The Whiskey Journal

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl and women’s rights activist who survived a recent murder attempt by the Taliban, emerged from her hospital stay today with a message for the world. “I had much time to think and also to watch TV while I was in the hospital,” the extraordinary 15 year old told gathered reporters, “and I want you to know that I believe the critical praise for the show Girls is totally justified: Lena Dunham is a true women’s champion and absolutely the most important voice of her generation.”

Malala, who has been an outspoken proponent of women’s educational rights in Pakistan since age eleven — even in the face of constant death threats from the Taliban, said she was most most impressed with Dunham’s remarkable bravery in writing and producing the edgy female-dominated show.

“Obviously I’m not the first to say this,” Malala told reporters, “But, what Dunham has done with her ‘warts and all’ portrayal of the life of white, female twenty-somethings in New York is just so very courageous. Sure these ladies are self-involved but they are also going through a very uncertain time in their lives and it’s just plain gutsy of Dunham to depict them in her trademark ‘love-me-or-hate-me’ manner.”

At this point in her statement, Malala paused to take a pill — presumably hoping to stave off a headache resulting from her recent skull reconstruction surgery and cochlear device implantation. These procedures were necessary to help Malala fully recover from the injuries she suffered when Taliban assassins ambushed her school bus and shot her in the head in the hopes of silencing the young girl and ending her agitation for women’s rights.

After swallowing the pill, and offering a smiling “thank you” to the nurse who brought it to her, Malala continued her remarks.

“I also feel compelled to add my voice to the chorus of American feminist commentators who have expressed how incredibly daring it is that Ms. Dunham is willing to show her naked body in such amazingly unappealing ways on her show. If one didn’t know better, one might think Ms.Dunham has some disorder of the mind and simply enjoys showing off her naked body to anyone anytime — like the exhibitionist flasher in your United Kingdom’s Picadilly Circus. But clearly that is not the case. What Ms. Dunham does is a profound and brave feminist act that has, appropriately, been celebrated to the sky as an act of female fearlessness.”

“I, myself,” Malala continued, unconsciously running a finger around the bandage covering the bullet wound in her head, “would never have the courage to appear naked like that on a television show.”

At this point, the press conference took an unexpected turn as a representative from HBO emerged from the back of the room, announced himself and offered a brief statement on behalf of the cable television network. “I am thrilled to announce,” the well dressed man stated after ascending to the podium, “that HBO has gotten word of Malala’s admiration for Ms. Dunham as well as her intent to return to her home town of Mingora to continue her fight for women’s rights as soon as she has recovered from her wounds.”

“As a result,” the representative continued, a smile growing on his face, “Home Box Office has arranged for Malala to receive — free of charge — a special HBOGo account that will operate in Pakistan. In this way, it is our hope that Ms. Yousafzai can continue to be inspired by Ms. Dunham’s bravery in the upcoming third season of Girls even as she resumes the task of facing down the deadly Taliban and agitating for the rights of Pakistani women to receive a basic education.”

After thanking the representative, a smiling Malala concluded her remarks by addressing not only Ms. Dunham but also the fans of Girls worldwide. “I cannot tell you how inspiring it is to see that the struggle for women’s rights continues even in places like the U.K. and America. I can think of no finer tribute to the women of Pakistan than the fact that so many people in the United States and around the world understand just how brave and deeply meaningful the HBO show Girls truly is.”

 Written by Jacqueline Black

Contact Jacqueline at FeministJackie@gmail.com