PHIL 104 - Discussion Questions on He Named Me Malala

  1. In the opening scenes of the film, Malala tells the story of a young girl who led her people to a great victory but died on the battlefield. She states that it was better to live like a lion for one day than it is to live like a slave for a thousand years. Ask students to think of past and present examples in which an individual or a group risked their lives for their cause. What are some ways students may actively participate in changing the world without putting themselves in danger?
  2. Throughout the documentary, Malala speaks with numerous news organizations and shows her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai,how to use social media, including Twitter. Do you agree that social media is an effective force for change?You may want to look at organizations like “The Malala Fund,” inspired and led by Malala, which use social media to promote quality education for girls.
  3. There are violent images featured in the film of individuals who have been killed by the Pakistani Taliban for allegedly violating an interpretation of Islam that Malala and most Muslims do not agree with, which includes not allowing girls to go to school. Each evening a radio program broadcasts the names of men in the Swat Valley who are deemed sinful andin supposedviolation of the Taliban’s extreme rules. Whateffects do you think hearing programs like these have on everyday Pakistani people? Do you think some of the violent footage was necessary to include in the film? Why or why not?
  4. One night, Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai,is named on the radio program for violating the Taliban’s rules. Ziauddin discusses how the beautiful face of Islam is being destroyed and that he will not back down to the Taliban. Describe the role Malala’s father played and continues to play in her life. Ziauddin blames himself for why Malala ended up getting shot. Was he right to encourage his daughter to publicly speak out against the Taliban? Defend your answer.
  5. Do you think it’s necessary to have a meaningful dialogue with people who disagree with you? Explain your answer.Do you think it’s possible to change people’s minds around issues of racism and sexism? What are some examples where society has showed progress towards a particular group of people or on a specific issue? What happened in history to affect those changes?
  6. Is it possible that we stereotype people even though we may not mean to do so? Were you surprised to learn that the Swat Valley in Pakistan was once known as a vacationer’s paradise? Are there times in your life in which you caught yourself stereotyping a person based on their race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or disability? What did you learn from the experience? How can taking a look at your own actions help you to address important issues?
  7. At the end of the film, Malala states that she shares her story because she is not special — and points out that there are 66 million girls throughout the world who do not have access to an education. Do you think the film will make a difference in the fight for universal education for all girls and boys, a goal recently renewed by the United Nations this fall? Explain. Do you see yourself as an activist in some way or know someone who identifies as a social justice activist? Based on the documentary, what is one step you can take in your own life that could make a difference today?

(Adapted from