Letters to Asiya Yasin
The asks and concerns of young people is something often pushed to the side-line, with a more frequent focus on what adults prioritise and the causes they see issue with. Asiya is a frequent writer for No Multiple Faces and speaks about the need for focus on equality, particularly with regards to fashion. At 16, she also sees first-hand the outdated priorities of the modern education system.
Do you feel taken seriously when expressing your concerns for causes that matter to you as a young person?
With regards to what cause society feels is valid and the specific demographic I'm talking to, respect varies during the act of advocacy with my experience. When I have an opinion on something people usually speak on their experience rather than my actual view. It's quite frustrating at times because it goes to the extent of dismissing my opinions. Many have belittled my views on social issues as if it is invalid due to my age; they say “Yeah, I used to think that way when I was your age”. I feel as if I can get my opinions across a lot better in a group setting rather than 1 on 1; when I'm doing 1 on 1 I can't help but feel defeated at times.
Beginning with how you’re situated in your passions as a young person, do you feel as though young people have different priorities in social justice than older generations? And in what way?
Yes, everyone has a voice due to the platforms that are available to us that the older generation didn't have access to. In this day and age you can do a lot with a click of a button and a double tap of a screen. I genuinely believe that there is strength in numbers.
What causes are you most passionate for?
I have been heavily involved in human rights activism for many years and with that I have come to realize that I cannot pick one specific cause among the many issues in our world. Additionally, considering my being the ultimate minority, most of the social issues affect me to a dangerous extent. The biggest issues that affect and divide our civilization today are often race, religion, social class, gender etc. With regards to having such a disadvantage in this world I empathize with others who struggle in such a corrupt society. Despite the idea I cannot relate to a certain cause, I try to be just as passionate because even if I'm not the one who is being directly affected by it, there are many others who are. I generally feel that we must learn to empathize in order to move forward as a society.
Do you feel that the content you learn in an educational setting (school, extracurricular, etc) is fit to equip young minds with an introduction to society?
Absolutely not, the material we learn is more fitted for the past. It's based around the morals of the white man. And that shapes the minds of the young people. A lot of the time history books are biased to benefit the white majority. Are minds are altered to their liking, so we learn what they want us to learn. And the base of our society is our education system, so what we learn in school affects the outcome of society. It’s true that knowledge is power so when we learn false and biased information that only benefits one group and is pitted against all the other groups it feeds into the corrupt society we know today.
What do you think is the best way to express your advocacy in today’s society?
The best way to advocate in today's society to me is in numbers. Everyone is connected in some way, and everyone has some sort of a platform. There is strength in numbers, and as long as we can get our message across in a peaceful manner-- I would consider it a success. In this day and age people are more aware of the society we live in, so if we can voice our anger and struggle in a way that can reach out to everyone then it’s a considerable success.
Should responsibility of advocacy fall onto the shoulders of young people? What do you think the bad elements of this are, if any?
Although the original responsibilities were meant to fall on the shoulders of those before us, however, they have not proven to not be a success. As of now I think that we have created the authority to do better for our society and for those to come. We must do good by the youth of the future and work towards a positive outcome.
Lastly, as it’s International Women’s Day, what Women do you draw most inspiration from in your life?
As cliché as it sounds I honestly look to my mother to find strength on a daily basis. With the work she does now and how much she has overcome, she continues to progress with grace and respect.
