,

Yousafzai employs various literary devices, including repetition, appeals, the rule of three, and

contrast, to explore the themes of gender disparities and education. Through her use of these

devices, Yousafzai underscores the importance of education as a means to address the systemic

inequalities faced by girls globally. By analyzing Yousafzai's use of these devices, we gain a

deeper understanding of her exploration of these themes and her purpose for advancing women's

rights and education.

In her address to the United Nations, Malala Yousafzai emphasizes the significance of girls'

education through the repeated use of key phrases. She frequently reiterates the idea that the right

to education is a hard-won entitlement that is still being fought for, despite being recognized as a

universal human right. By repeating the phrase "Their right…", she highlights the ongoing

struggle for equality in education and the need for constant vigilance to ensure that these rights

are not violated. Furthermore, Malala employs repetition in her call to action, using the phrase

"We call upon…". This repetition serves to emphasize the need for collective action from

governments, nations, communities, and all citizens to address this pressing issue. This repetition
underlines the idea that girls' education is not a problem that can be solved by one group alone,

but rather a global challenge that requires collective effort. The repetitive use of key phrases in

Malala's address to the UN serves to emphasize the importance of fighting for girls' education

and the need for collective action to address this issue. This repetition reinforces the message that

girls' education is a fundamental right that must be protected and that the effort to do so must be

sustained by everyone.

In her speech, Malala addresses her audience as "brothers and sisters," implying a sense of

familial connection and unity among those present. This choice of language serves to emphasize

the collective nature of the issue at hand and the importance of working together to achieve a

common goal. Additionally, the use of personal pronouns such as "we" further strengthens the

bond between the speaker and the audience, conveying the speaker's genuine commitment and

passion for promoting equal opportunities and rights for girls. By doing so, the audience is

encouraged to recognize their own responsibility in the cause and to take action towards the

improvement of girls' education rights. This strategic usage of personal pronouns creates a

powerful connection between Malala and the audience that inspires them to take a stand for this

pressing issue.

In her speech, Malala Yousafzai utilizes a personal anecdote to illustrate the challenges and

difficulties she faced due to her gender and her advocacy for girls' education. The reference to

her being shot in the left side of her forehead serves as a testament to her credibility and

reinforces the audience's understanding of the issue. Additionally, this powerful anecdote appeals
to the audience's emotions, eliciting empathy towards her struggle, and highlighting the pathos of

her message. By highlighting her own experiences, Malala emphasizes the importance of her

voice and the need for others to speak up and advocate for change. She draws attention to the

fact that her silence led to the emergence of thousands of voices, highlighting her transformation

from a victim to an influential advocate. This powerful message inspires the audience to follow

in her footsteps and advocate for their own beliefs. Furthermore, Malala's personal anecdote

serves to reinforce her purpose and her unwavering commitment to ensuring equal education

opportunities for all girls. She uses her own experiences to highlight the importance of education

and to argue that it is a basic human right that should be afforded to all. Through her powerful

testimony, Malala inspires the audience to take action and to make their voices heard, in the face

of adversity and oppression. Malala's personal anecdote serves as a powerful tool for establishing

pathos and emotional appeal, reinforcing her credibility, and inspiring the audience to take action

and advocate for their own beliefs.

Malala Yousafzai's use of contrasting language in her writing serves to highlight the significant

change that she underwent after facing the Taliban. The contrast between the adjectives

"weakness, fear, and hopelessness" and "strength, power, and courage" effectively illustrate the

impact of her experiences on her character and her resolve to fight for girls' education and gender

equality. The contrast underscores the transformation that took place within Malala after she was

shot by the Taliban for her advocacy for girls' education, as opposed to being silenced as the

Taliban intended. The "rule of three" used in her language serves to reinforce the extent of the

change that she experienced and the growth that emerged from her traumatic experiences. The

repetition of three adjectives to describe both the negativity she faced and the positivity that
emerged serves to emphasize the dichotomy between the two, and highlights the magnitude of

the change she underwent. It is evident that the gunshot to her head was a turning point in

Malala's life, inspiring her to work even harder to voice the problems of girls' access to

education, particularly in Pakistan under Taliban rule. Rather than succumbing to fear, she was

empowered and motivated to stand up for girls' educational rights. The use of contrast in her

language serves to emphasize the significance of her experiences and her unwavering

commitment to education and gender equality.

In conclusion, Malala Yousafzai's address to the United Nations General Assembly effectively

utilized various literary techniques and persuasive appeals to convey the overarching themes of

education and gender inequality. The speech was marked by an unwavering passion, which was

rooted in Malala's personal experience of being targeted for speaking out in favor of education.

Through the strategic use of emotional appeals (pathos), personal pronouns, repetition, the rule

of three, and contrast, Malala was able to effectively illustrate the pressing need for access to

education for all, regardless of gender. These stylistic choices helped to underscore the gravity of

the issue and drive home the importance of the cause.

Bibliography

1. “Malala Speech Rhetorical Analysis.” Edubirdie, 01 Sept. 2022,

edubirdie.com/examples/malala-yousafzai-speech-analysis-essay/

2. University, Iowa State. "Un Speech on Youth Education - July 12, 2013." Archives of

Women's Political Communication. 12 July 2013. Web. 23 Dec. 2022.

<https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/2018/03/05/un-speech-on-youth-education-july-12-

2013/>.

3. Undervisning, Gyndendal. "Rettsdata." Speaking to Convince: Malala Yousafzai’s

Speech Analyzed. June 2020. Web. 24 Dec. 2022.

<https://webcms.rettsdata.no/media/cgcjecbb/malala-yousafzai-s-speech_-

analyzed.docx>.

4. Sapkota, C.N. "Nepal Journals Online." Nepal Journals Online. 1 Nov. 2021. Web. 24

Dec. 2022. <https://www.nepjol.info/>.

5. "Malala Yousafzai Speech Analysis Essay." supremestudy.com, 11 Jul 2021,

https://supremestudy.com/malala-yousafzai-speech-analysis-essay/