International Women´s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the 20th century in North America and across Europe.Since those early years, International Women´s Day has assumed a new dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.Today, it is a day to reflect on progress made, to call for a change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their communities and countries. One of them is Malala Yousafzai.
In patriarchal societies, men hold the position of power in the family unit, in the workplace, in the government. Women must be quiet, humble and submissive.There is the fear that educated girls will make their own decisions and consequently their own choices. Many men in those male-dominated societies support and love their daughters but their stories are rarely told. Many Afghan families want their daughters to go to school, but poverty and tradition, along with the Taliban, make this a practical impossibility.
The message of education that Ziauddin Yousafzai encouraged in his daughter was crucial. The love and understanding between this father and his daughter has meant a new hope for girls and women everywhere.
Listen to Malala´s father : food for thought
