Vogue magazine published an interview with Malala Yousafzai but her comments on marriage and how she does not believe in a formal agreement have outraged Pakistani social media users.
The education activist became the face of Vogue July 2021 edition. During an interview, she opened about her future ambitions and marriage was not one of them. She talked about being the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, her ambitions in life, her studies, and which thought scares her the most.
Unexpectedly, she talked about many things but when the discussion turned to the idea of marriage, she explained that she feels slightly nervous about it. According to Malala, though all her friends are finding partners, however, she is not sure if that’s what she wants.
“I am slightly nervous especially [in terms of] thinking about relationships,” shared Malala in an interview with Vogue. Malala then talked about the idea of marriage and revealed how her parents had an ‘arranged love marriage’. “They liked the look of each other, and their parents worked out the rest,” she said.
However, Malala is not sure if she will ever marry herself. “I still don’t understand why people have to get married.” Malala continued. “If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why can’t it just be a partnership?”
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Her mother, like most mothers, disagrees. “My mum is like, Don’t you dare say anything like that! You have to get married, marriage is beautiful,” she recalled her mother’s exact dialogues.
Meanwhile, Malala’s father occasionally receives emails from prospective suitors in Pakistan. “The boy says that he has many acres of land and many houses and would love to marry me,” she shared.
“Even until my second year of university,” she continued that she just never thought that she will be going to get married or never going to have kids – just going to do her work.
“I am going to be happy and live with my family forever.’” She asserted. “I didn’t realise that you’re not the same person all the time. You change as well and you’re growing,” she concluded.
